Water per Hour to Drip in a Vegetable Garden

Configuration

• A 5/8-inch hose is sufficient for normal-sized vegetable gardens, as long as the faucet is no more than 100 feet from drip system's header in the vegetable garden. Lay a drip hose down each garden row.

Amount

• If the vegetable plants are close to each other, the water should flow at 1/2 to 1 gallon per hour with one emitter positioned every 16 to 24 inches. If the vegetables are spaced widely apart, the water should flow at 1 to 2 gallons per hour with one emitter positioned at every plant.

Time

• Run the drip system for 1 or 2 hours once or twice a week to deeply but infrequently water your vegetable garden. Larger plants in drier soil require a longer watering time. Smaller plants in damper soil require a shorter water time.

Considerations

• If the soil is sandy, the water soaks straight in near the emitters. Clay soil distributes the water horizontally, out and away from the emitters. Place drip emitters closer together in larger vegetable gardens planted in sandy soil, and place them farther apart in clay soil gardens.