However, you must take care not to over-water, as this may lead root crops to develop leaves at the expense of roots, and may also lead to the loss of flavour in tomatoes and carrots.

Avoid watering the soil often for short periods of time; it is much more effective to water heavily and occasionally. Light watering promotes the development of shallow surface roots rather than deep rooting, leaving the plants vulnerable to drought. Water the plants early in the morning or in the evening to reduce evaporation loss or leaf scorch, taking care to direct the water at the base of the plant.

Whilst a simple watering can fitted with a fine rose is perfectly adequate for small plots or containers, a hand-held hose with a trigger-controlled mist spray may be more suitable for larger gardens. Alternatively, a seep hose may be laid between rows of vegetables; this effective watering system ensures that water reaches the roots of the plants and penetrates deeply into the soil. More information on all of these techniques can be found in our Watering Tools section.

Soil moisture may be conserved by digging in plenty of bulky organic matter. This not only improves the soil structure, but also encourages deep rooting, thus minimising the need for watering. A thick mulch will also conserve soil moisture, and will reduce the number of weeds that compete with the vegetables for water. You may also want to consider erecting suitable windbreaks to reduce evaporation from desiccating winds.