time to absorb water during the cooler, less windy night.
Also, plants do a signi9cant amount of their growing at
night, and this ensures they will have plenty of water to
do so. If you water early in the morning, much of the
water will be lost in evaporation caused by the sun and
wind, and the watering will be less e<ective. The loss
will be even greater if you water at midday. If you water
in the evening, the plants will be more susceptible to
mildew and rust problems due to unevaporated water
left on their leaves. By watering in the late afternoon, the
water can percolate into the soil for 12 hours or more
before the sun and wind reappear in strength. When they
do, the bed will have a good reservoir of water from
which the plants can draw before their next watering.
A GROW BIOINTENSIVE bedSeeds and seedlings in ats and immature plants in the
growing beds may have to be watered in the morning
and at noon as well as late in the afternoon. Until the
living mulch e<ect occurs, the ats and beds dry out
more rapidly. When the leaves grow closer together, less
watering will be required.