Should I still water seedlings in raised beds in this cold weather?

[Crystalmoon]

Hi everyone, probably a silly question but I have no experience of growing veg at my allotment in the winter.
I usually pack up growing about now & just harvest my leeks as I need them but this year I am trying to grow various winter veggies like spinach & kale. They are in uncovered raised beds filled with soft compost rather than the clay my allotment is made of...the beds do seem to get dry every few days so I have been lightly watering them but I was wondering if I should now it is so cold? When I dont water for a few days the seedlings still look healthy & happy. We havent had much rain in Kent for ages which is quite unusual for the time of year. Thanks for any help xjane 

[Crystalmoon]

[pumkinlover]

I would not water when a frost is forcast, just on the warmer days.

[Crystalmoon]

Hi Pumpkinlover thats what I was wondering about, the risk from frost. If I water inthe middle of the day or late morning when the day is at its warmest & not pour water all over the plants do you think that would be ok? Sorry for all the silly questions but winter growing is such new territory for me its like being a complete newbie ;)
x Jane 

[pumkinlover]

Yes that sounds  good, and  not that often, not loosing as much now.
Cannot imagine what it is like not to have had rain by now ???

[Crystalmoon]

The clay is solid & cracked in areas on my plot :( that's why I bought alot of plastic raised beds to try to grow things this year. It has been such a dry year here in Kent except for June time when it was monsoon like...far too heavy to be very helpful! The veg in my beds have done the best as they havent had the clay soil to contend with but other problems have come about from using beds like many ants nests & foxes using the soft soil to bury their kills...this year has been so very wierd,lol xjane

[Robert_Brenchley]

Plants won't be using anything like so much water now, so as long as they haven't recently been planted out, they should be OK without watering.

[Crystalmoon]

Thanks Robert  ;D xjane

[ru2010]

I wouldn't water them at all, if they're uncovered, unless they look like they're about to die - then I would give them lots of water.

A friend of mine rarely waters; he says if you don't water then the roots have to go down deep and find water for themselves. Mind you, he also digs deep and incorporates lots of manure and compost which retains moisture when it rains.

Apparently, lightly watering encourages the roots of the plants to grow near the surface of the soil where they will quickly dry out. A good soaking ensures that the water soaks deeply into the soil and encourages the roots downwards.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've heard that as well; apart from seedlings and transplants, it's probably best either to really soak the soil - which takes far more water than most people use - or not water at all.