Met a lady at the community garden who changed how I water my plants

There's this older woman named Margaret who tends the herb beds near my plot at the Elm Street garden. About two months ago, she saw me drenching my basil with a hose and just said 'you're drowning them, honey.' She showed me how she uses a cheap moisture meter from the hardware store, the one that costs like $8. Now I only water when the meter reads dry at two inches deep. My tomatoes and peppers have been doing way better since I started doing that. Has anyone else picked up a simple trick from a stranger that stuck with you?

2 comments

2 Comments

alex_king3d ago

I once had a guy at the nursery tell me I was "loving my succulents to death" with too much water. Turns out I was basically running a tiny plant funeral home in my kitchen.

james_ramirez3d ago

My neighbor gave me the same advice with a moisture meter but honestly I find mine sticks in dry readings because my soil has too much clay so I still just stick my finger in about knuckle deep and water when it feels dry down there. Works better than any meter for the type of dirt I'm dealing with.