Table 33. Critical Periods of Water Usage for Selected Vegetable Crops.
Crop Most critical period(s) of water need Carrot
Root enlargement
Radish
Root enlargement
Turnip
Root enlargement
Onion (dry)
Bulb enlargement
Snap Bean
Pod enlargement
Pepper
Vegetable growth (planting to fruit set)
Tomato
Early flowering, fruit set and enlargement. For mechanical harvesting, withhold water during latter part of fruit ripening period.
Cabbage
Head development
Cucumber
Fruit enlargement period
Lettuce
Head development
Eggplant
Flowering and fruit development
Asparagus
Plant development (bush) following harvest
Sweet corn
Silking and tasseling, ear development
Potato
Tuber set and tuber enlargement
Broccoli
Transplant and flower bud initiation
Lima bean
Blossom and pod enlargement
Cauliflower
Transplant and curd development
Cantaloupe
Vining, pollination and fruit enlargement
Pea
Pod development
Spinach
Throughout growing season
Sweet potato
Slip setting (planting)
Watermelon
Vining, pollination and fruit enlargement
Notes:
- Crops from which leaves are harvested, especially those with short growing periods, need a generous supply of available water from planting to harvest.
- Plants that develop heads need a uniform, adequate water supply especially during head enlargement of these plant parts.
- Root, tuber and bulb crops need water the most during tuber set and during periods of enlargement of these plant parts.
- Crops from which fresh or dry seeds, pods, or ears are harvested need an adequate water supply at flowering (or tasseling) and fruit set. These crops also need an adequate water supply during fruit, seed, pod, or ear development to prevent fruit cracking and malformed ears or pods.
Adapted from: The Vegetable Gazette Vol. 3(7) June 1999 by Bill Lamont, and, The Texas Commercial Vegetable Production Guide. By Frank J. Dainello.
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