It also can be organic, such as compost, straw, old hay, leaves, saw dust, paper and wood shavings. Use micro or trickle irrigation to water. Short dry periods can reduce the yield and quality of the vegetables. A long drought can kill a garden. Vegetable crops grow best when they get about one-half to one inch of water each week.
Trickle irrigation has several advantages over head irrigation.
It requires less water and less energy to supply the water to only the root zone. This reduces weed growth in middle rows, and it keeps leaves dry, which reduces disease and prevents washing off dusts and sprays. It also allows watering and placing soluble fertilizers under plastic mulch. You also can work in the garden while irrigating. Use traps for insect control.