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Kutztown, PA

I often hear the term "Drench" used with respect to feeding/watering. Drip irrigation, overhead irrigation, and foliar feeding I'm familiar with but what does "drench" mean to a pumpkin grower and how do you "drench". Or is it just that - dumping a bucket of water on a plant??

12/9/2022 11:35:45 AM

Connecticut, USA

I "drench" by hand using a watering can.

12/9/2022 11:46:53 AM

Lodi, California

drench
/dren(t)SH/
verb
1. wet thoroughly; soak.
"I fell in the stream and got drenched"

12/9/2022 12:42:40 PM

Lodi, California

I don't think there's really any deeper meaning to it, it just means to soak the soil with water lol

12/9/2022 12:51:59 PM

Syracuse, NY

My drench is a 55-gallon barrel of H2O with whatever ferts I am giving the (usually one plant gets a full barrel of whatever) plant that day through my Drummond 1-HP sprinkler pump (You've gotta get one! - 140 Bucks, 70 PSI for one sprinkler, 35 into two, etc.) or at least a 2-hour run at 22-24 PSI through one Whizzer sprinkler of natural spring water that SHOULD be on timers for that I even have it. SO looking forward to '23 and it's just December 9th, '22...waaaaaaahhhhh! eg

12/9/2022 2:13:30 PM

Kutztown, PA

So, drench means drench! I got it now :)

Finally something I can wrap my head around - LOL

12/9/2022 2:18:49 PM

Central Illinois

Pouring 5 gallons of liquid can be a drench

12/10/2022 4:35:26 AM

Torrance, Ca.

I just drenched my whole patch with 500 gallons of water and a product that kills all disease. Even with 500 gallons over 2000 sq ft, the drench only went down 10"

Ken " drenched " his baby plants with 5 gallons of water and a watering can.
The slower the better, you don't want to dump a bucket of water on the plant. My driplines are .23 GPH which is a very slow drench over a longer period of time.

Your going to be all ready for 2023 Garwolf!!

12/11/2022 1:35:29 PM

Kutztown, PA

I'm working on my irrigation system now. Going to drip tape and and injection this year. Going for the slow "drench" :)

12/12/2022 2:58:19 PM

Kutztown, PA

All things being equal, how much water do you thing your putting down per day per plant?

12/12/2022 3:45:39 PM

Connecticut, USA

I guess one more thing for me, is a drench is meant to go directly on the soil, not the leaves. For example, if I am drenching Merit for vine borers, I use the watering can at the base of the plant and along the vines moving the leaves out of the way as I go.

12/13/2022 7:46:36 AM

Lodi, California

I don't know about any adverse effects Ken, but imidacloprid is absorbed by all plant tissues, so I don't think there's an issue with getting it on the leaves.

12/13/2022 2:29:09 PM

Syracuse, NY

I agree - the faster it gets into the plant the better and
the same goes for any foliar applications - Think of Roundup - it goes right in! Anything getting on the leaves but in excess goes onto and into the soil, also.
PS - I just though of this:
I had read on here somewhere that Glyphosate weed killer does not absorb through the vines nor leaf stalks, but yes, through the leaves and tendrils (?) so perhaps there are other chemicals that do not, either. GL---eg

12/13/2022 8:59:36 PM