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Minnesota

I water regular but I did notice when it rained for 2 days straight my plants seem to go thru a growing spurt of a inch or two. Just wondering if heavy hitters flood, or throughly soak there plants from time to time.

12/27/2007 9:21:53 PM

Somers, CT

I would just keep it even. Too much water can cause disease and the roots to rot like with any plant. Too much unexpected water can also blow up a pumpkin. Where it does work well is if there is a storm coming and you drench a bit before so the drench from the rain drains off, especialy if it has been dry. Slow and steady works and you can tell alot about the plant health by the color and condition of the leaves. Never let the plant stress and it will treat you right.

12/27/2007 10:10:51 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

I agree with Rob. Also it has been my experience that rain water has a greater effect on the plant than well water. I've been told that rain water has more minerals/nutrients than tap water and is more beneficial to the plant. This could be the reason you see more growth spurt from the rain. I've noticed this also.

12/27/2007 10:44:00 PM

[email protected]

Rain water contains Nitrogen.

12/27/2007 10:50:32 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Also, summer rains can be warmer than cold well water.

12/27/2007 11:23:09 PM

Minnesota

Thanks

12/28/2007 2:29:07 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Nothing Like a Good Thunderstorm to green things up...Rain is good...Rain from a good thunderstorm you can see them grow...

12/28/2007 7:31:38 AM

Ohio

its amazing how when you water the heck out of your plant for a week and see minimal growth, but as soon as you get that little half hour rain the plants grow like gang busters.

12/28/2007 8:26:14 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Rain water also contains oxygen too.

12/28/2007 8:45:01 AM

Belgium Europe

What's the chemical formula of rainwater?

12/28/2007 9:02:34 AM

Ohio

h20,,lol

12/28/2007 10:26:06 AM

Belgium Europe

Where's the ' N ' ?

12/28/2007 10:29:03 AM

Ohio

Where does the Nitrogen come from in rain water? I think a chemist would have to explain that one, is there anything besides Nitrogen in rain water?

12/28/2007 10:35:55 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

I've read that about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere is Nitrogen, and about 20% is Oxygen.
There was a question pertaining to this on the show "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader". I wasn't in this case LOL.

12/28/2007 11:00:00 AM

i read somewhere lightning adds nitrogen to rain in thunderstorm activity kinda complex way for me to remember exactly how without reading again-

12/28/2007 1:45:48 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

when a thunderstorm discharges electricity into the atmosphere, nitrogen oxides are formed. They then are in the form of nitrics and nitric acid which they contact your soil they replenish your nitrogen content by forming nitrates and nitrites in the soil. Which the plant easily take up.

12/28/2007 2:04:47 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Now for the Oxygen...Plants produce the oxygen it rises into the upper atmosphere..then is changed into ozone by the ultra violet rays of the sun. The Ozone which is now a heavier form of oxygen with an extra molecule. Is heavier than the oxygen so it descends. As it descends it attaches itself to airborn particles oxidizing them. If it is lucky enough to come in contact with water vapor it produces hydrogen peroxide. This is why plants grow better from rain than the well. The balance is very precise other wise we could just add Calcium peroxide to our soils to aid in the uptake of more nutrients. They often do this for toxic waste recovery.

12/28/2007 2:13:59 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Not a chemist..just a simple pumpkin grower

12/28/2007 2:16:09 PM

southwest MO

As rain falls through the atmosphere it picks up all sorts of things... Ever hear of acid rain?? Its related to Sulfer and coal plant emmisions.. Even still water commonly absorbs a small amount of N out of the atmosphere...
Most ground water (depending on the aquifer, how deep it is ect...) is usually higher in minerals than rain or surface water... If these minerals are in the form of carbonates the pH will also be higher...
A bit on biology... I think some of the advantages with mother natures watering is the plant scenses the change coming in the atmosphere and opens up to recieve it... Kind of a symbiosis with nature??

12/28/2007 2:31:53 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Too bad, around here we might get NO RAIN from May to September... that would be normal.

12/28/2007 4:37:11 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Shannon has it bang on. Excellent description thanks.

12/28/2007 9:55:31 PM

[email protected]

Shannon got it. If you think the N that is deposited by rain is interesting, then stop & consider snow. The annual atmospheric fixation & deposition of N by snow is astounding. What really kills folks is the fact this is truly a chemical (non organic) form of Nitrogen.

Now that we use less synthetic fertilizers, electrical storms probably cause more splits & blow outs every summer than chemical fertilizer applications.

12/29/2007 1:32:01 AM

Ohio

Shannon, thanks for that detailed response! Good read! Are you sure you never had chemistry in School?,lol

12/29/2007 4:12:57 AM

Somers, CT

Why is the good tasting snow always yellow?

12/29/2007 1:11:04 PM