I am a new gardener. Would you please tell me if I have to water my fruit plants while they are dormant in the winter? I have one plum, one cherry, two kiwi, one peach, and one grape. When watering, what quantity? One, two gallons? Thank you. I am a new member, I live in Virginia, zone 6.
Enrique
Enrique, I don't think you'll need to water anything this winter. I think some of the relevant questions are: how old are your plants? Are they well-established or recently transplanted? Are they in the ground, or in containers? In the Fruit Growing section of this web site, Ted Swensen recommends watering newly planted fruit trees through their first August. I believe that recommendation is for all parts of the US, though most of the people who post here seem to be in the Pacific Northwest, where winter is our rainy season.
If you're concerned, the Extension Service for your county is the most likely place to find good information. Here's a link to a pamphlet from the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service on backyard fruit trees.
The amount of water required by supplimental watering will depend on the characteristics of the soil, site drainage patterns, climate, winds, and the amount of precipitation.
See -- http//www.wy.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/soilmoisture/guideline.html
Mulching (ie the inclusion of organic materials) the soils helps with water retention in dry sites and facilitates drainage in wet locations.
Too much watering can leach nutrients; and if excessive, will drown the plant due to lack of oxygen surrounding the roots.
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron