The Accidental Experiment

A digital irrigation timer screen bamboozled me, and two handy men. Despite consulting the user's manual and a youtube tutorial, we missed a quarter inch difference in the placement of two numbers. The result: five of our eight zones eeked out their existence on rain water and the moisture retention of black plastic mulch for at least 5 weeks through periods of 95+ degrees Fahrenheit. The plants that couldn't hack it died. In other words, we found that under black plastic several plants need very little water: beans, cucumbers, melons, squash, peppers and tomatoes. However, they needed more than what fell from the sky. Zones with no irrigation and no plastic suffered the most, with partly shaded plants (kale, cabbage and strawberries) faring better than those in full sun (winter squash and onions). You may be wondering how this happened. Let's call it partly the phenomenon of social conformity and a bit of benign neglect. I doubted my own observations (dry soil, not hearing water turn on as expected) because the plants were mostly fine and the "experts" showed me several times that the system was working correctly. Then I was out of town for three weeks, in which time it rained often enough for survival of the fittest. Finally, I took matters into my own hands. Chagrin and frustration understate my realization that I had been correct, but had backpedaled my own judgment. Still, I was amazed and grateful for what grew and the zones that had received water according to our plan. The pictured produce all grew in crazy heat with only a modicum of rain.