A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum When's the best time to water??

When I was growing up, my parents always had tomato plants growing in the garden. We always watered them in the evening. They said they did that so that the sun wouldn't burn the leaves. They usually waited until about 30-45 minutes before the sun set to water them. But I've just recently heard that you shouldn't do that because it welcomes disease and also bugs and something else that I can't remember.

So when is the best time to water my plants??? Now, my garden is going to be hanging off of my fence line and it's on the north side of our yard. About 4:00pm, the garden will be in the shade of the house as the sun passes, so I'd assume that I could water them then and they'd be dry by the time night came.

But is that thought right?? And what about some plants that we'll have planted that will get sun just about all day long???

I think it all depends on the temperatures outside. They say if it is cool outside not to water them in the evening because the roots don't like to be sitting in the cold wet soil, so you would water in the morning instead so the daylight and sun gets a chance to dry up the soil a bit.
However when it is hot outside they say to water them in the evening. It isn't good to water the leaves when the sun is high as that can burn the leaves.