Watering a little every day is the best way to water a garden.
Watering a little every day usually isn't best. It keeps roots shallow, so plants struggle when it's hot and dry. Water established plants slowly and deeply, and water again when the soil is dry an inch or two down. In most situations that works out to about once a week, but the weather sets the pace, so check the soil, not the calendar. There are real exceptions. Seedlings, new transplants, containers, sandy soil and shallow-rooted crops may need water much more often.
What is actually known
For most established plants, a light daily sprinkle is the wrong habit. Frequent shallow watering wets only the top layer of soil, so roots stay shallow, and that layer dries out quickly, leaving the plant vulnerable in dry spells. Watering slowly and deeply (in most situations about one thorough watering a week, though the weather sets the pace) encourages deep roots and better drought tolerance; water when the soil is dry to the touch an inch or two down. There are real exceptions. Young plants and new transplants have small, shallow roots and may need water every day or two in sunny, hot or windy weather, containers may need it daily by midsummer, and sandy soils and shallow-rooted crops like kohlrabi need more frequent watering.
The evidence
Evidence: checked against 4 sources in the research-based literature.
The 4 sources
The worst thing you can do to your garden is to sprinkle lightly every day. Frequent, shallow watering only moistens the upper layer of soil, which encourages plant roots to stay shallow
In most situations, one thorough watering per week is preferable to frequent light watering
By mid-summer, they will likely need water every day
Kohlrabi roots are shallow and plants should be watered frequently
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Cite this page
Milpa Gardens. "Watering a little every day is the best way to water a garden." Evidence grade: Contested. https://milpa.garden/beliefs/water-day-daily-watering/
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