Question: Is it okay to use overhead sprinklers in a vegetable garden? I've seen hundreds of farms using gigantic sprinkler systems to water their crops, so I assume it's a sound practice.

Answer: You can water most plants with overhead sprinklers, and farmers often have no other choice. But drip watering is the better choice. The main concern with overhead watering is disease. Splashing water or wet leaves are what many plant diseases need to spread. Sprinkling is also wasteful, since so much water is lost to evaporation. Drip watering systems deliver water exactly where it's needed: the soil at the base of the plant. The water is applied slowly and is able to soak in. Leaves stay dry, limiting disease problems.