Tomato
plants thrive in full sun in humus-rich, well-drained soil with a pH
between 6.0 and 6.8. Tomato plants like slightly dry
soil, although perform well in soil that remains evenly moist, as uneven
watering can cause blossom-end rot and cat-facing in tomatoes.
Knowing exactly how much water they need can be a challenge, but by
following simple guidelines you can provide your tomato plants with
the right amount of water.
Seedlings
Determine
the amount of water your seedlings require by following their lead.
Initially, they may require as little as 1/4 cup of water, but as
they grow larger, their water needs increase. Watering them until
water runs freely through the bottom of the pot and checking them
throughout the day give you a good indication of the amount of water
they need. Typically, if the soil dries in less than 24 hours, your
tomato plants require either more water or transplanting to a larger
pot.
Tomatoes
in Containers
Full-grown
tomatoes grown in containers often require daily watering. The exact
amount needed may range from a quart to a gallon or more, depending
on the rate of growth, weather conditions and the pot size. As a
rule, watering your tomatoes until water runs freely through the
bottom of the pot and again when the soil feels dry to the touch 1
inch below the surface provides them with the water they need to
thrive.
Tomatoes
in the Soil
Because
tomatoes grown in the soil can send their roots deep into the soil
when the surface soil dries, they often require less frequent
watering than tomatoes grown in containers. However, deep watering to
moisten the soil to the root level once a week is preferred
to daily light watering. Wetting the surface of the soil without
saturating the soil at the root level encourages tomato plants to
form roots near the surface of the soil, compromising the support
system of the plant. As a rule, tomato plants require 1 gallon of water a week. Use the milk jug technique. See video below.
Considerations
Weather
conditions, plant size and growth rate, and the soil the tomato plant
is grown in all affect the amount of water your tomato plant needs.
Your plants require more water during hot, dry spells and periods of
active growth than they do during wet weather or when the plants are
young. How well the soil drains and its water-holding capacity also
affect the amount of water they need. Observing your tomato plants
throughout the day gives you important clues to their watering needs.
Healthy tomato plants that wilt excessively or soil that feels dry to
the touch indicate that more water is needed.
Water
at the roots
When
watering tomatoes, make sure you get the water straight to the roots.
Do not water from above as this can cause disease and pests to attack
the plants. Putting water on the leaves takes nitrogen from the plant. Watering tomato plants from above also encourages
premature evaporation and unnecessarily wastes water. Unless you use the milk jug technique. See video below.
Watering
Technique
Use 1 gallon-size jugs, punch 1 hole the size of a pencil lead in the bottom under the handle and set it on the ground with the handle next to the stem so you can tie the handle to the stem. Fill it 1 time a week -- or more or less often, if needed. This
method directs water right to the root zone of the plants and little
is wasted.
Mulch
Mulch is straw, sheets of newspaper, dead dry grass clippings or plastic sheets. Using
mulch help to keep water where the plants need it. Use mulch to slow
down evaporation. But, remember, don't use wood of any kind and apply mulch at time of transplanting.