How Often Should Tomato Plants Be Watered?
The question ‘how often should tomato plants be watered’ is one that often leaves gardeners confused and clueless. The result is that they end up either providing too little water to the soil or over watering it. Both these situations are not good for your tomato plants. So, how can you determine whether it is time to water your plants or not? Keep in mind a few things and you will never ever make the mistake of over drying the soil or over watering the plant. The first thing that you need to understand is that too little water and over watering are both not good to keep your plants alive and productive. What is more, even uneven watering is not good for them since they make your plants prone to all kinds of diseases such as the blossom end rot.
Ideally, you should water thoroughly to make sure the roots can get the water and nutrients which are present deep in the soil. This will ensure when there is a dry spell, the plants to hold better and about 6-8 inches of the soil should be soaked for this purpose.
For the same reason, it is not a good idea to water your plants lightly on a daily basis. A deep soaking once or twice a week is better because when you water too often, the roots tend to stay at the surface and they become more prone to damage in the hot weather.
Tomatoes like to grow in a moist soil but they also need proper air circulation. So, if you over water, the roots will not be able to get the air that they require. Remember, wilting on a hot afternoon is perfectly normal because they will look fine once they are exposed to the night temperature. However, if the plants still look wilted in the morning, then it is time to water them again.
Over watering will also make your plants prone to diseases. So, if the soil is light and sandy, you need to soak it with water every 4-5 days and if the soil is heavy, soak it every 7-10 days.
Rain is also a factor that you need to consider. If it is raining, you do not need to water your plants too often. However, as mentioned earlier, too much water can damage your plants, so try and protect your plants from the rain water if it is raining continuously or too heavily.
The time of the day when you water the plants is also important. If you are watering the plants after 5 in the evening, then you are inviting trouble. The foliage of the plant should be dry during night fall or else it will become host to blights and diseases. Therefore, you should water your tomatoes early in the day to make sure that it dries out by nightfall. Watering early in the day also helps in cutting down evaporation losses. Midday watering is also not good since evaporation losses are highest during this part of the day.
You need your tomato garden to flourish and give you a good harvest and careful watering can help achieve exactly that. The best way to find out if it is time to water the soil is to stick your finger about one inch into the soil. If it is dry, then it is time to water the plants. Remember, a dry soil, over watering, and uneven watering are not good for your plants. So, make sure that you avoid doing any one of these things.
Jimmy Casperson is a tomato growing enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on tomato watering visit his Growing Tomatoes website
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