Everything You Need to Know About Watering Tomatoes
Growing your own tomatoes can be so rewarding - especially when you take that first bite of fresh, juicy goodness. You’ll have to go through the steps of maintaining them properly to get them to grow to their full potential.
You need to water your tomatoes in the early morning at the soil level, avoiding the foliage. How much you water them depends on factors such as where your plant is at in the growth cycle, the soil, the weather, and the container.
We’re going to discuss the best way to water your tomato plants as well as how often to water, when to water, and how much water to provide.
We’ll cover what can happen with improper watering and several tips on overall tomato plant care.
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What is the Best Way to Water Tomato Plants?
There are several basic rules you’ll need to follow when you water your tomato plants, including the following:
Water slowly
Water deeply
Water regularly
Water at the roots
Use mulch to prevent evaporation of water from the soil
You can pick up a few more tips by watching the video below:
Tips for Watering Tomato Plants
The number one tip for watering your tomato plants is to do it slowly. You want to make sure that you don’t flood the plant, causing the nutrients to run off with the excess water. Instead, by watering slowly, you give the water time to seep into the soil where it is needed.
Ensure that the soil 6-8 inches below the surface is moistened when you water. This will stimulate the root growth in this region.
You’ll also want to ensure that you are watering your tomato plant regularly. This doesn’t mean every single day. You’ll have to check the soil every few days to see when it’s becoming dry and then water it.
Make sure to only water your plant at the roots. Water a few inches around the stem to prevent washing away the soil from directly next to the plant.
Water your tomato plants at dawn so that they have time to soak up the water and begin photosynthesis all at once. Additionally, this will give any droplets that accidentally got on the leaves time to dry before the sun begins to burn the leaves through them.
Using mulch in conjunction with watering is also very beneficial. A good mulch cover prevents the water from quickly evaporating from the soil, causing the plant to require less frequent waterings.
The best water for your tomato plants is rainwater as it has no added chemicals. If possible, try to come up with a method of rainwater collection to use in between showers to provide the best source of water for your plants.
How Often Do Tomato Plants Need Water?
Several factors go into determining how much and how often you need to water your tomato plants. The growth stage, soil type, container material, and weather all affect how much water is required.
A best practice is to visually inspect the soil in your containers to see if it looks dry and then use the finger method where you physically test the soil for moisture. If it’s dry, then you water the plant.
If you’re growing your tomato plants in a garden, you’ll need to water less than if you were growing them in containers. This is especially true if you mulch them. In this case, you’ll need to water based on the soil type and weather impact.
How Much Water Do Tomato Plants Need?
Experts have suggested that tomato plants require just under 2 inches of water per square foot of soil each week.
But this can get complicated based on the factors we just discussed.
The best thing you can do is to assess the soil before you start watering and adjust as you go. By watering slowly and deeply, you run less of a risk of oversaturating the soil. The amount of water you supply will depend on the individual plant as well as the soil, not a set amount.
Can Tomato Plants Be Overwatered?
Overwatering your tomato plants can cause them to drown. Over time the roots will become black and slimy, which is known as root rot. Eventually, this can kill your plant.
Signs of Improper Watering
Improper watering can cause a variety of problems with your tomato plants. Overwatering and underwatering can both result in stunted growth with wilted, yellow leaves. Overwatering can result in a multitude of leaf problems as well as root rot.
Blossom end rot also occurs as a result of both overwatering and underwatering. You’ll see dark, wet-looking spots develop on the blossom end of the fruit. They will turn nearly black and either open into lesions or turn into rotten spots.
You may also find that your tomatoes are cracking at the stems or blossom ends. This condition is called cat facing and may cause your fruits to not reach their full size.
When to Water Tomato Plants
The best time to water your tomato plants is at dawn. This will allow any moisture that inadvertently got onto the leaves time to dry before the heat of the day hits, which will help prevent diseases as well as leaf burn from the sun’s rays.
Watering in the morning will create a routine that works well with the plant’s natural biorhythms. As the water reaches the roots, the plant will be beginning photosynthesis for the day. It’s a perfect combination.
You will want to avoid watering at night at all costs as this is the time of day when the temperature cools down. Cooler water exposes your plant to health risks.
Should You Water Your Tomato Plants Every Night?
You should never water your tomato plants at night because this will expose them unnecessarily to health risks. The proper watering schedule for your tomato plants will vary based on the soil, weather, growth stage, and container type.
The best way to determine if your tomato plant needs water is to inspect the soil. If it is dry a couple of inches below the surface, you will need to water it. This may not be every day but, instead, every couple of days. You can also use a rain gauge.
How to Water Tomato Plants
When you water your tomato plants, you want to focus on watering at the soil level. Do not water the foliage as this can help foster diseases. Additionally, do not water directly at the base of the stems because this can force the soil away from the plant.
You’ll want to water very slowly to allow the water time to thoroughly soak in. At the same time, you need to water deeply to ensure that the water is getting to the bottom-level roots.
Make sure you are not oversaturating the soil or flooding it. This will cause the nutrients to be flushed out of the soil and can damage the plant.
Benefits of Irrigation Systems for Tomato Plants
Tomato plants need consistent and thorough watering. Regular watering helps the fruit grow correctly and prevents it from splitting. Having an irrigation system installed will ensure that your plants are getting the same amount of water each time.
An irrigation system also makes things easier for you. You will not have to take the time to water each plant individually as the system will water all of the plants together at once. You can also set a timer with most systems so that you won’t miss a watering.
Best Irrigation Systems for Tomato Plants
When it comes to irrigation systems, the trickle or drip irrigation system is the best by far. This system eliminates overhead water exposure and ensures that the roots are getting the water that they require.
Do Tomato Plants Like Their Leaves Watered?
You should not water your tomato plants’ leaves. This can promote disease production and cause deterioration of the overall plant health.
When watering, make sure to keep your water source as close to the roots as possible, holding the leaves out of the way. Watering early in the morning ensures that any accidental droplets collected on the leaves will dry before the sun has a chance to burn the leaves.
Common Problems When Watering Tomatoes
Several problems can arise when watering your tomatoes and it’s usually because you’ve either watered too much or not enough.
Too much water can result in blossom end rot, fruit cracking, leaf roll, and root rot. Underwatering can cause blossom drop. Both situations can cause stunted growth and yellowed and wilted leaves.
When and How to Water Tomato Seedlings
You’ll want to water your seedlings lightly and more frequently than your fully established tomato plants. If you heavily water your seedlings, you are more likely to drown them. Because the plant does not have established roots, too much water can uproot it.
You may need to water them daily or every few days. This will depend on how well the moisture remains in the soil. As they are just starting out, they need more water than fully established tomato plants.
You don’t want to water your seedlings at night because you don’t want them sitting in cold water. This can cause a variety of problems for your seedlings, including killing them and leading to rot. The exception to this is if there is a frost approaching; in some cases, it can be beneficial to water at night because it can limit frost damage.
How Often Do You Water Tomatoes in Containers or Pots?
Tomatoes in containers will need more water than their garden counterparts. You should plan on watering them every couple of days but, again, this is dependent on the factors previously discussed. Always gauge the dryness of the soil before watering.
Why is Correct Watering Important?
Correct watering is important because you can do a lot of damage with too much or too little water. To grow healthy, tasty tomatoes, you will need to provide the exact amount of water that your plant requires.
Unfortunately, there is no exact science to determine what this is. You will always need to inspect the soil before watering to ensure that you provide the right amount of water.
Other Tomato Growing Tips
You’ll want to provide your plants with at least seven hours of sun each day. They will thrive and produce the best-looking fruit. Make sure when you plant your seedlings that you have given them enough room to grow as well.
Provide slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.5 to 6.8. Don’t plant your seedlings until the soil temperature is above 60℉.
Plant your tomatoes deeply. They will root along their stems so you can dig a trench, lay the stem sideways, and bend slightly upwards when you have leggy stems.
Add basil, garlic, and onions to the garden with your tomatoes. These plants are natural pest repellents and will keep your tomatoes healthy.
Tomato plants are heavy feeders so you can add compost periodically throughout the season to keep them happy. It’s also beneficial to mix the compost in the soil during the initial planting.
You’ll need to periodically remove the suckers that shoot off from the stems through pruning. This will allow the plant to experience better air circulation, keep down disease, and return the plant’s focus to growing fruit.
Cage or stake your plants early to keep them from getting out of hand. This will keep them growing neatly and keep the fruit off the ground.
How to Retain Moisture for Tomatoes
The best method for retaining moisture for your tomato plants is to use mulch. By covering the soil with a layer of mulch, the water in the soil will evaporate more slowly, causing you to have to water less frequently. This will also help you to keep your tomato plant from drying out.
Final Thoughts
Tomato plants are relatively easy to care for but require very specific amounts of water. Unfortunately, there is no specific amount of water that fits every single plant. You will need to survey the soil before watering to determine exactly how much water is necessary.
You’ll need to avoid overwatering and underwatering as both can be equally damaging to the plant. Side effects like stunted growth and wilted, yellowed leaves as well as poor fruit production can result from improper watering.
So there you have it! Everything you need to know about growing tomatoes - and watering them appropriately. Hope your gardening season is off to a great start - and if you haven’t already done so, be sure to add growing tomatoes to your list of gardening chores for next year!
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