Learn to read your soil signals with this guide to watering tomatoes for a successful, abundant harvest.
Figuring out how often to water tomatoes can be a challenge for beginner and experienced gardeners alike.
Excessive watering can result in diseased plants androtten tomatoes.
Credit:Marty Ross
But not watering often enough may weaken plants and give you small, mealy fruit.
These tips will help you figure out exactly how often to water tomatoes for the best harvest.
This is dirty work but is truly the most accurate way to know if you should add more water.
Credit: Scott Little
If the handful of soil feels moist, wait a day and check it again.
But if the soil is dry to the touch, water the plants deeply.
Soil that is excessively crumbly, dry, or dusty has very little moisture available to plant roots.
Clay soil, on the other hand, holds water well.
Seedlings
Your tomatoes need to be watered the most frequently when you first finishplanting their seeds.
double-check the soil is damp well below the surface so the roots can establish themselves.
Young Transplants
Consistency is most important during this stage.
double-check you’re giving your newly transplanted tomatoes a good soak.
When the soil gets dry, repeat the process.
Mature Plants
Pay close attention to the weather during this time.
Arain gaugecan help you determine exactly how much water is required.
During this stage, overwateringcould cause splitting.
However, underwatering could cause the plant to produce less fruit.
Keep watering frequentlythrough tomato harvesting season.
Deliver Water to the Base
Avoid getting leaves and stems wet when watering tomatoes.
Bacterial and fungaltomato diseasesspread easily when the foliage is wet.
The same is true when plants receive a blast of water from a garden hose or watering can.
Turn down the flow onyour garden hoseor water slowly when using awatering can.
For deep, consistent watering, use a drip hose to slowly soak the soil around your tomato plants.
If the plant has been watered adequately, the soil at the bottom of the hole will be moist.
Adjust watering time in the future if needed.
The mulch will insulate the soil, preventing big temperature swings.
Mulch also helps to keep water-stealing weeds at bay, and will slow down soil moisture evaporation.
Use shreddedbark mulchor weed-freegrass clippingsaround your tomato plants tosuppress weedsand help retain soil moisture.
Check Potted Plants Daily
Tomatoes growing in pots have high water needs.
The relatively small soil volume in the container limits the amount of water available to plants.
During the heat of summer, container-grown tomatoes often need to be watered daily.
Hot, windy conditions might require watering twice a day.
If you water in the afternoon, plants may already be stressed from lack of moisture.
If you water too late at night, cooler and damp conditions could promote diseases.
Hillock, David A.; Rebek, Eric.Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden.Oklahoma State University Extension.
