by Gardeners ask themselves from time to time: how often do tomatoes need to be watered? Some water them several times a season, while others do it every week or even more often. So how much water do tomatoes need and is it possible not to water them at all? Let’s figure out what determines the frequency of watering tomatoes.
Naturally, if tomatoes grow in open ground, they are periodically watered by rain. And in a rainy summer, there is no need for watering. But if the summer is hot and dry, or if tomatoes grow in a greenhouse and the weather is sunny every day, the soil dries out quickly. And no plant can receive nutrition, develop and form fruits without water. And if before the tomatoes bloom, the soil moisture in the root system zone should be about 70%, then during the flowering and fruiting period, the need for water increases, and the soil moisture should be at least 80%. However, not all summer residents have soil moisture meters. Therefore, you need to focus on the condition of the plants, take into account weather conditions, planting method, soil type and the thickness of the mulch layer (if there is mulch at all). Let’s take a closer look at the main factors that affect the watering of tomatoes.
Soil type
Sandy soil dries out quickly, and nutrients (especially nitrogen) are quickly washed out. Therefore, tomatoes growing on such soil need not only to be watered frequently, but also regularly fed. To make sandy soil suitable for growing tomatoes, clay, turf soil, peat, compost, and vermicompost are added to it. By the way, organic matter should be added not only to sandy soil, but also to sandy loam soil to improve its structure and make it more fertile.
Р “Р” РёРЅРОстР° СЏ РїРѕС ‡ РІР ° retains water well, but it is too dense, and plant roots do not develop well there. Excessive watering on such soils can lead to stagnation of water and oppression of the root system of plants. Therefore, sand, perlite, vermiculite, peat, humus, compost must be added to clay soil and the acidity of the soil must be checked regularly.
Loam is the best option for growing tomatoes and other crops. In loamy soil, plants do not need to be watered and fed too often. However, much depends on the percentage of clay and sand, since loams are different. In any case, you also need to work with such soil: add organic matter, mulch, sow green manure.
Planting method
As a rule, tomatoes have a well-developed taproot system. Tomato roots form quickly and can go deep into the ground and extract water from there. However, when picking, the main root is usually shortened, which promotes the development of lateral roots. Some of the roots are damaged when transplanting to a permanent place. Therefore, when planting and a week after planting, tomatoes need abundant watering.
With the seedless method of growing, the roots of the tomato do not get damaged at all and during the growing season they can go to a depth of up to one and a half meters. Such tomatoes are the most drought-resistant, and they can be watered much less often.
The depth of planting the bush is of great importance. When planting tall bushes, as well as overgrown seedlings, a large planting hole is dug and the main stem is deepened by 15-20 cm, or even more. In this case, the tomato will soon develop a powerful root system. And since some of the roots are initially located at a great depth, there is no need for frequent and abundant watering.
Some experienced gardeners plant tomatoes in a square-nested manner, making a watering hole in the center of the square, pouring ash or a handful of superphosphate into the bottom, and laying mown grass on top. Watering the plants is very convenient: a few buckets of water are occasionally poured into each hole, combining watering with fertilizing from time to time. Such a hole can provide tomatoes with water and nutrition for a long time.
Mulching
Many gardeners underestimate the role of mulching, but in vain. This simple agricultural technique improves the soil, improves its structure and makes it much easier to care for the plantings: it allows you to water them less often and weed less.
If you use organic materials for mulching (grass, straw, compost, peat, etc.), then such mulch will also become a fertilizer for your green pets. In this regard, the most effective mulching material is rotted grass, or active mulch, which is usually laid in a thick layer, and then quickly processed by worms and soil bacteria.
The thicker the mulch layer, the less often you need to water the tomatoes. If, after a few weeks of watering, you lift the mulch and see that the soil there is moist, then everything is fine, no need to water. It is desirable that the lower layer of mulch is always moist, and then everyone will be comfortable: both the roots of the tomatoes and the soil inhabitants, which must actively “work” in the root layer.
How to determine that watering is needed
If you are not a fan of mulching and allow the soil to dry out from time to time, then the need for watering tomatoes can be determined by the following signs:
- tomato leaves and shoots begin to wilt slightly;
- The leaves curl, wrapping outward along the central vein.
If you ignore these signs, tomatoes will begin to shed flowers and ovaries, and the leaves will turn yellow (starting from the bottom) and will also soon fall off. In addition, if you periodically “overdry” tomatoes, the yield will significantly decrease, and the fruits will be smaller than they should be for a particular variety.
Basic rules of watering
So, we came to the conclusion that if there is no rain for a long time, and it is hot outside, then you still need to water the tomatoes, especially if the soil is not mulched and the beds are located on sandy soil. In this case, without water, the tomatoes will not survive until mid-summer. To make watering effective, try to follow these rules:
- Water only at the root. Sprinkling will increase humidity in the greenhouse and provoke the development of various tomato diseases. And in sunny weather, water, getting on the leaves, can cause sunburn. The most convenient option is drip irrigation.
- Water generously. The soil should be moistened to a great depth, that is, the root layer should always be moist. If you water tomatoes with a small amount of water, the root system will be located superficially and will constantly suffer from a lack of water and nutrition.
- Water for irrigation should be warm and settled. The optimal temperature for watering tomatoes is 20-22°C. When watered with cold tap water, plants experience stress and their immunity decreases. In addition, this is also stress for soil inhabitants.
- If tomatoes are growing in a greenhouse, do not close the windows and doors after watering, as the water will evaporate and the humidity in the greenhouse will rise. The best option is to water in the morning so that the top layer of soil or mulch dries out during the day.
As you can see, there are no clear rules for watering tomatoes: everything depends on the climate, soil and growing method. Excessive watering of tomatoes also has a negative effect on the development of plants: nutrients are washed out of the soil, the fruits become watery and can crack, and the bushes themselves are more likely to get sick. Therefore, everything is good in moderation.
