Tomato plants - how much water?

Merkin

Hi guys, I got two adorable little cherry tomato plants last week and have them at the back of the house (South-facing) which is a real little sunspot and gets a lot of heat. They are thriving! My Mum said that tomato plants are some of the thirstiest plants you can get so I've been giving them lots - maybe half a pint each every evening. How much is too much though and when is the optimum time for watering? Haven't had tomato plants before so any advice from green fingered Boardies most welcome! Thanks

mp22

Are they in pots or planted into the ground?

Merkin

In big pots. They're only tiny at this stage (although I'm amazed how tall they've grown within the space of a week!) but OH re potted them as said they are likely to become quite big.

mp22

A good soaking in the morning should do,if the weather gets very hot water them in the afternoon but! keep the water off the plants.

Merkin

Thank you so much. When you say a good soaking, do you mean saturate the soil and let it absorb? I only ask because I seem to be giving them LOTS of water and they seem to be thriving but I just don't want to damage them or drown them, I'm becoming quite attached to them! It just seems odd to use such a large volume of water! Great tip on not letting water near the plants themselves, thank you. One more thing, should I get a special feed for them or are they fine with just water at this stage? They are about 2.5-3 inches high.

mp22

Yes let the soil get good and wet,there are drain holes in the bottom of the pots?

Feed the once a week until they set fruit after that I feed mine every day with very dilute liquid tomato feed.

Merkin

Yes, there are drain holes. Thank you so much for all your helpful advice, you've been great. I will post a photo when they get bigger, Cheers!

redser7

The best way would be to sit the pot in a dish and water from the bottom. Keep filling until it stops taking up water, then tip the excess left in the dish. Tomatoes don't like to sit in water. But feed at the top of the soil where the feeding roots are. Eventually you'll get used to it by lifting the pot to feel how heavy it is and if it needs more water or not.

Merkin

Excellent tip, thank you! I'm stunned by how quickly they've shot up in just a few short days, they are thriving!

redser7

Great isn't it! Had my first ripe tom yesterday Long may it last

Heroditas

redser7 wrote: »

Great isn't it! Had my first ripe tom yesterday Long may it last

Wow, nice one.
I started growing them for the first time this year and have seven in large pots out in the greenhouse.
I've had flowers on quite a few of them for about 3 weeks now but no fruit yet.
The leaves themselves are very healthy.
Maybe water them a bit more? I'm currently only watering them twice a week because I'm afraid of waterlogging the soil.
I'm also giving them tomato feed once a week.

Macy0161

Depends on when you started, what variety and conditions they've been kept I would've thought, rather than water and feed?

Bob Flowerdew reckons better flavour from your tomatoes if you keep watering to a minimum and don't feed them the traditional high potash feed. I haven't got around to experimenting on that though - home grown, ripened on the plant taste so much better anyway!

Heroditas

I have a couple of moneymakers, can't remember the other two varieties at the moment. Think one is a cherry variety.
The plants are continuing to grow so I must be doing something right. Just getting slightly concerned that there appears to be an awful lot of foliage rather than flowers..... maybe I need to start pinching off some of the leaves?

Technophobe

Hi Heroditas,

No need to be concerned, it is early yet for fruit to be setting on tomato plants..
With the warm weather, the plants will have put on alot of growth in last 2 weeks...
The fact that they are starting to flower now shows you are heading in the right direction....Just give them a weekly feed and lightly shake the plants that do have flowers..You will have fruit soon enough...:D

redser7

Mine are pretty early so dont worry. I sowed them in early February and they are Maskotka which is an early variety anyway.
Yours sound nice and healthy so keep doing what you're doing. I wouldnt increase watering unless you notice signs like wilting.

Letyourselfgo

Regarding the foilage, remember to pinch out the side shoots.
I've got 5 growing all of the same type. Two just planted outside, 2 being kept in the greenhouse and another also in the greenhouse in a terracotta pot with only half the pot filled as per gardners world last week which I'll be given a daily feed, looking forward to seeing what method works for me