How to Water a Tomato Garden
When a tomato garden is hydrated properly, it helps the growth to its full potential and fight off any diseases. A tomato is roughly 95 percent water and requires about 2 gallons of water on a weekly basis. When watered incorrectly, tomatoes can stop growing, have rotted blossom-ends and a host of other problems.
Instructions:
- Install a soaker a couple inches from the foundation of the tomato garden. Be sure the water is able to flow through it freely. A soaker hose contains the moisture, as the water is sent right into the soil. It reduces the risk of fungal disease by keeping the foliage dry.
- Cover the hose and soil around the tomato plants with straw to keep the water from evaporating. Make sure to keep the straw one inch away from the stem so that the air can circulate.
- Soak the soil to the root when the surface dries, but just right before the tomatoes begin to wilt. The infrequency of irrigation promotes strong root development, unlike constant superficial watering. You should start off with just one inch of water a week, then increase the amount of moisture and decrease the length between waterings in intense heat.
- Water the tomatoes in the early morning before the sun rises, so that when it rises the sun will be able to warm up the soil. When the soil is cooler, few tomatoes are produced.