Whether you’re new to tomato plants, or an experienced gardener, there’s one thing every grower asks: How often should you water your tomato plants? Tomato plants are among the most popular choices for homegrown vegetables – they are easy to use growfast dried plumIt produces delicious results quickly.
The problem is that it is very easy to make a mistake when it comes to these plants. And while you can learn How to get rid of tomato blossom end rotMaintaining a tomato plant that has been overwatered or underwatered is another challenge. Before you know it, the plant is past its recovery period, and you’ve lost your tomato supply.
That’s why it’s essential for all tomato plant lovers to learn how often and when to water these plants. Here, we cover what you need to know to keep your tomato plants flowering through the seasons.
How often should you water tomato plants?
How often you water your tomato plants and how much water you should use varies depending on the maturity of the plant as well as outside conditions.
If you are working with seedlings, the soil will need only so little water that it is moist but not soggy. This level of moisture will be adequate for the seeds to germinate. However, the soil will dry out quickly, and because the plant is still young and growing, it needs regular care. You should aim to water the seedlings once a day, and possibly twice if the plants are exposed to a hot climate.
When it comes to moving your seedlings into pots, you should make sure that the pots have proper drainage holes and a tray. In this way, excess water can drain from the soil and collect under it. If the water can’t drain, it will sit in the soil and choke the roots, eventually causing the roots to rot, so this detail is important. Both clay and plastic plant pots work well for this, although plastic will retain water better between these two types. If you choose to use a hanging basket, keep in mind that it will require more frequent watering because the soil will not hold water as efficiently.
With mature tomato plants, it is best to water generously and regularly. Be sure to keep up with his progress and adjust your routine as necessary. Water your tomato plants every day in the morning to begin with, aiming to put in about 1-2 inches of water over the course of the week. If you live in a hot climate or your tomatoes are in pots, be sure to take some time to check the soil’s moisture levels in the afternoons as well—you can do this by dipping your finger into the top inch of soil. If the soil is already dry, you may need to water it twice daily. Likewise, if the temperature drops, you can cut back on the amount of water you use.
Do not over-water the soil – it should be moist, but not soggy, otherwise you risk rotting the roots again. You should also not water your tomato plants if the soil is still wet from the previous watering session. If you are not sure about the soil conditions, you can always buy a soil meter. We recommend the XLUX Soil Moisture Meter ($12.99, Amazon (Opens in a new tab)). If your tomato plants are outside, remember that rainwater will count toward your weekly limit as well.
When watering tomato plants, apply water slowly and deeply around the base of the stem – this speed is essential for better control of quantity and application. You should extend the water into the soil to encourage widespread root growth as well. Do not tip the water directly over the plant and leaves; This can encourage disease and waste any water that evaporates before it hits the soil.
When should you water tomato plants?
As mentioned earlier, watering tomato plants in the morning is best. This is because it gives moisture a chance to penetrate into the soil before it evaporates in the sun’s peak hours of the day. This also means that the plant has a chance to dry out before being exposed to sunlight and heat, which may prevent burning.
While watering your tomato plants again in the afternoon may be necessary if the heat of the day has dried out the soil, do not water your tomato plants in the evening. Low temperature combined with humidity can encourage diseases such as fungus and tomato blossom end rot.
If you’re also interested in indoor plants, check out our guides on how to care for succulents, how to replant succulents and how to plant weed seeds and have a greener yard. We also cover how to care for air plants.
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