Allotments 4 All

Think I read somewhere  that tomatoes take up calcium during the night, so best to make sure they are not short of water then, as this was a cause of blossom end rot, some of our allomenteers seem to stand their pots of toms continually in water,  :(   what is your experience please ?       

I always water everything in the evening,

Tomatoes are quite happy to grow hyroponically, so i see no reason why standing them in water continually would do them much harm,

But, , , 

I suspect that there is gonna be at least one person disagree with me


;)

Not sure on this me I follow your mates on the allotment all my pots sit on saucers which are watered about three times a day at the moment, but on a very hot day you can double that. (The saucers hold about half a pint )And the same with hanging baskets I always keep them moist. Had trouble last year but I was putting a fleece on them every night, and they caught some type of blight. All I can say is do what suits you if its tryed and tested and it works your on a winner :)

Nearly all plants watered in the evening apart from cucumber which I have been advised to water in the morning as they don't like wet roots.

Tomatoes do not need large amounts of water, you should not give a tomato plant more than two pints of water a day and that amount would only apply to the hotests days.
The roots of the plant need to breath giving them to much water will clog the root system and reduce its growth.
Blossem End Rot is caused by an imbalance of potash and calcium in the compost,when the compost is allowed to dry out so you need to water reglarly with measured amounts to keep the compost moist.
Nothing wrong with standing them in water but you must still feed from the top.
The best meathod for growing tomatoes for me is ring culture.

Thank you for your ideas, I have 5 plants in a 10Ft by 1ft bed in a heated greenhouse at home and 4 more 'down the plot'.  Personally I think standing in water is not advisable , a bit like the soggy growbag , they don't do well , I was watering ( automatically) every 4 hours from 10 am to 3 pm , but I'm going to try an extra top up at 5pm. 

Quote from: davyw1 on April 27, 2011, 08:27:37
Tomatoes do not need large amounts of water, you should not give a tomato plant more than two pints of water a day and that amount would only apply to the hotests days.

You obviously don't grow many tomatoes.  ???

I think that one reason you get the advice about watering in the morning for some crops is that those that are susceptable to slug damage are better watered in the morning as slugs are less active in the day to benifit from damp soil. But no worrys with tomatos on the slug front really so dont suppose it matters much just as long as they get the water.

x sunloving

Quote from: no-lottie on April 27, 2011, 10:43:23

Quote from: davyw1 on April 27, 2011, 08:27:37
Tomatoes do not need large amounts of water, you should not give a tomato plant more than two pints of water a day and that amount would only apply to the hotests days.

You obviously don't grow many tomatoes.  ???

Sorry, why is it you think i dont grow many tomatoes.

I try to water as much as possible in the morning - if I water in the evening then the plants are sat around in cold water all night.  I suspect it make svery little difference however but It is best for my chilis and thats when the toms get watered as well.
Just a couple of points - I wouldn't let any plant sit around in water continually.  The water is likely to go a bit stagnent and encourage fungal growth.  The point about hydro growing is different as in hydo the water is flowing all the time and being reoxygenated - you dont just stick your plants in a big tub - whatever hydro tech you use the water is in constant motion.

Two pints a day sounds okay to me - I personally think people tend to over water most plants esp toms..Little and often is much better.  Dont forget that toms originate from the dry climate of South America..

I was looking up info on the toms I have grown. One of them is early girl & there some some info saying that it's a good tomato for 'dry land farming'. They are only watered when planted & left to their own devices after that & the taste is supposed to be better than the heritage ones. It was on wikipedia. I might give it a try.

I always water everything in the evening, but always check the tomatoes during the day and usually give them another soak  :)

Learned quickly not to let them dry out too much and then over water them as they end up splitting  :(

I just read through my earlier post and realised i missed a bit out when i said

Nothing wrong with standing them in water but you must still feed from the top. I should of added, " providing its only to allow the plant to drink and not permanent.

I wouldn't really know if there is a good time for watering tomatoes, i do mine mid morning, the main thing is to keep the compost moist but not wet, i don't like the idea of watering them in the evening as they would be standing in cold water all night and there is a possibility that could lead to blight or some other fungal disease.
Watering little and often i don't agree with as water will take the easyest route out of the pot or grow bag and leave dry pockets

I rest my case, m'lud  :D  :D  :D

I noramlly set the autowatering to go off for two hours in the morning.... seemed to work ok last year so will repeat.... though now I'm planing straight in the ground it's going to be every other day...

chrisc