Tomato Watering

[Geoff]

Did you spot the man on the telly last night showing off his tomato blossom end rot? He claimed you could prevent it by watering well twice a week. That is the opposite of what I believe and do, I keep my tomatoes evenly moist by watering daily, occasionally more if it is really hot. What do you do? Here is what the RHS say:

"The soil or potting compost should be kept consistently moist throughout the growing season and must never be allowed to dry out. During hot periods it may need watering two or more times a day. It is better to water twice a day than once with a double volume. Growing bag compost is very difficult to moisten evenly and thoroughly once it has dried out."

[oldherbaceous]

I didn’t see it Geoff, but, the only time I have suffered with it is, when I have been very busy with work and the plants have dried out completely.

[oldherbaceous]

So yes, I try to keep mine moist all the while.

[Westi]

I don't water the whole plot daily as I can only get down every 2nd day & then it does, but the tunnel has the soaker running around it which lasts 3 days & other important greedy beds have single little round ball dripper's you fill up with clay things on the bottom which also lasts around 3 days, & have drip bags you hang on a stake & also wind around the beds. These however are pretty pants as the bags empty really quickly when the water gets to a low point.

I personally think growers who can't get down daily generally have a system to keep them damp, but just as many do their best & keep their fingers crossed due to other commitments & this watering info must really make them angsty. I run by the thought that regularity in watering will suffice as it creates a pattern for the plants & mine are fine with this routine. The soil was well prepped & the watering is specific to the roots & I've not had any blossom end rot for a few years, the last time was when we had big rain that soaked inside under the tunnel skin flap. They did not like this over watering at all!

I think the RHS should offer alternatives, thinking folk can get down twice a day is not really realistic in todays world & they should cover dripper's & the like so alternatives are available to aid their decision making, but off course not all could afford the alternatives with plot prices. Soz RHS , in principle your right, but throw in some alternatives!

[Geoff]

Perhaps I was being unkind to him - his were in borders and that paragraph of the RHS seemed to be pots and grobags, next paragraph was more like your situation:

"Automatic watering systems, use of larger containers, or growing in border soil are all potential solutions where frequent watering is not possible. Covering the soil or potting compost with mulch will also help to conserve moisture around plant roots."

[snooky]

I grow my tomatoes in 25 litre pots and then put a Halo plant pot into the compost and plant the tomato plant into the Halo pot.I water with 5 litres of water twice a week with feed one time.If i see that the Halo pot is dry then I will top up.I find it works for me and is a convenient way of keeping the compost moist.