Watering Tomato Plants

[5ft Diva]

My tomato plants are looking good but I'm not sure if I'm watering them enough or too much. Can someone tell me how to take care of them?

[smed]

I'm going to find this out. I had a problem with it last year. And my tomatoes had brown spots on the bottoms of them. I remember I found the answer. But have forgotten since then. So let me look through my folder and I'll get back to you on that.

[Dia Minha]

If I remember right the brown spots on the bottom are from watering tomato plants from the top. You need to water them from the bottom. I saw this on Good Things Utah with Joy in the Garden. She said that it didn't ruin the tomato though. Just cut off the brown spot and use the good part of the tomato.

It seems like someone in the neighborhood said that someone told her it was due to inconsistent watering. So, I guess I don't have a for sure answer, but that might give you a place to start.

Dia

[5ft Diva]

Thanks guys, keep the info coming!

[smed]

I've heard the same info as what Dia Minha said, but when I looked into it last year it was because I either watered them too much or not enough. This is on my to do list today! Hopefully I can get to it.

[Dia Minha]

Just found this:

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Dia

[bookworm]

as I recall you need to give them a drink every day when it's this hot. That's what I recall. I heard that inconsistent watering (skipping too many days, or more than they need) caused the black patch on the bottoms.

good luck!

[5ft Diva]

Thanks, Dia. That information was helpful. BS has been having the boys put the grass clippings around my plants so hopefull that will have done the trick for this year.

[Big_Sissy]

My immediate thought was on the grass clippings. Just an old trick my Dad passed onto me, but I didn't really know why. He always has excellent Tomatoes.

[smed]

This is sooo funny, because this year I've thought I should put my grass clippings around my tomato plants! Too Weird.

[Green Thumb]

With insufficient watering, tomatoes cannot absorb calcium and develop blossom end rot (brown mushy spots), so....water more. Yes, do NOT water over the top. Use a watering can and water at the base. When transplanting, build a little dirt dam all the way around the tomato about 10" from the plant, an inch or two high. When you first plant the tomato, water the hole you dug, use a fertilizer with a high middle number (to develop good roots) for about three weeks, and build that dam mentioned above. Don't let the plant dry out. A quart of water a day in each dam for the first 3-4 weeks should be sufficient. Build up to a gallon or two a week. As the plant grows, increase the water. A mature fruit bearing plant can have 4 foot deep roots. Fill the dam, go to the next plant, and so on. Then go back and fill it again. If the weather is average, say 65 - 75, the first fill may not absorb too quick, so don't overdo it. If it's hot, say 75-100, water the two times every day. You decide how much. Lack of water equals lack of fruit, but too much and the plant can't absorb oxygen. You can use an all purpose fertilizer like 20-20-20 or one for tomatoes like 15-15-30. The higher last number is for flowering and fruit. The first number is for green growth (like your lawn)...lots of nitrogen. As for mulch, I don't like to use grass clippings. They are all nitrogen. Not what a tomato needs. For ease, buy plants marked determinate. You don't have to prune these. They grow to a set size and make their fruit. There are many kinds, so experiment...different sizes, shapes, etc. Floramerica is good. Manitoba is good (a little smaller tomatoes though). Celebrity is good too. Good luck.

[Big_Sissy]

Thanks GT, and welcome to BodynSpirit.

Just to clarify, we only use the grass clippings on top of the soil to help keep the ground moist and keep the weeds away.

So far the T's seem to be doing well, we've got some coming on now and they look great.

But thank you for the watering tips. We'll certainly do better next time.

[5ft Diva]

Wow! No kidding you're a green thumb. I could've used you a couple of months ago. I hope you stay in touch more often. Thanks for the tips!

[Green Thumb]

I made it sound like fertilize every day. Some people do put a pinch of fertilizer in the watering can every time they water, but you should only go full strength as often as recommended.

A good site is [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
I do have to stress that the amount of water does depend on temperature. My watering comments should be tempered by the fact my spring and summer have been hotter than normal so I have watered more often. Normally, an inch or two a week is sufficient. Sorry for any confusion. As for the nitrogen, I like a balanced fertilizer after the first few weeks and then a high end number when flowers appear, unlike what this site suggests.

Another good site is [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] - lots of pics so you can see what is out there - meaty, lots of seeds, smooth, etc.
See you at harvest.

[5ft Diva]

THANK YOU!