The optimal water supply for tomato plants is a challenge for every hobby gardener. It should be constant, moderate, adapted to the weather and not wet the leaves. Discover the best solutions for professional tomato watering here.
How do I water tomato plants properly?
For optimal watering of tomato plants, you can use an inverted bottle in the ground, a clay pot, clay amphorae or a bead tube. These methods allow for a continuous, moderate supply of water without wetting the plants' foliage.
Simple and ingenious – watering tomatoes with the bottle
When the thermometer rises, watering thirsty tomato plants becomes a constant activity. Watering can after watering can is dragged into the bed and greenhouse because the leaves must not get wet due to the threat of late blight. The effort is at least halved if you simply bottle the tomatoes. This is how the simple and clever principle works:
- fill a used glass or PET bottle with water
- turn it over quickly and stick it in the ground next to a tomato plant
- the water is continuously released from the bottle to the roots
The dosage of irrigation water can be regulated even more effectively using irrigation tips (€14.00 on Amazon) from the garden center or hardware store. The inexpensive attachments fit any standard mineral water bottle.
How a Flower Pot Waters Tomato Plants
A classic clay flower pot can quickly be transformed into an intelligent irrigation system for tomatoes outdoors and in the greenhouse. Knowledgeable hobby gardeners dig the clay pot upright into the ground next to the plant and fill it with water. A sufficient amount of moisture continually reaches the roots. The flower pot is filled every evening to keep evaporation to a minimum.
Water your tomatoes on the balcony with small clay amphoras that are inserted into the bucket. Tomato plants in large pots can also be watered with an upturned small bottle.
Pearl hose reduces evaporation to a minimum
Since the consumption of water always raises a cost issue, tomato gardeners are increasingly favoring drip irrigation using a pearl hose. This is a perforated water hose that is laid in the bed. Since the water only comes out very slowly, hardly anything is lost through evaporation. The plant roots, on the other hand, constantly receive the moisture they need without a drop reaching the leaves.
Tips & Tricks
A cheap and effective solution for water supply comes in the form of a plastic irrigation ring, suitable for all tomatoes in the bed. The tomato is planted in the middle of the ring. The irrigation water comes into the outer ring and is constantly delivered to the roots via a small opening.