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Old 21-04-2008, 10:32 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
K K is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
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Default How much water for tomato plants in pots?

Chris ] writes
In article , K
writes
I water from above, 1cm(ish) deep whatever the size of the pot, and
repeat whenever the soil is dry.
If you're watering from below, put about an inch in the tray, and
throw away any that hasn't been soaked up a couple of hours later.
Feel for dryness rather than look - compost can look damp when it
isn't.
Get used to examining at the soil and the plants, rather than being
prescriptive - the amount of water needed varies enormously with both
temperature and wind.


Thanks for your advice, which sounds sensible.
Perhaps I should have an extra plant pot, with no seedling in it, for
examination of the dryness of the compost. Then I could get a finger
down deep into it.


Remember the main reason for the soil getting dry isn't evaporation from
the surface of the soil, it is because the plant is actively bringing
water up from the roots and releasing it from the leaves. So a plantless
pot won't get as dry as quickly as one with a plant in it.

BTW there isn't much wind in the kitchen!


That was a general purpose comment! ;-)

(I'm always aware that lots of people may be lurking, just as I learn a
lot from the answers to questions other people ask)

--
Kay