Howdy!

I am growing a variety of tomatoes in pots and in the ground. Lately, the
very hot days are causing the tomatoes to thrive, and I finally have about
15 green tomatoes on my Early Girl, which is the furthest along.

By late afternoon, the tomatoes are in shade, looking healthy but the soil
is somewhat dry. I know it is bad for any plants to be wet overnight
(because it encourages pests). But should I give these plants another shot
of water at this time to moisten the soil for any overnight growth that
occurs? Do the tomatoes just sleep overnight or do they grow?

Stephen
Boulder, CO

Generally they will use some water overnight, but not as much as during
the day. If the soil is moist (under the surface) they should be fine.

Normally you should not need to water every day. Their roots go down
below the surface and that is what needs water. A little water every day
will only keep the top of the soil damp and may not be helping your plants
at all.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math


"Stephen Younge" wrote in message
et...
Howdy!

I am growing a variety of tomatoes in pots and in the ground. Lately, the
very hot days are causing the tomatoes to thrive, and I finally have about
15 green tomatoes on my Early Girl, which is the furthest along.

By late afternoon, the tomatoes are in shade, looking healthy but the soil
is somewhat dry. I know it is bad for any plants to be wet overnight
(because it encourages pests). But should I give these plants another shot
of water at this time to moisten the soil for any overnight growth that
occurs? Do the tomatoes just sleep overnight or do they grow?

Stephen
Boulder, CO

On Sun, 13 Jul 2003 17:33:54 GMT, "Stephen Younge"
wrote:

Howdy!

I am growing a variety of tomatoes in pots and in the ground. Lately, the
very hot days are causing the tomatoes to thrive, and I finally have about
15 green tomatoes on my Early Girl, which is the furthest along.

By late afternoon, the tomatoes are in shade, looking healthy but the soil
is somewhat dry. I know it is bad for any plants to be wet overnight
(because it encourages pests). But should I give these plants another shot
of water at this time to moisten the soil for any overnight growth that
occurs? Do the tomatoes just sleep overnight or do they grow?


I'd go ahead and water them if they need it, regardless of
what time of day it is. I've always done this: especially
when I worked, plants had to take their watering whenever it
was convenient for me to do it.

Probably others would do differently.

Pat

"Stephen Younge" wrote in message . net...
Howdy!

I am growing a variety of tomatoes in pots and in the ground. Lately, the
very hot days are causing the tomatoes to thrive, and I finally have about
15 green tomatoes on my Early Girl, which is the furthest along.

By late afternoon, the tomatoes are in shade, looking healthy but the soil
is somewhat dry. I know it is bad for any plants to be wet overnight
(because it encourages pests). But should I give these plants another shot
of water at this time to moisten the soil for any overnight growth that
occurs? Do the tomatoes just sleep overnight or do they grow?

Stephen
Boulder, CO

Keep the foliage dry and don't splash soil up when watering.
You can give the pots a drink anytime they need it

"Stephen Younge" wrote:

Howdy!

I am growing a variety of tomatoes in pots and in the ground. Lately, the
very hot days are causing the tomatoes to thrive, and I finally have about
15 green tomatoes on my Early Girl, which is the furthest along.
Clay pots dry faster and will need more water. I have dwarf sunflowers
growing in small 4" pots and I water them twice a day on hot days.
After a warm night I often find a dead-looking lump of green hanging
off the side of the pot. However the bigger the pot the better the
retention. Make sure when you do water it you water deeply. I usually
water my big one with a quick layer of water across the topsoil, then
let it seep while I work on other plants, come back for another short
bath and then back to others. By the third check I usually see water
coming out the bottom and know I've got water down through a
reasonable amount of the dirt.

By late afternoon, the tomatoes are in shade, looking healthy but the soil
is somewhat dry. I know it is bad for any plants to be wet overnight
(because it encourages pests). But should I give these plants another shot
of water at this time to moisten the soil for any overnight growth that
occurs? Do the tomatoes just sleep overnight or do they grow?

Stephen
Boulder, CO


DiGiTAL ViNYL (no email)
Zone 6b/7, Westchester Co, NY, 1 mile off L.I.Sound
1st Year Gardener

By late afternoon, the tomatoes are in shade, looking healthy but the soil
is somewhat dry. I know it is bad for any plants to be wet overnight

Get some plastic gallon milk jugs. Poke a hole in the bottom of each
one with an ice pick. Place one beside each tomato plant, on the
north side, so as snsot to shade the plant. Bury them slightly-- an
inch or so.

Water your tomatoes by filling each jug with water. The water will go
into the soil where the roots are, and the foliage will not get wet.

An additional advantage is that you will not be watering surface
weeds.

vince norris

I do this, but i also lay the hose down and the jugs magically fill
and when the last two are full, i know the plants are watered well. I
have toads living in about 5 out of the 12 jugs. They are flush with
the ground. Real good for hot hot texas.



On Sun, 13 Jul 2003 22:02:07 -0400, vincent p. norris
wrote:

By late afternoon, the tomatoes are in shade, looking healthy but the soil
is somewhat dry. I know it is bad for any plants to be wet overnight

Get some plastic gallon milk jugs. Poke a hole in the bottom of each
one with an ice pick. Place one beside each tomato plant, on the
north side, so as snsot to shade the plant. Bury them slightly-- an
inch or so.

Water your tomatoes by filling each jug with water. The water will go
into the soil where the roots are, and the foliage will not get wet.

An additional advantage is that you will not be watering surface
weeds.

vince norris

Stephen Younge wrote:

Howdy!

I am growing a variety of tomatoes in pots and in the ground. Lately, the
very hot days are causing the tomatoes to thrive, and I finally have about
15 green tomatoes on my Early Girl, which is the furthest along.

By late afternoon, the tomatoes are in shade, looking healthy but the soil
is somewhat dry. I know it is bad for any plants to be wet overnight
(because it encourages pests). But should I give these plants another shot
of water at this time to moisten the soil for any overnight growth that
occurs? Do the tomatoes just sleep overnight or do they grow?

Amount of water is less important than delivering it consistently. Too much
water followed by too little produces cracked tomatoes. A cheap timer and a
soaker hose are your plants' best friends.

If your tomatoes haven't wilted by midday, they're getting a surplus of
water. Soil surface appearance can be misleading. Soil six inches down
gives you a more accurate indication.

vincent p. norris wrote:
By late afternoon, the tomatoes are in shade, looking healthy but the soil
is somewhat dry. I know it is bad for any plants to be wet overnight


Get some plastic gallon milk jugs. Poke a hole in the bottom of each
one with an ice pick. Place one beside each tomato plant, on the
north side, so as snsot to shade the plant. Bury them slightly-- an
inch or so.

Water your tomatoes by filling each jug with water. The water will go
into the soil where the roots are, and the foliage will not get wet.

An additional advantage is that you will not be watering surface
weeds.

vince norris

Now, THAT sounds like a plan for next year! Thanks! A soaker hose
arrangement with our property layout isn't really do-able.

--
Steve

Just water the b***** things in the evening, don't wet the foliage. This way
they have the night to take up water without the stress of the sun.
There is so much Bull Sh** spoken about watering plants,
Don't water in sunlight or the droplets of water act like magnifying glass
and burn the leaf,
Don't water at night.
Hose over the plants with week feed as folia feed.
Don't get the leaves wet
Etc. Etc.
Look at what the commercial growers do.
I have known us watering 24 hours a day in hot dry weather, we try to not
have the plant wet in humid conditions.

A 6ft tomato plant can use 10 pints or more water a day, so water
accordingly.
When you water make sure the water goes DEEP. not just the top 2 or 3
inches , its better to water well once a week with the water going 12 to 15
inches down.
After watering, hoe the surface lightly to leave a loose top half inch or
so, this will stop most of the loss of water from evaporation as it breaks
the capillary action that draws the water to the surface, also prevents any
weeds that would compete for the water.
As an alternative to milk containers you can cut the bottom off 2
litre(4pint) and sink the bottle leaving a 1 inch rim easier to fill, or
plant the bottle neck up and punch holes in the bottom, slower watering and
slow to fill.
--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

On Mon, 14 Jul 2003 22:09:34 +0100, "David Hill"
wrote:

Just water the b***** things in the evening, don't wet the foliage. This way
they have the night to take up water without the stress of the sun.
There is so much Bull Sh** spoken about watering plants,
Don't water in sunlight or the droplets of water act like magnifying glass
and burn the leaf,
Don't water at night.
Hose over the plants with week feed as folia feed.
Don't get the leaves wet
Etc. Etc.


I agree. I water (basically) when it's convenient for me to
do so.

Pat

"Pat Meadows" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 14 Jul 2003 22:09:34 +0100, "David Hill"
wrote:

Just water the b***** things in the evening, don't wet the foliage. This
way
they have the night to take up water without the stress of the sun.
There is so much Bull Sh** spoken about watering plants,
Don't water in sunlight or the droplets of water act like magnifying
glass
and burn the leaf,
Don't water at night.
Hose over the plants with week feed as folia feed.
Don't get the leaves wet
Etc. Etc.


I agree. I water (basically) when it's convenient for me to
do so.

Whether they be tomatoes, corn or African Violets, the best time to water
your plants is when they need it. A lot of hooey has been spread by
newspaper and magazine writers who have to come up with something to write
every day or month.

Bob
Chicken Little was right.

In article ,
Stephen Younge wrote:

... I know it is bad for any plants to be wet overnight
(because it encourages pests). ...

I find this stricture on watering at night to be problematic, since here
in Camelot it only rains after sundown.

Of course, it always clears up in the morning, usually by 8AM.

--
--
Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN |

"....I find this stricture on watering at night to be problematic, since
here in Camelot it only rains after sundown ...."

And you have so many good Knights...........

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

On 15 Jul 2003 13:13:37 GMT, (Bert Hyman)
wrote:

In article ,
Stephen Younge wrote:

... I know it is bad for any plants to be wet overnight
(because it encourages pests). ...

I find this stricture on watering at night to be problematic, since here
in Camelot it only rains after sundown.


That was always my thought too.

Also, 'the water droplets burns the leaves if it's sunny' -
it often rains, and then the sun comes out... no leaf
burning takes place.

Pat