Tomatoes (Again) - Capillary Matting? - Again
 

Sorry to post again - but I am quite desperate.

I watered them to day - stood in about half inch of water - but I did
have to watch carefully to make sure not too wet.

Or - as my partner says- don't be so paranoid.

Anyone - pleeeeeeeze?

What do others do?


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Some may recall I lost all of my tomatoes do due damping off - (thanks
for all comments and support)

All of the replacements are coming along quite nicely - BUT I am
paranoid about losing them again.

I am currently watering the 10inch trays by standing in water until
the top of the compost starts to show moisture. But this is a pain -
and the surface of the composts dries out and cracks. All plants are
healthy and getting bigger so it is working.


However, I wonder if using capillary matting would be the answer -
giving a steady supply of moisture to the plants but without any
danger of over watering.

Suggestion/Comments please

Tomatoes (Again) - Capillary Matting? - Again
 

"Judith Smith" wrote ...

Sorry to post again - but I am quite desperate.

I watered them to day - stood in about half inch of water - but I did
have to watch carefully to make sure not too wet.

Or - as my partner says- don't be so paranoid.

Anyone - pleeeeeeeze?

What do others do?

I water them and let them drain through, they are on my slatted staging so
they never sit in water (they aren't bog plants).

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
just W. of London

Tomatoes (Again) - Capillary Matting? - Again
 

Judith Smith writes

Sorry to post again - but I am quite desperate.

I watered them to day - stood in about half inch of water - but I did
have to watch carefully to make sure not too wet.

How big are the plants at the moment?

Tiny seedlings I keep moist but not wet - they don't use a lot of water
so it's not difficult to do. From about 3 inches onwards I give about
1cm depth of water in the top of the pot, this drains through into the
tray beneath but is reabsorbed by the soil over the next couple of
hours. Then I water again when the top of the soil is dry but before the
leaves are drooping (though the occasional root droop doesn't do lasting
harm).

Standing in water for any length of time is a bad idea. The most I'd let
them stand in water is a couple of days (eg if I'm going away for a
couple of days and the forecast is for warm weather).
--
Kay

Tomatoes (Again) - Capillary Matting? - Again
 

On Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:32:29 +0100, K wrote:

Judith Smith writes

Sorry to post again - but I am quite desperate.

I watered them to day - stood in about half inch of water - but I did
have to watch carefully to make sure not too wet.

How big are the plants at the moment?

Tiny seedlings I keep moist but not wet - they don't use a lot of water
so it's not difficult to do. From about 3 inches onwards I give about
1cm depth of water in the top of the pot, this drains through into the
tray beneath but is reabsorbed by the soil over the next couple of
hours. Then I water again when the top of the soil is dry but before the
leaves are drooping (though the occasional root droop doesn't do lasting
harm).

Standing in water for any length of time is a bad idea. The most I'd let
them stand in water is a couple of days (eg if I'm going away for a
couple of days and the forecast is for warm weather).


Between just coming through to 1.5inches - seem to vary from type to
type.

Tomatoes (Again) - Capillary Matting? - Again
 

Judith Smith writes
On Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:32:29 +0100, K wrote:

Judith Smith writes

Sorry to post again - but I am quite desperate.

I watered them to day - stood in about half inch of water - but I did
have to watch carefully to make sure not too wet.

How big are the plants at the moment?

Tiny seedlings I keep moist but not wet - they don't use a lot of water
so it's not difficult to do. From about 3 inches onwards I give about
1cm depth of water in the top of the pot, this drains through into the
tray beneath but is reabsorbed by the soil over the next couple of
hours. Then I water again when the top of the soil is dry but before the
leaves are drooping (though the occasional root droop doesn't do lasting
harm).

Standing in water for any length of time is a bad idea. The most I'd let
them stand in water is a couple of days (eg if I'm going away for a
couple of days and the forecast is for warm weather).


Between just coming through to 1.5inches - seem to vary from type to
type.

In that case, water enough to get compost moist, drain away any water
still in the tray after an hour or so, keep them in good light but out
of direct sunlight if possible so that they stay moist for as long as
possible, and definitely don't allow them to get to 'droopy leaf' stage
before rewatering ;-)

I've never tried capillary matting so no idea how well that would work.

--
Kay