How to Deep Water Tomato Plants
Every summer I spend countless hours trying to get the tomato plants deep watered even though they're in raised beds. It's so hot and windy in the summers that even drip hoses aren't effective (unless I leave them on 24/7).
Actually, the Worm Tower inspired this idea of burying a perforated tube for deep watering. I remembered reading somewhere (sorry, can't remember where) that deep watering tomatoes makes for a stronger, healthier plant and, a bumper crop! But, truthfully? I'm looking for a time and water saver every bit as much!
My intention was to buy drain pipe (pvc with pre-drilled holes). It was much too expensive and too big around for what I had in mind. But, right next to the PVC was this perfed tubing and it was cheap ($5.50 for 10ft @ Home Depot). And, it was small enough to fit in the Pathfinder :)
I bought two 10ft lengths for $11.00. I cut twelve 16" pieces for two tomato beds (6 tubes for each bed). Less than $1 for each tube...and that makes me happy!
I used a chop saw to cut the tubing, worked great!
I had already planted my tomatoes so I had to be careful digging in the tubes but it was doable.
I have approximately 12" of good soil in my raised beds, then I hit clay and shale...I dug down to bottom, inserted the tube then pulled the soil back in and pressed it firmly around the tubing. If your beds are deeper than mine, you can cut your lengths a little longer.
I put one tube between each plant and one tube on each end of my rectangular bed.
In my digging around, I was happy to see lots of earthworms! To christen the Deep Water summer season and give the worms a special treat, I poured two pails of weak manure tea in each tube, followed by another dousing of plain ol water later that evening.
Warning! I've been advised by a master gardener that I might need bigger tomato cages when using this method. Hurray!!
Be sure to share your deep water tales...inquiring minds want to know!
Rebecca
posted by Rebecca @ 8:42 AM
41 Comments
41 Comments:
I did something similar this year with milk jugs. I cut off the tops, made a couple holes in the bottom-edge, and sank them between each plant. I hope it is worth it! I like the fact that when I water them I can SEE that there is at least a gallon of water going to each plant. Otherwise the water seems to just run off one and on to another. BUT, yours LOOKS much nicer. :)
Jess I like this method because of the depth access. Like you, I would battle getting an even watering down too and, would end up with compacted soil as a result of letting the water run. So now I'm saving myself time, water and avoiding additional soil compaction.
this sounds interesting. did you cut holes in the tubing? Do you then just pour water in each tube? If so how often? Thanks for sharing.
No, I didn't have to cut holes. If you look carefully at the close up of the tubing you see the slits that are pre-cut, as it's perforated tubing. I like this tubing as it's really inexpensive and provides a slower percolation of the water into the soil vs. larger holes in PVC drainage pipe.
When I water, I fill each tube twice. Ideally, I water once a week but in our current hot and windy weather...it's twice a week.
I wonder what it would be like to have to consider watering our veggie beds? We GROW water here in Scotland! Looks like a really good idea though - wonder if it works for draining off water?
LOL, I consider your plight to be like those annoying people that can't GAIN weight! The grass is always greener on the other side eh? I would love to see your Scotland garden...feel free to post pics on the Camp Wander Facebook page!
What a wonderful tip! I have raised beds as well, but they're already planted. I will bookmark this for next year! I hope you keep us updated on the success. :o)
Here's to BIGGER cages (=
Amen and back to Home Depot I go!
This is right on time, since I just built a second raised bed (RB) this weekend! I have some rooted tomato cuttings from the spring crop to set, and will plant them this weekend. I have room in RB #1 to replant these cuttings. RB #2 is not filled yet.
I wasn't going to dig out the old tomato vines, so as to not disturb the soil micro-culture, but, I may as well. I only had 5 tomato vines growing along one short end of the 4x8' bed, so I won't disturb too much if I just dig up that end to set the tubes. I have 15 bell pepper plants at the other half of the bed, and I SURELY wish I had read this last month!
Just yesterday, I did a soil drench on each BP plant, and was wondering how I could retro-sink a ring of some sort around each one to capture and guide the water straight down, instead of all over that bed!
But, the real beauty, is that I can set these tubes in RB #2, BEFORE I plant anything! It will be used for the water-hogging, hungry hippo, broccoli, cauliflowers, and cabbages (brassicas). RIGHT ON TIME for watering and water soluble fertilizing!
Thanks for this tip!
I don't see why it wouldn't work as well in reverse, seriously, filled with gravel ~wouldn't they be similar to a "French Drain" in effect? Improving drying time by aeration?
So instead of top watering, youre filling up these tubes twice? That makes sufficent watering for your toms? Sounds doable... whst state are you in. I am in arkansas.
I would think that this type of watering would work good with muscadines/suppernongs along with pepper plants will have to try
I've done the same thing with plastic milk jugs, both the gallon and half-gallon size. perforate the empty jug with an ice pick, then bury it between the plants with the mouth above ground. fill the buried jug once a day.
Because I refuse to be limited by apartment living, I have one 18 gallon tote and a couple of five gallon containers for my tomatoes this year. I suspect this would work well in each of those as well as a bed. I layered soil and horse manure to fill the containers early so that when my seedlings are ready to go out, the material will be optimal. Perhaps in my case a smaller diameter tubing would be appropriate. I plan to put in a couple of zucchini or cucumber plants around the edge of the tomato tote. In the past, when I was keeping a small plot in the ground, I used 2 liter soda bottles sunk into the ground near each plant and filled those with water. Thanks for this great idea!
David, the whole tomato crop was SO sweet this year, I have to attribute it to this watering method. We always plant the same variaties because we're so limited here in WY, but this year...the whole crop was sweet!
Give it a go and let me know!
Great idea too!
Love your tenacity!
Great idea! What was your watering frequency and how much each day? You didnt actually use 2 pails per pipe everyday did you? Just trying to guage how much water you used as im used to watering by hose daily. thx!
I live in WY, we were DRY DRY DRY last summer! I watered twice a week, filling each tube twice per watering session. We were more than pleased with our harvest :))
hmm, ok im just trying to figure out what a good amount would be for this setup. Im in upstate NY, but it was a hot summer last year. thx for the info
I will have 85 plants this year. I will use this on all of them. What a genious idea. I will have toms, cukes, bells, snd hot peppers. I cant wait to take the pain outta watering. What is your take on the time of day to water? Also how long does it take for the water to drain out?
Greg.. what state are you in?
This is the first year that I have had a wicking bed rather than a raised bed for growing veggies. This method comes with water at the very base of the bed. I have hardly watered my veggies at all. Even on very hot days (temperatures over 100) pumpkins have not shown any water stress, and plants are fruiting really well. Yesterday I picked 45 cherry tomatoes from 4 plants. (google for information on wicking beds: they are great for areas where the rainfall is low)
This would really cut down on the weeds as well. I put black plastic down with the black rubber soaker hoses underneath then cut holes for my tomato plants. I end up with weeds around the outside of my black plastic because of the water that seeps out from under it. Instead of the soaker hoses, I am going to try this method with the perforated pipe or milk jug between each plant and see if it helps with weed control as well as more evenly watering the tomatoes. I am sure it would work for other veggies as well--peppers, eggplant, etc.
I did this idea last year with my tomatoes and peppers. It works just as well with the peppers (large plants and lots of produce).
I have a question I hope someone can help me with. I live in a mobile home park, and we are allowed to have gardens. However, I do not want to do all of the digging and hope someone can tell me if I can just frame the area in, and cover the ground with landscape fabric, and then fill the are with dirt. I want to do an area about 8'x16'. I have tomatoes, beans, lettuce, cabbage and brussell sprouts. If so, how high of a frame do I need. would 8" or higher be good for this. Thank you everyone for your help.
In my experience, if you have 8 to 10 in of soil, you're good to plant! Raised beds are the way to go...have fun :))
You can use cedar fence pickets (6" wide) and make them two high, giving you an 11 inch tall bed (all lumber is shorter than advertised). But newspaper and cardboard is a better choice for a weed block than landscape fabric.
Also, you may want to consider making your own soil mix to improve drainage, ph, and eliminate weed-contaminated soil. Just mix peat moss, compost, and vermiculite (or perlite...cheaper) equally.
Good luck!
Just curious Rebecca - I am sure you've mentioned it in your posts last fall - how did your crop turn out???
Thanks for asking Melissa...the crop was stellar! We always make a huge batch of cooked down tomatoes to use over the winter for marinara sauce etc. This crop was so sweet, we never needed to add tomato paste to sweeten it up :)) Very happy with this method!
Ideally,how close to the tomato plant would you put the pipe? How long after planting did you start using the pipe to water? I put in the pipes first, then planted the seedling only a few inches away. I'm worried the pipe might be too close to the plant.
I learned my soil has awesome drainage. My hose had to be running quite hard to fill the pipe to the top. I hope this is the solution to our hot dry Utah summers.
Tami, I keep my tomato plants approximately 1 foot away from the watering tubes.
wow...Thanks for this, I am looking for an easy way to water may tomato plants. I haven't raised any in a few years and I have set out 32 plants this year in a regular garden {not Raised Bed}, I have 2 rows of 16 at 2 feet apart and 3 feet between each row, so it sounds like one of these on each end and one between each plant will work for me as well. I am gnna give it a try.
Great idea
This is such a great idea. I'm in Georgia, so this might be a good idea for my tomatoe plants. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Rebecca. I tried sowibg a very small amunt of tomato seeds for the first time in a large coffee canister and all 10 seeds sprouted. The tallest seedling right now is about 2'. Am I supposed to have them grow individually in theie own containers and if so, is ir a good idea to place them in a bin to and fill with water to water from the bottom or am I better off with shoving quart sized milk jugs in each pot to water.... I'm excited that I was able to geow them this far and I don't want to have them die on me. Any advice would be appreciate it thank you. :)
And sorry about the misspelling, haven't had my coffee yet. Lol
I live in an apartment btw so space is limited. I also have green pepper and sweet basil seedlings, can I grow them all together in one bin to save space, I figured I could create a veggie and herb container garden. Thanks again. :)
Great idea, I'm going to try this on my tomatoes this year. Last year I tried the pipe with my 27 gallon potato barrel and it work really well. you can see the you tube video potato harvest at: https://youtu.be/spMfU_CmlR4
thanks
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