How much should I water my tomatoes?

Chipsazoy · June 8, 2012

This is my first attempt at growing tomatoes in a 65 gallon smart pot and I've been beating myself up on how much to water and how often.

I'm in Southern California and it's starting to get hot out here 90-95 degrees.

I planted them 2 weeks ago and they are 18" tall now, getting direct sun from 9AM to 4PM. I have a drip system set up with 1gph emitters on the tomatoes and I've been watering 10 min early morning and then 10 min again in late afternoon (about 10-12 hrs apart). The soil seems to drain very well (maybe too well) as when i check the soil by digging my finger down an inch or two at these times it is dry.

Although it seems they are growing the leaves seem a little small to me. Not sure if I'm just impatient with the growing pace as i should know it will take few months for them to start going off.

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated as i am a newbie to the site and gardening!

June 8, 2012	#1
Chipsazoy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: California Posts: 14	How much should I water my tomatoes? This is my first attempt at growing tomatoes in a 65 gallon smart pot and I've been beating myself up on how much to water and how often. I'm in Southern California and it's starting to get hot out here 90-95 degrees. I planted them 2 weeks ago and they are 18" tall now, getting direct sun from 9AM to 4PM. I have a drip system set up with 1gph emitters on the tomatoes and I've been watering 10 min early morning and then 10 min again in late afternoon (about 10-12 hrs apart). The soil seems to drain very well (maybe too well) as when i check the soil by digging my finger down an inch or two at these times it is dry. Although it seems they are growing the leaves seem a little small to me. Not sure if I'm just impatient with the growing pace as i should know it will take few months for them to start going off. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated as i am a newbie to the site and gardening!