to get the best tasting tomatoes - don't water them!

[Paul Wheaton]

I took this video of a bunch of tomatoes that were planted in may, never watered and tasted in september. You can hear from many people there talking about how good they are.

This is a huge way to consume less: consume less water by just being smart about how you plant your garden! This also gives you the freedom to go on vacation for two weeks without having to arrange for somebody to come and water your stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/paulwheaton12#p/u/0/Cj2lyBCBrZg

Thanks!

[Beowulf]

This is actually a fairly common tactic with a lot of fruit. Plants that have access to an abundance of water make large tasteless fruit. Plants should only be given enough water to keep them alive. Any more is a waste.

[JuliaAnn]

Exactly. Watermelons taste sweeter, figs are more flavorful, etc. Less water means more concentrated sugars and flavors. Just enough proper water, at the proper time.

[Emmy D]

I only watered my tomatoes the day I put them in, other than that and some weeding I mostly neglected them, best tomatoes ever and in next to near heat and drought conditions in Central Illinois!!

Emmy

[Paquebot]

If left to fend for themselves, tomato roots may go down over 8' to find sufficient water. Other than at transplanting time, mine thrive quite nicely without extra water even during drought periods. In fact, they are more apt to suffer from too much water during extremely wet periods.

Martin

[mnn2501]

Do you know what you get if you don't water Tomatoes in Texas?
NOTHING! they shrival and die in under a week.

One thing all the posts above have in common is that they are from northerners who get rain during the summer and temps don't hover above 100F for 2 months straight.

[chickenista]

That only works well on determinate tomato vines. Those are the ones that come ripe all at one time.
With indeterminate vines that are continually blooming and setting fruit you will seriously screw up your fruit amounts adn stunt your plants.

[po boy]

I would have to agree with mnn. 5 weeks without rain and close to 100 degree temps, u gotta water or fer git 'em. If they are wilted in the morning before the sun hits them, u need to water...

[Dead Rabbit]

interesting info. but i agree with the last couple posts...even here in VA. they need watering. even with a heavy mulch, they need the occasional water.

[JuliaAnn]

I don't live in the northeast. I live near the Texas gulf coast. We generally get enough rain that I don't have to water often.

Your mileage, of course, may vary, depending on where you live and how much rainfall you get, besides other gardening practices. But generally no, where we live, we don't have to water a lot.

[Paquebot]

If one must keep watering, the problem is one of two things. Either the soil is very shallow or one which drains too well. If the soil is shallow and roots can only go so deep, that soil will dry too quickly. If the soil is so loose that the it can not retain water, the tap roots can't keep up with the receding moisture level and the feeder roots are unable to find any.

At least 90% of those which I grow are indeterminates and they are the ones which have the deepest root systems. They also seem to suffer the least during dry periods.

Martin

[Beowulf]

Originally Posted by mnn2501

Do you know what you get if you don't water Tomatoes in Texas?
NOTHING! they shrival and die in under a week.

One thing all the posts above have in common is that they are from northerners who get rain during the summer and temps don't hover above 100F for 2 months straight.

That's why I said they should be watered enough to keep them alive

[ldc]

I'm in Baton Rouge, and for the most part, our summers are so hot - despite torrential rains! - that we have to water at least once a week. Also, our tom season is very short; it's over by 4th July, when the molds and diseases take over, and the plants rot. Depending upon the season, sometimes we start in Feb tho'. Last year was cool until May 9th, blistering heat started the next day, and so it went. Usually gets hot by the end of March! In 19 years I'd never seen such a cool spring, and the heat was so intense the cukes burned up before they could bear! Never a dull moment, ldc PS When I lived in NY, NJ and Iowa, my gardening experience was closer to that of the OP; plant the toms, don't water hardley at all. Now in the Central Valley of CA, we had to water daily b/c there was also no humidity to tide the plants over.

[po boy]

Originally Posted by Paquebot

If one must keep watering, the problem is one of two things. Either the soil is very shallow or one which drains too well. If the soil is shallow and roots can only go so deep, that soil will dry too quickly. If the soil is so loose that the it can not retain water, the tap roots can't keep up with the receding moisture level and the feeder roots are unable to find any.

At least 90% of those which I grow are indeterminates and they are the ones which have the deepest root systems. They also seem to suffer the least during dry periods.

Martin

I am sure that works when you are in a 10 year drought and the water table has dropped...

[po boy]

http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pubs/ask/tomato_qa.html

Tomatoes need about one inch of water per week as a minimum. If you do not get this through rainfall, you will need to apply the water As a rough estimate, each tomato plant needs approximately 3-5 gallons of water each week. If you use a mulch, this amount may be cut in half. When watering, don't lightly sprinkle the ground. Apply the water so it enters the ground and moves through the soil to a depth of 8-12 inches. Shallow watering only encourages shallow rooting which leaves tomato plants more prone to wilting.

[Paquebot]

Originally Posted by po boy

I am sure that works when you are in a 10 year drought and the water table has dropped...

And that comes under the second factor which I mentioned, taproots unable to catch up to the receding moisture.

Martin

[stormywood]

This last Spring I planted my garden in old square haybales. Watered them completely down, then planted and left alone. We had very high temps, occassional rain and more tomatoes, squash, peppers and gourds than I could keep up with. Hay bale gardening from here on out!! Bonus, no weeding!!

[po boy]

Originally Posted by Paquebot

And that comes under the second factor which I mentioned, taproots unable to catch up to the receding moisture.

Martin

You are right. The moisture receded years before they got there.

[Trixie]

Originally Posted by stormywood

This last Spring I planted my garden in old square haybales. Watered them completely down, then planted and left alone. We had very high temps, occassional rain and more tomatoes, squash, peppers and gourds than I could keep up with. Hay bale gardening from here on out!! Bonus, no weeding!!

I'd like to learn more about that.

And yes, if you live in Texas, they might last 3 days - if it's cool and overcast.

[Paquebot]

So far, looks like those in AR, IL, MT, WI, part of TX, and several unknown locations don't have to worry about watering. Those in GA, LA, VA, and part of TX like to keep them soaked. Those in NC only have to do it with indeterminates. Interesting study!

Martin