Excess Water in Greenhouse Tomato Pot Saucers

[Ian B]

Hi All

First post here, so apologies if I am using the wrong discussion thread.

This is my second year of greenhouse tomatoes, having switched from grow bags to 25L pots to this year.

I have six grafted tomato plants (bought approx. 6 weeks ago) all growing exceeding well in my unheated greenhouse in Kent, all approx. 2.5' tall and all setting their first lot of flowers. They are all are sitting in their own 25 litre pots with large pot saucers placed underneath them. Soil make up is approx. 75% good general compost incorporating John Inness, 12.5% very well rotted manure & 12.5% combination of vermiculite and perlite. Each pot has approx. 2" of large gravel in the bottom to aid drainage.

Issue:

These are watered daily, but not too heavily at present (approx. 1 litre per pot per day), but the saucers are filling with excess water. Am I watering them too much, or should I do away with the saucers so that stagnant water is not left sitting in them?

Best regards

Ian B

[Containergardener]

I'm no expert but id say cut back in the watering. Maybe let them drink up from tray . I've always let mine dry out the give a good water. Someone else may differently.

Ps and welcome to the grapevine

[craftymarie]

Welcome to the Vine. If the tomatoes are sitting in excess water then it suggests there is more water than the plants really need. You can either try watering a bit less or emptying the saucers out after say an hour or so, so the pots aren't left sitting in it all day long.

[Cadalot]

I water from the bottom using the gravel tray with no gravel in last year, visited the allotment every 2-3 days depending on the weather and just kept them topped up.

[maverick451]

As above, let them drink up the water and in future id water into the saucer and let them suck it up.

I saw a video I think by victoriana nursery which said that you need to let them dry out slightly between waterings to get the most sweetness

[Ian B]

The water in the saucers is no deeper than the gravel layer within the bottom of the pots (approx. 2"-2.5"). Will the water be absorbed up through that layer of course gravel?

[Potstubsdustbins]

No I don't think it will at this stage, maybe later when the roots have had chance to grow through the gravel.

For the time being I would remove the trays and just water from the top.

And welcome to the madhouse.

[teakdesk]

If you can lift a pot just off the ground you will be able to monitor how wet or dry they are. A wet pot will be very heavy but a dry one will be very much lighter.

At this time of year I could go a full week between waterings but I'd always fully drench the pot when I do water. Don't let the compost dry out though.

Tomatoes are very good at wilting if they get too dry and will recover of not left too long so check daily but don't be too zealots watering just now.

In a few weeks, when they have grown and we have full sun, you may need to water twice a day though.

[Jonnyt]

I'd be more worried that the plants are 2.5 feet tall and just setting the first truss. You may only get three trusses at this rate before they hit the roof!