Irrigation at Different Growth Stages of Tomatoes

Irrigation Key Points at Different Growth Stages

Germination Stage: Keep the soil moist so that the seeds can absorb water smoothly and germinate. A spraying method can be adopted for multiple small-volume irrigations, maintaining the soil moisture in the seedbed or seedling container at around 70%-80%.

Seedling Stage: During this stage, the roots of tomato seedlings are relatively shallow, and their water absorption capacity is limited. It is necessary to control the amount of irrigation and keep the soil in a state of "drying out a bit between waterings" to promote the roots to grow deeper. Generally, water once every 3 to 5 days to keep the soil moisture at 60%-70%.

Flowering and Fruit Setting Stage: At this time, the water demand of tomatoes begins to increase, but excessive water should be avoided to prevent the plants from growing spindly and causing flower and fruit drop. According to the weather and soil conditions, water once every 5 to 7 days to keep the soil moisture at 70%-80%.

Fruit Expansion Stage: Tomatoes have the highest water demand during the fruit expansion stage, and it is necessary to ensure sufficient and stable water supply. Usually, water once every 2 to 3 days to keep the soil moisture at 80%-90%, so as to promote the division and expansion of fruit cells and prevent problems such as cracked fruits and hollow fruits.