Gardeners with limited space often turn to containers for growing their tomato plants. These hardy plants thrive in containers in frost-free locations that receive eight or more hours of direct sunlight, as long as they are provided with adequate fertilizer and water. Because the water drains through the bottom of the container and the soil is typically warmer, tomatoes grown in containers require closer monitoring than those grown in the ground.
Watering tomato plants in the morning when the air is still and temperatures are cool prevents water loss from evaporation or spray from the wind. It also provides your tomato plants with the moisture they need before they encounter the stress from the heat of the day. Watering them in the morning by soaking the soil until water runs freely through the bottom of the container typically provides enough moisture to keep the plants healthy during the day.
When morning watering is not convenient or your plants deplete the soil of water during the day, aim for watering them again in the early evening, after the heat of the day has passed. Late evening watering poses the risk of foliage remaining wet during the cool of the night, which may invite disease. If you must water your tomato plants at night, do so early enough that the foliage dries before sunset.
During the Day
Tomato plants sometimes become excessively dry during the day and require watering to prevent severe wilting. The soil is too dry if it feels dry 1 inch below the surface. Although it's not the best time to water, it's better than allowing the plants to suffer the stress of the afternoon sun with insufficient water. In this case, pour water directly on the soil and avoid wetting the foliage.
Tomatoes grown in containers typically require daily watering. If your tomato plants show signs of wilting or the soil feels excessively dry during the day on a regular basis, consider moving your plants to a larger container. A larger container holds more soil, which in turn holds more water for your plants. Adding perlite and organic matter to the soil improves its water-holding capacity and eliminates the need to water your tomato plants multiple times a day.
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