That's a lot of watering. I hardly water mine. They're in a growhouse, in the ground, and I haven't watered them for about four days. Even in the three weeks of horrible heat we had here, they were only watered a few times more than that. I had shading on the doors and the top was open all day long. They do better when a bit stressed. Forces them to flower and fruit more rapidly.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@John Harding May I ask what soil and seeds you used? We had that topic last year when a lot of users reported problems like yours. We all agreed that it was mostly down to the poor tomato soil which was made of landfill. I had the same last year and wrote to Wendland asking what they had added to their bags. I also was suspicious of the seeds.
My this year’s tomatoes have a different soil and I don’t have this problem but the plants are incredibly slow growing. I never had such poor plants as last year and this year.
I’m currently experimenting with a heritage tomato which I squeezed out and which germinated after 7 days like a charm. I don’t expect any harvest but want to see how fast it grows. If the test works well, I will use a good tomato next year.
I used fresh seed from DT Brown of Newmarket: Sweet Aperitif, Shirley, Sweet Million, and San Marzano. Growbags (are in main GH) & were unused ones I had left over from last year and growth is fine with them. The small GH has the 5 large pots and they are all in a home made compost which has come from the oldest of 3 compost bins (that has been there for about 4 years and looks and feels like fine rich brown soil). Maybe that compost is too rich for them!
I am using my own compost with added fish blood and bone added. I feed with comfrey tea made last year ( I made a dustbinfull), with a teaspoon of epsom salts and two spoonfuls of Phostrogen in a large can of water every Friday. Best they've been in years.
I've always found that there is a fine line between too little and too much water. IME, too much ( unneccessary ? ) water tends to reduce the flavour and can result in "mushy" fruit. I guess we are all dealing with differing issues this year tho - even more than last year. The only course is to stick with what works for your site and only amend if needed.
The problem with holding back on watering is that of blossom end rot. My Hozelock watering trays work through a capillary action from the base tray and the plants draw the water as needed. It also means if I go away for a couple of days I do not have to rely on neighbours etc to water the plants (I've come back too many times to find dead plants in my greenhouse owing to neglect!).
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They do better when a bit stressed. Forces them to flower and fruit more rapidly.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I ♥ my garden.
I guess we are all dealing with differing issues this year tho - even more than last year. The only course is to stick with what works for your site and only amend if needed.