how much are you watering your container veggies?

I've got tomatoes and cucumbers in 5 gallon containers. We are in a serious drought. There have been 3+ weeks of 95 temps. It seems I have to water twice a day sometimes. I am just curious what others are experiencing. My cherry toms are fruiting but I've yet to see any fruit on the larger varieties (blossom drop). I wonder if I am watering too much/not enough and if the fertilizer needs extra attention b/c I am watering so often. Cukes seem good, but the toms are a daily concern to me.

Thanks for your input/experience,
Virginia

With the temps you have, I cant see it being overwatering unless you are absolutely drowning your tomatoes, I take it you have drainage holes in the bottom of the containers???? once the tomatoes start to flower, I normally start a half strength feed and as the fruit starts, I give full strength, but about once per week, I would think that the flower dropping off is due to not enough water, but then some of the larger fruiting tomato's need a longer growing period before they set flowers for the fruit, tomatoes dont really like the soil to dry out completely, so as you are growing in containers, it could be the lack of water, containers dry out at the rate of thunder, there is less soil than in the garden earth. hope this is a bit of help to you, good luck. WeeNel.

Thanks Weenel for your response. Yes, the pots have lots of drainage holes. Your input has helped.

WeeNel gave good advice. I have tomaotoes in 5 Gallon buckets and holes about half way down the sides. I have to water about everyday or some time two days. They already have fruit on and getting ripe. I have several that way and some just setting fruit. I have one tomatoe that is trying to die on me. I have picked the fruit off and cut all the leaves off. The leaves were dead but the stalk is green. I am doing all I can to get it started up again. Any suggestions!!!!!!!!!

The other thing that's working against you, particularly on the larger tomatoes, is the temperature. Tomatoes generally won't set fruit above, oh, 90 degrees or so, the exception being cherries. (I've got a yellow pear tomato that three people can't keep up with, and we've been over 105 deg. for the past week or so. But there again, it's a small-fruit variety.) Some kinds of tomatoes are more heat-sensitive than others. Especially in containers, watering twice daily is probably not a bad idea.

Good luck!

This tomatoe plant is holding its own. Has not started to grow yet. It is the small salad tomatoes. Sure hope the plant makes it..........gn

Tusconjil,

You hit it right on. The cherries are fruiting and ripening just fine. I don't have one fruit yet on the larger heirloom varieties though.... Heat. gotta be.

Next year, you might take a look around for early-ripening or heat-tolerant varieties. I'm having good luck with Heatwave II (from Burpee) and Early Girl this year. Not heirlooms, but good producers in the hot and dry with tasty fruit.

With this year's crop, keep on keepin' with the plants. I find that when the weather cools down to something more reasonable, I get a good crop in the fall. Some people prune, I don't, I think it's a question of how motivated you are and what shape your plants are in.

Good luck!

Thanks for the strain recommendations. I will have to make some changes next year indeed. Although this is a freaky weather pattern for us.....

Well just to follow up... My container veggies appeared to peak out (bad color, low fruit) . Since DH cuts some limbs in the backyard and there is more sun, I transplanted them to the ground. They were SO SO root bound and struggling so much with the bad heat. I don't think I will ever container grow in my driveway again. Hopefully they'll come around in the soil and I'll still get some late tomatoes and cucumbers. I