Re: [tomato] Fw:

John Sorge (Tomato@GlobalGarden.com)
Tue, 1 Aug 2000 18:45:22 -0500 

Please, please will anyone tell me how to get off this email list?

John Sorge
----- Original Message -----
From: "Betsy Lasarow Tozzi" <tozzi@alaska.net>
To: <Tomato@GlobalGarden.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 3:57 AM
Subject: Re: [tomato] Fw:


> Bob,
>
> Why are you doing 15 minute waterings instead of watering "all at once"?
> Although there is an allure to the idea that the controller *can* do that,
> I think it might actually be better to water in a single pass.  If this
> quantity of water regularly exceeds the capacity for the pot, it would
> make sense to cut back a bit, although I generally prefer to water to the
> point of run-out from container-grown tomatoes.  What has me concerned is
> the wilting you experienced when you cut back on the watering before.
> That suggests that the plant's vascular system is pretty fragile.
>
> Also, I'd err above 1" per week in a container growing environment; you
> may want to evaluate the actual qty of water delivered... drip systems
> deliver a lot right below the drippers, but you want to make sure you're
> getting good coverage to all the edges of the pot (i.e., sides & bottom).
>
> We're guessing that you're growing outside.  If you're growing inside a
> greenhouse, as we do with most of our varieties, there are a few other
> things I'd suggest for container growing.
>
> Since you're using mycorrhizal inoculum, have you adjusted your nutrients
> accordingly?  I think you're on the right track mulching the plants,
> although I remember hearing something (surprising) suggesting that bark
> mulches can be more harm than help.  It was discussed in my Master
> Gardener group, so I'll see if I can get a bit more info on that.
>
> I'm hoping that your earlier watering will help reduce stress on your
> plants and get up cranking out tomatoes for you. Meanwhile, keep on
> growing and let us know how you're doing!
>
> Betsy
> Fairbanks, Alaska
>
> On Tue, 1 Aug 2000, Bob Addison wrote:
> > >From Bob Addison
> > addison@terrapin-net.com
> >
> > A follow-up my query about timing on a drip system;
> > (Should have said 10 min out of every hr. from 11;am
> > TO 4:10 pm [six waterings] total of 60 min.)
> >
> > Just went out and re-checked the flow-rate into one of
> > my tomato pots.
> >
> > Caught 6 OZ of water in 10 Minutes.
> > =36 OZ /hr. or 65 cu. in./hr
> > 1" in a 15" pot is equal to 176 cu. in. (71% of a gallon)
> > This makes 65 cu.in. 37% of a weeks quota.
> > (231 cu. in.= 1 gallon)
> > Water starts running out of the bottom about the fourth
> > ten minute feeding.
> >
> > Of course if it rains I turn it off for a day and if it is a
> > hard rain I'll leave off longer.
> >
> > Have about 1" of Cyprus bark mulch on top of the soil and
> > use mycorrhizal fungi.
> >
> > Upon Betsy's recommendation I'm changing my watering times
> > to 15 min @ 7:AM, 15 min @ 8:AM, 15 min @,9:AM and 15
> > min @ 10:AM
> > Bob
> >
>
>