EASY Watering Trick for Amazing Tomato Harvests

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This video features a very simple yet effective approach for watering your tomato seedlings to give them a fantastic head start and set them up for a very productive tomato season. The great thing about this technique is that it can be applied to other crops as well, however, the focus is on tomatoes as this is the top crop to do it for. Being such a crucial harvest for so many gardeners, I really hope this trick will give you as much tomato success as possible!
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[@km1502]

I once watered a cactus for a year before I realized it wasn’t real. I have nothing approaching a green thumb. I envy you souls who’s plants look so awesome!

[@user-np7pq2gy1v]

😂😂😂 ❤️💜❤️

[@sylviabeam8483]

What a funny story. Thanks for sharing

[@rayyg786]

Bahahahahahahah thanks this really Made me laugh.

[@patlfrank4279]

😂I once did that at work 😂😂talk about embarrassing

[@francestomic2772]

Waaay to funny thanks

[@reesebrindle1809]

I love growing tomatoes! I give them away roadside and can’t keep up with the folks riding by to grab them! I do a variety and they are so full of flavor I have people looking forward to my tomatoes every year! Sharing is caring! ❤

[@Mark-Singleton]

Where do you live? - Asking for a friend 😉

[@digil4509]

Hello Hugh, Love your channel. I live in California and have access to lots of farms in my area. Went on a tour on a tomato farm once, and I have always remembered what the foreman told us all, " be mean to your tomatoes, dont overwater them". If you do they will not develop a strong root system searching for water. I have been growing tomatoes for years and have followed his advice. I have an abundance of fruit every year to share with family and friends. Glad to hear you agree with him.

[@locomojoboy2]

How often do you water them? When the soil looks dry?

[@lilolmecj]

I have tried and tried to bring my husband to this thinking.

[@digil4509]

@@locomojoboy2 I water twice a week by hand. I use a gallon pitcher. As i use containers for all my vegetables, I will water until the water runs out of the bottom. Then once more about 3 gallons. I generally use 10 gallon pots. If it gets really hot for a few days in a row, I will give them an extra day of watering.

[@janettabishop7887]

This balance makes it a calming and restful color - perfect for creating those stress-busting outdoor spaces.

[@mylesgarcia4625]

Just came upon your video after planting some tomato seeds indoors 4 days ago. So this is serendipitous -- and what great tips in the transplant period you have shared!! Thanks so much Huw!!

[@amyk6028]

I have learned more from watching your videos than any other gardening channel! I followed your advice about not watering my tomato plants for a week after transplanting them outside. My tomato bed has NEVER been this healthy & productive the first week in June. Even my heirlooms are disease free & healthy in our hot humid climate ❤️

[@swisschris8847]

Wow! I wish I had known this before I planted this year! My plants have been routinely plagued with blight from the start and I am glad to hear that yours remained disease free with this method! Thank you much for sharing your results - I will definitely be applying the principles and will not water the first 2 weeks next year. Happy Gardening!

[@alicemann1081]

I put powdered milk on my plant for blight an its good now

[@claramenson9416]

This is fabulous, I have liked all teachings and pieces of advice. Very awakening

[@nolaanderson6884]

Just bought your book on audible. I really am loving the bartering tips you have. Looking forward to starting out small.

[@macopa12]

Thank you for this tip - your videos are always helpful and very informative!

[@AceWolf2009]

Good video, though I would have also mentioned and have done that when you plant them, you want to plant them deeper then they are in the pods. Remove the branches closest to the ground to prevent any mud and dirt from getting on them, to prevent any diseases from splash up. Not to mention, each of those tiny little furs is a root waiting to sprout, so the deeper you can plant it..the more roots will form and spread.

[@TheParot161]

I planted my tomatoes this way for the first time this year. I always just planted them container deep before. What you were suggesting has been a game changer for my tomato plants. They have been so much better this year

[@Yaqeen2013]

The first video I watched on tomatoes was few years back when you were in you teen growing beautiful tomatoes under plastic shed. Now its even better you have a beautiful poly tunnel with beautiful tomato plants. I only have 2 successes, one in an open field and one in an aquaponic system. After that I have many failures because not protected from rain and we seem to get alot of rain nowadays. Planning to build a greenhouse with raised beds for them.

[@damianmaynard2592]

Thanks Mr, great advice. The quality of your channel is superb.

[@holisticheritagehomestead]

Great tip with watering. I’ll definitely try this.

[@mickeypigknuckles]

Wow this is fantastic advice for growing in your exact climate.

[@monikabille2716]

Man, I am so happy that I found you and your channel. The content is great! Really informative. Thanks!

[@HuwRichards]

You are most welcome! :)

[@LifeIsMessyImLearningAsIGrow]

🌼🌻🐝☀️🌺👨‍🌾Tomatoes are my favorite thing to grow and eat! Yay tomato sandwiches! All the hard work is worth it to me to get to see the new growth everyday it brings me so much joy! It’s the start of my 3 year gardening but there is still so much to learn and I appreciate your tips, tricks and advice! I look forward to learning more from each other as we grow!

[@AlmightyAphrodite]

I've just started my own garden this year and videos like this have been of so much help! 👌 Thank you for all these great tips and tricks!

[@rm4347]

So did I and I made a bit of a mess out of it buy over watering. Lesson learnt

[@aseelaljaied]

Thank you, I loved the watering advice ❤

[@phakzofficial6452]

So many tomatoes to be harvest thank you for the sharing this

[@patticriss2238]

Nature is amazing. Many ways to get what you need. Love that.

[@verdalesteele-gordon7295]

Thank you for explaining each detail very understanding and why you have to do be focusing how deep you have to the plant you taken your time to show your work THANKS and that help me a lots, THANKS AGAIN

[@bakeone4406]

Infrequent deep irrigation may be best, but not watering for 10 days after putting tomato starts in the ground here in central California ensures that you will have little brown crispy bits on the planting mounds before the first prescribed drink.

[@dross10001]

Same here in Florida.

[@garrettmineo]

Yes, I would not recommend this in south Louisiana and likely any place else. He also should have cut off those lower leaves rather than leave them in contact with the mulch….

[@mchalethegreat4938]

He's not in California though or Florida .

[@kfx0889]

Ya, here in southern az, once the leaves start to go limp you got about 2 hours before its dead

[@EC-dz4bq]

You do this to any plant... they have to be hardened off to the area ALWAYS before going in ground.

[@TheMarnaiz]

Great tips. Thanks, Huw.

[@dianeschuller]

excellent and sensible advice -- thank you.

[@markhoverd4993]

I usually water my tomato plants daily as in the summer my greenhouse is regularly around 30 degrees Celsius. I've had to start mulching my growing beds with grass clippings from when I mow the lawn just to stop it drying out so fast and the plants wilting. I'll have to try this though next year when I first transplant and before my greenhouse gets too hot

[@Stu-Vino]

Very informative video, thank you!

[@sarah_farm]

My grandmother grew up in the countryside of the state of Virgi,. She and my great-grandmother used to make pig feet in the oven. It's awesome to see how others on the other side of the globe in a different culture make them. And it's an honor to have you visit our channel, we can discuss more about our experiences in harvesting and building farms.

[@joysanchezcruz8774]

wow, this episode is very informative, thanks for sharing

[@aribella6913]

Thanks for this information

[@franciasypeng8754]

Wow! Thank you for sharing your knowledge in gardening!😘Mabuhay Richard !watching from the philippines🇵🇭

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much!!😊

[@aneelamody9939]

thanks for sharing water to plants tips

[@marygeibel40]

Great advice! Makes total sense.

[@secondchancehomestead]

If only I could grow such a healthy plant!!!

[@samd7146]

Great tips..thanks a mill 🙏🏼🍀💕

[@elenanoumilelini3930]

thank you so much for sharing such a useful information🙏

[@emdorris3319]

Thank you for the tips, Huw. It’s still too early to plant out my tomatoes in Colorado, but I am looking forward to implementing your lessons.

[@winomadyson3092]

I appreciate your teaching how to transplant tomatoes. Very good tips and principles planting just about everything.

[@annagriffiths717]

Amazing tips 🤗 new to gardening last year but was bottom feeding my tomato plants from seedlings for this very reason 👍🏻 love you videos. Very professional and informative.

[@carolynklestinec8589]

Love the new look . Haven't seen a video in a while .

[@valeriesmith15]

Thank you Huw. Excellent tip. I grew my tomatoes in my house, and water them, only when the leaves 🍃 were drooping. The tomatoes 🍅 were gorgeous

[@patriciafrancis5663]

That’s what I do too, water when they start drooping

[@rootedinloveurbanhomestead]

Thank you for the tips!

[@giovanniablett1628]

Great video and advice.

[@19dec1981]

4:34 thats what he said come oooon i couldnt help it. brilliant video tutorial thanks, my first ever gardening attempt this year. subscribed!

[@FairyFrequency]

These are wonderful tomato growing tips! Greetings from Missouri ♡

[@HuwRichards]

Glad you like them! Greetings from Wales :)

[@7bpotager8]

Thank you! Extremely helpful information 🌱🤩

[@HuwRichards]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@Dee-rg9yb]

very helpful, thank you!

[@AdventuresBeginHere409]

I love the idea.

[@pilkyish]

Great video, thank you. I’m going to apply this when moving chilies into a bed. 👍🏻

[@HuwRichards]

Fantastic! Best of luck!

[@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14]

I start mine early (Christmas) so they are nice and tall, then plant not only deep, but sideways as well; giving me up to two feet of roots for each plant. This allows me to keep more suckers on the plant, increasing my yields.

[@josmond3504]

I going to do that cos I red once that tomatoes in the nature just ramble along ground and you can grow another just buy puttings a sideshoot in ground

[@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14]

@@josmond3504 Yes, If the plant is long enough when I put it in sideways, I sometimes leave one or two side shoots above ground and get three plants growing out of one vine.

[@swisschris8847]

Yes! The tomato plants I have seen grown this way are gorgeous and fruitful!

[@PawPawGreg]

Suckers really are the goal if you want large yields. I let suckers grow to about 1/4 thick and roughly 3-4" long, then I cut them off an plant them on their own. Treat them like any other tomato plant from that point and they will produce just fine. What's more, they will start fruiting a bit later in the season so, as your initial plants are starting to slow down and even die, those suckers will be moving right along.

[@TheWeedyGarden]

your ohotography is looking good Huw

[@giovanniablett1628]

Thank you gr8 tips

[@goldslinger]

Great tips!

[@palliaskamen5722]

Good advice, thanks. Sometimes I'll allow the leaves to wilt a little. I just don't want to over water.

[@MS-de7bb]

Wow thanks super insightful

[@melissagraham4569]

Thank you!

[@TomTom-df9ph]

Great tips ... thanks a lot.

[@liyasmoon]

should you do the same if you plant from seeds? I've been told that you should water them after sowing every day, and when they sprout every week.

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

My tomatoes grow taller than 9 feet, and produce more that 100 tomatoes (heirloom, better boy, early girl and more), I plant the whole plant minus a couple leaves, and plant on a 45 degree angle downward, over the buried portion I placed a piece of tree bark from a leafy tree. I also put wood ashes in and around the hole, and use weed barrier ground cloth to keep the weeds out, every year in October I put between 8 and 10 inches of grass clippings and leafy organic material over the garden. Even from my first tomato garden I’ve never had small tomatoes.

[@thefallenarm589]

We do the same here, planting the tomato almost horizontally. I don't like to dig more than 5 / 6 inches. We also add nettles and/or bone pouder in the hole (and soil to avoid roots to be in direct contact). Also, for me compost should no be in the hole, but on the surface, so nutrient gets carried on when watering (and not carried away).

[@tommyyoung6606]

Zac

[@markwilliams903]

I wasn’t aware that better boy, early girl, Was a heirloom.

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

@@markwilliams903 oh they aren't. Just mention my preferences in bad grammar ;)

[@markwilliams903]

@@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy 😂 No problem.

[@NY51663]

I use the olla pots, works amazingly.

[@johnhansen8272]

Good technique. I plant my tomatoes about 70% in the ground. About 3 times deeper than the demonstrated technique. I will try this technique as well.

[@blackmetalpaganbushcraft9542]

man takin me back in time Vinn!

[@jeanfrancoisfauveau7046]

Thank you so much for your work, you are amazing XXX

[@HuwRichards]

You are very welcome! Thank you :)

[@alicecoppers8980]

I add the juice from canned mackerel. The cats eat the mackerel, and the tomatoes love the nutrients…

[@charlieguy6872]

Respect to you for your waste saving! cats really shouldn't eat any salt at all in their diet though, it can make them really sick!

[@alicecoppers8980]

@@charlieguy6872 yes, but if u rinse the fish and use the juice in garden, it hasn’t effected my 7 cats.

[@niacherryblossom]

Cool ppl find it strange so I don't mention it often but when i slaughter chicken humanely i used the blood to watery garden and the plant really do love it i put the feathers to decompose and i use the offal to get worms that way they are broken down also without throwing them out..... that in term feeds the chickens.

[@TriniMonstera]

I bury fish heads. I buried one about a week ago, just waiting for just after new moon and then I will plant. Here in the Caribbean is very hot and I read that the new moon phase before full moon pulls water to the surface similar to how it behave with tidal activities. Hoping this is helpful in trying the no water method suggested by Huw.

[@gisp4622]

That's really bad for the cats...they will eventually experience health issues. Setting them up for a hard life. Species appropriate diet. Good them good homemade raw food

[@dougsholly9323]

I'll bury even more of the plant. I'll even lay the plant down sideways at turn the top upwards then bury the base. This gives a tremendous amount of stalk to grow roots from. Consistent watering is crucial, not only for preventing fruit splitting, but also for eliminating blossom end rot. I've also had much better harvests using drip irrigation that from spray sprinklers. I'll water like this fellow suggested.. once every 4 days with a good soaking rather than a light watering every 2 days. Roots are key with tomatoes. My raised beds are outside though. I am not sure how his tomato plants survive a whole week, or even 10 days without their first watering.

[@MrBeav1018]

excellent idea thank you for the explanation.

[@HuwRichards]

You are welcome! :)

[@jingyancheng5210]

好美的菜园，向往的乡村生活

[@lisaskilton3746]

Thanks for the video! Is it safe to plant tomatoes up in poly tunnel or a bit too soon? I have a fab deep raised bed ready to go although not watered the raised bed yet until I need it!

[@bobby350z]

I agree with deep but less frequent watering but the soil in your video looks quite moist to me. Like we would have here in California in the rainy season. I would also like to know similar trick for making the roots go deeper for other veges. This yr my pepper plants are growing with what looks like a shallow root system.

[@simplifygardening]

Great video Huw. Watering deeply is the key and drive the roots down. Sometimes you have to be a little mean to plants because they don't know what is good for them in the long haul

[@BrendaBodwin]

Great info. 👍🏻

[@QF2653]

Its always nice to sit amongst the greenery and not have to worry about mosquitoes.

[@jreeder6168]

Good presentation

[@StephenSmith-ge1qf]

I have a drip irrigation system for the tomatoes and greenhouse crops. Keeps the soil surface dry and allows the water so soak in. I have the droppers on a timer so the watering is overnight.

[@PawPawGreg]

I've always had issues with fungus when watering over night. The best method for me is to water at first light as the sun seems to inhibit fungus growth.

[@karentoynton8948]

Thank you

[@jckirby7994]

Good information

[@Albopepper]

Thanks for the tip Huw! I do the exact opposite and get huge bumper crops in a tight space. With sub-irrigated (wicking) planters, the plants always have a constant supply of water in the reservoir. My tomatoes get massive. Not just leaves. Plenty of fruit too. (Just don't use too much N). They are constantly getting consistent moisture. Interestingly, the roots still grow quite large as well.

[@juliagarcia3452]

May be, but, for more flavour LESS watering.

[@Psa141]

@phillip wareham Do expand...

[@jackmackerel4151]

Makes more sense that a well watered and fertilized plant would just grow stronger roots faster, resulting in a larger plant that in turn grows even bigger deeper roots to support its rapid growth. This video sounds like another garden myth that just gets repeated over and over again by people that never ran the side by side comparison themselves.

[@denisebayer8748]

What fertilizer do you feed your tomato plants?

[@JuniorFarquar]

@phillip wareham Urine contains urea...a nitrogen source. Our urine is sterile, unless active urinary tract infection

[@user-ph6kr7ih7y]

incredible video mr huw but i m little bit comfused In the beging you said that i must not water them and few later you said to fill a hole with water and plant the tomato 🍅 what do you suggest afterall

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

Very useful, even for a novice.

[@HuwRichards]

Glad to hear it! :)

[@helenhawkins4054]

Really helpful.😊

[@HuwRichards]

I'm glad!

[@NorthernThaiGardenGuy]

I use the horizontal planting method for Tomatoes and have found it works best for not only best flavor, but overall health and well being for the plant throughout its whole life.

[@fcsoldeu5338]

flavor has nothing to do with it.

[@NorthernThaiGardenGuy]

@@fcsoldeu5338 I disagree. The reason is the nutrient that gets into the Tomato is quite noticeable compared to one just planted in a vertical normal fashion. If you don't believe me then do a comparison for yourself. Best wishes!

[@swisschris8847]

@@NorthernThaiGardenGuy This is good to know - Thank you!

[@plantsoverpills1643]

I mulched my tomatoes directly after planting as I wanted to keep the leaves off the bare ground to prevent dirt splashing on the them. But I planted them in a trench so the root area is not yet mulched.

[@1Thedairy]

My problem was that I planted my tomatoes in the greenhouse and then the weather turned very warm and the soil was drying out quickly. I then felt I had to water them however I do have sheep’s wool and grass clippings to help control the moisture so thanks for the tip.

[@CHARISSAJACOBSON]

Oh wow!!

[@cynthiagaudino9272]

GREAT!👍

[@chrismontague7803]

Hi Huw and thank you for a wonderful resource. Thinking of encouraging good deep roots and watering 1-2 times a week. Are you not a fan of gravity fed watering systems such as Autopot? I was planning to use on my raised beds at the allotment. If they provide continuous watering through the capillary matting could that encourage ‘lazy’ plants? Take care. C from Barnstaple

[@namthomson1124]

Thanks again

[@jkj1459]

Thanks 👏

[@jamesedwards8827]

Great video so once you planted and you used grass how often did you water or do you just leave them.

[@hughdennison3013]

I'll tell you my secret.... I plant them as deep as possible about 12 inches, remove the lower leaves like huw says, then water EVERY OTHER day, 10l per plant. I do let theM go dry before planting to prevent black end rot. I have had 12kilos per plant using a potash fertiliser using this method with coeur de boeuf, no staking and a plastic fabric on the ground using copper sulphate (bouille bourgignon) to prevent blight and damage to the fruits. I had almost 150kilos for 12m2 patch.

[@bertibear1300]

Are you somewhere with hot summers?

[@tinytownsoftware3837]

No staking? How in the world? Surely you have some support for those giant beefsteaks...

[@EC-dz4bq]

over watering even in AZ

[@mubushrashaheen3053]

Very we explained with a beautiful accent

[@nikkiholton6318]

I have actually done this when I have planted alot of things and then forgot to water it in....I don't think I waited a week or more to water them....this would only work in a tunnel though ....because we get a good bit of rain....unless I had some way of keeping them covered .... I would like to try it when I get a tunnel though...

[@Bradimus1]

I never push down on the plant as I don't want to pack the soil and make it harder to root out/hurt draining. If I do the rest right I have never had a plant that couldn't support it's fruit and fall over. I like to dig deeper than I'll plant as well and leave the soil looser under the plant with a little fertilizer and water to really help it go down. The faster the roots can spread out the better.

[@craigbeale8540]

Im a newb but in my polytunnel ive never had to buy a tomato plant since the seeds from the last crop seem to just grow so well. Even my soil is rubbish as the water seems to not want to mix with it but i gotta say im never short of good tomatoes. Now imagine if i actually had a bit of knowledge. So this was good advice.

[@slimjim227]

I still use the probably ‘old fashioned’ method of burying 6” plant pots alongside the plant, and using these to ensure that the water, and any plant food you use, goes straight down to the roots. This also means that the surface soil stays dry and helps to control blight towards the end of the season.

[@Jennkcollins]

Like an Ollie (I know that’s spelled wrong)?

[@swisschris8847]

That's a great idea! Could you plz tell me how far out from the plant stem were the 6" pots and how many per plant? Thanks for sharing your 'probably old fashioned' method - those are the best, having withstood the test of time! Your method is similar to the 2 liter pop bottle idea where the bottom is cut off, holes are drilled in the cap & it is partially buried in the soil next to the plant and is filled with water by what used to be the bottom. I prefer your method because I think the pop bottles are somewhat unsightly but I don't want to get anywhere near the leaves when watering as the soil, apparently, is blight ridden.

[@Scott3387]

I'm a bit behind with tomatoes this year. Normally I wouldn't use extra fertiliser on vegetables but can you speed up growth with chicken manure and tomato feed (I have these just sitting around) when your soil is already fertile or is this not going to help?

[@lesliedevlin8501]

Great show 💯💯💯👍👍👍👀👀👀 Les from Perth

[@vickyannpaintingwithoils]

Huw, I have wanted to use grass clippings for mulch from our ten acres I mow often. Do cut weeds reroot and grow in the garden if I am to bag and use the clippings for mulch? Thank you in advance for the answer. Love your videos.

[@bajaninsight5961]

Hi I live on an island but land for farming is scarce. We have a lot of container gardening. Have always had trouble getting a good tomato crop. From yr video I know I was not planting deep enough and over watering. I will try this deep and hold back the water method and see what happens. In other news tho the bananas, plantains and mangoes are bearing fruit.!! Thank you.

[@TheGDChap]

My grandad told me a tip with watering tomatoes. Put a small pot with drainage holes as close to the stem as reasonable and water exclusively into that. I'm going to try it out this year with my crop and as recommended in this video, do a deep water once every 5 days to see if I can encourage the roots.

[@joematty1353]

This has given me a idea I'm going to use a water bottle upside down and drill holes in it and cut the bottom of the bottle that is going to be the top were I put the water in. thanks for sharing this I will also keep my eyes open for deep skinny flower pots.

[@lunabeta3516]

Wish I had that soil. Working on it. Thanks for the informative video

[@HuwRichards]

My Pleasure :)

[@Mimonhomestead]

Hi my brother you are very happy with your offer thank you

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you! :)