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Colorado

I have always watered my tomatoes from the municipal water. I set it to water once a day for 30 min or an hour depending on the time of year and the temperature.

I read municipal water is bad because of the chlorine. I've never had any problems but maybe I should worry about it? Idk.... I always leave a couple pints of water out for a day or two for my sourdough starter because my bread rises better if I do. I also read most people don't water everyday. Once a week or so. I doubt you could do that here in Colorado with how dry it is. Is it better to water deeply once or a little bit several times?

1/24/2022 2:35:02 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

Good question Scott, I definitely would consider letting the water sit in a large open container so the chlorine can gas off. As far as how often to water that depends on sooo many factors that there's no way of me telling anyone else what is the right way to do it,you have to consider soil type,microbiology,location, mulch, etc,etc. Try using malted wheat or barley to feed your sourdough starter,it really speeds it up!

1/24/2022 3:13:13 PM

Grittyville, WA

Are you doing containers or in-ground?

As Dan says, I cant give you definitive advice but an idea you could try would be to zone water the plant... water the soil on one side of the plant one day, and the other side the next day. The idea is to allow half the roots good access to calcium while the other half of the roots (necessarily) get wet. Soil that overwatered or too dry will inhibit the ability to uptake calcium. Using different watering zones could give a buffer against the stress of watering too much or too little. Just an idea.

1/24/2022 4:03:02 PM

Grittyville, WA

Some growers have very successfully used drip lines, adjusted correctly to deliver the correct amount, daily or even a few times a day. Figuring out the exact amount to water could go in the direction of an advanced topic.

1/24/2022 4:10:25 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

You could try using an irrometer,it senses how hard the plant has to work in order to get the moisture that it needs. Just put it inline with your drip irrigation valve, so it would make your watering automatic.

1/24/2022 5:22:38 PM

Colorado

I use a soaker hose. I guess its somewhat like the drip systems. I've had problems in the past if I get the leaves wet. I'll have to try the malted wheat for my yeast. sounds interesting. My soil holds the moisture pretty well not sure if half watering is going to do much interesting tho. I adjust the water flow depending on the look of the plants and the temp/weather. You know when you find the sweet spot cause the plants go nuts.

never heard of an irrometer. Looks like a rabbit hole of research for me tonight yay. love learning new things.

thanks for all the input

1/24/2022 6:22:16 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

I would advise not using a soaker hose because of uneven water distribution from one end to the other,I have used used hundreds of feet of soaker hose in the past and never again, I think that you are far better off with drip tape that has 8" or closer spaced emitters. Just my 2 cents!

1/24/2022 6:32:09 PM

Colorado

I do in ground. raised bed.

1/24/2022 6:56:49 PM

Colorado

I noticed that problem also Dan. I fixed it by making loops so the water is spread evenly. We have both honestly we use the drip tape on some of my wifes stuff and our strawberries etc. I just wish I knew how much of a difference it would make watering with the city water, since everything is set up on that already.

1/24/2022 7:06:50 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

Scott, perfect, that's what I do as well.

1/24/2022 7:07:26 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

Sorry, my post was supposed to be before your last comment.
Chlorine is very bad for your biology and without good biology you are going in compromised, I would try to figure out a simple way to gas it off,maybe use a tote,and then a little pump,you only need 10 psi max for the tape.

1/24/2022 7:14:12 PM

Colorado

ya. I need all the good little bugs in my soil. Ill figure it out. At least the city uses chlorine and not Chloramine.

1/24/2022 7:21:31 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

Your probably getting chloramines because from what I understand when I took care of the college swimming pool years ago,that's what you get when chlorine connects with bacteria, so when you smell what you think is chlorine when you get around a pool,it's the chloramines, at least that was what I was taught 30 years ago.

1/24/2022 7:33:38 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

you can get filters that remove the chlorine. I used one at my last house.

you can get ones that remove both chlorine and chloramines.

look on amazon for garden hose filters

1/24/2022 7:44:40 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

You'll need some way to monitor the gallons used with the filter,as it's only good for a certain amount depending on whether it's a carbon block or a GAC type filter,theres pros and cons with either.

1/24/2022 8:23:30 PM

On a cliff in the desert

When you know the gallons/hour that comes out of your garden hose, you can figure out how often your filter needs to be replaced.

1/24/2022 8:41:36 PM

On a cliff in the desert

When you know the gallons/hour that comes out of your garden hose, you can figure out how often your filter needs to be replaced.

1/24/2022 8:41:38 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

Amazon has digital hose end metering units for around $20.00

1/24/2022 8:58:06 PM

Colorado

all great ideas....

municipal water can be treated with chlorine or chloramine. You have to look it up or call to find out which one they are using to treat the water. There are pros and cons to both. Chloramine is a chemical variant of chlorine that contains ammonia. It is far more stable than chlorine. This is good for treating water long term but a problem if you want to get rid of it. It doesn't vent into the air like chlorine by letting the water sit out. Guess I'll have to choose to let it sit out (rebuild the watering system) or put a filter inline with the watering system. choices choices.

1/24/2022 11:46:59 PM