Best watering method for rows?
 

Happy new year tomatovillains,

I started another thread a week or so again where i was complaining about my soil.... i know i can fix it and will definitley be doing it, but something else i need to know is-

What is the best method of watering tomatoes that are in rows?

I am currently using drippers and an occaisional use of a sprinkler, but neither seem optimal.... the drippers because some areas are drenched and other areas kind of dry and the sprinkler because it will split fruit and cause weeds to pop up everywhere.

What are the preferred methods? Are drippers really the best way if i get my soil all fixed? Or should i try some kind of mini sprinklers that only spray low, under the fruit?

I want a great garden but i also don't want to be outside in the heat with a hose.

Thanks for any tips or tricks.

Drip lines work very well for me, I run one line right down the row of tomatoes and then another line on either side about a foot away from the center one,the emitters are spaced 8 inches apart in the drip tape,then I mulch heavily to keep roots cool and keep even moisture. My tomatoes are two main leaders clipped to twine.

I don't have electricity in the garden. I grow tomatoes in two rows, between them I have a stretched hose with holes connected to a 10 l bucket. Mulched with black woven fabric. Rows 3 m long, 8 plants in each. I have 80 plants (5 buckets) in the whole 3 x 6 m flowerbed. I take the water from the barrel I have nearby and gradually pour the ten liters into those buckets. I do this twice and I have the plants watered (each gets about 1 liter of water). Watering me takes about 5 minutes (80 plants). I water twice a week.
Vladimír

Drippers are good, alternatively I use soaker hoses turned so that its spraying down.

I was fortunate to be able to connect my garden beds to our existing irrigation system as a new zone. I currently have drip tubing with 12" emitter spacing running the length of the beds, but swapping it out for drip tape with closer spacing this year.

Overhead watering will promote more foliage disease than anything, so best avoided!