Drip Tape for Tomato

[stevenh]

Hi there,

This year I am scaling up my tomato product and will be running around 100 tomatoes in a florida weave configuration at 2 foot spacing with rows 5 feet apart. Couple questions about drip tape:

1. Can I use a 4, 6 or 12 inch drip spacing? Or do I need to find someone who will sell me 24? Said differently do I need to match the spacing of the drips to plant spacing or are the tomatoes happy being watered "in between"

2. Does it make sense to run two line - one on each side of the tomatoes? I am worried with one that I will be only watering half the roots.

Thanks!

 

[Chuck]

Tomatoes have a deep and wide root system with the width surpassing the drip line of the plant. I used a drip line on my tomatoes with emitters that were 1/2 gph and when in use would saturate over a one foot radius at the emitter. I have never used tape and do not know exactly how it works but if it works anyway similar to a drip line, one line running along the base of the plants is sufficient.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I am going to try terracotta flower pots with the hole blocked and buried next to the plant this year, it's a cheap version of an oya.

Google Search

 

[YumYum]

I use drip tape with 12" spacings. My soil has a clayish content so 12" works ok but I wished they were spaced just a bit closer, maybe 8". If you have sandyish soil, then you'd surely want closer emitters. I have had to prop up a portion with soil or a rock so the water runs down the tape towards the nearest plant since I just lay mine on top of the soil.

One line per row is all you need.