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Water Walls for Tomatoes

By Joannabanana
March 7, 2014

Cool ambient soil temperatures will affect plant growth, flower bud formation, and taste. Water walls will insulate against cold temperatures and help increase your harvest yields.

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Mar 7, 2014 6:21 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Paul
Utah (Zone 5b)
Grandchildren are my greatest joy.
Annuals Enjoys or suffers cold winters Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Garden Procrastinator Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Plays in the sandbox
Tender Perennials Tomato Heads The WITWIT Badge Region: Utah Vegetable Grower Hybridizer
My use of water walls is a little different than the excellent article written by Joannabanana. Most years here in Utah we start getting spring like weather and nice days in mid- March and I get an urge to plant some tomatoes, Problem is that last reliable frost date is mid-May so I get out my water walls and buy some tomato plants. I plant the tomatoes and water in with warm water with a little fertilizer. Then I put a bucket or nursery pot over the plant and put the water wall over the container. I then use a 2 gallon water can and fill the wall using very warm water from the house. This is a good 2 person job. When the wall is full of water carefully remove the container. I leave the walls on for about 2 months. Sometimes we have a frost and I have had ice in the wall but the tomato was fine. Sometimes the plant grows out of the top of the wall and the top freezes but the lower portion and root system are fine. Depending on the weather I remove the walls in the first part of May, put on my tomato cages which are covered with clear plastic. The plastic provides a warm enviroment and then it is removed it in early June when it is dependably warm. By now plants have extensive root systems and plants are often in bloom. I shake the tomato cages to encourage pollination. Then I patiently wait for the first vine-ripe tomato Hurray! Lovey dubby Thumbs up
Thumb of 2014-03-07/Paul2032/7aa13d Tomato plants in early summer


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Paul Smith Pleasant Grove, Utah
Last edited by Paul2032 Mar 7, 2014 9:57 AM Icon for preview
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Mar 7, 2014 7:26 AM CST
Name: Joanne
Calgary, AB Canada (Zone 3a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Region: Canadian Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Roses
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Annuals Container Gardener Vegetable Grower Winter Sowing Enjoys or suffers cold winters
They certainly do help get a early start. The first year, I had removed them in in June , but find that for our area it is best to leave them in place the entire growing season. They really help in later season to deep water.
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Mar 7, 2014 7:51 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Paul
Utah (Zone 5b)
Grandchildren are my greatest joy.
Annuals Enjoys or suffers cold winters Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Garden Procrastinator Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle Plays in the sandbox
Tender Perennials Tomato Heads The WITWIT Badge Region: Utah Vegetable Grower Hybridizer
We have a relatively long growing season and can get near 100 degrees in July-August so that is the reason I remove them. While the walls are on the plants only require very occasional watering. Thanks for the great article. I went and looked at tomatoes a few days ago......
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Paul Smith Pleasant Grove, Utah
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Mar 7, 2014 5:39 PM CST
Name: Cinda
Indiana Zone 5b
Dances with Dirt
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I have used these in the past when I lived in Michigan , they were nice and easy , but tomatoes did not develop a nice strong stem . I had to be very careful not to break the main stem when removing the wall of water. I only used them a couple years .
..a balanced life is worth pursuit.
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Mar 7, 2014 7:38 PM CST
Name: Critter (Jill)
Frederick, MD (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Critters Allowed Butterflies Hummingbirder Cat Lover
Bee Lover Region: Mid-Atlantic Cottage Gardener Garden Photography Tropicals Hibiscus
It never occurred to me to FOLD THEM DOWN and leave them in place!

Thank You!
We're all learners, doers, teachers.
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Mar 8, 2014 5:31 PM CST
Name: Joanne
Calgary, AB Canada (Zone 3a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Region: Canadian Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Roses
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Annuals Container Gardener Vegetable Grower Winter Sowing Enjoys or suffers cold winters
It didn't occur to me either. My neighbour is who thought that up. Whistling
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Mar 8, 2014 8:35 PM CST
Name: Critter (Jill)
Frederick, MD (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Critters Allowed Butterflies Hummingbirder Cat Lover
Bee Lover Region: Mid-Atlantic Cottage Gardener Garden Photography Tropicals Hibiscus
Kudos to your neighbor, then! Not like it's impossible to remove it after summer warms up, but as you said, it'll help if you're watering with a hose (mostly I use soaker hoses for bottom watering)... I'm also thinking it'll keep bunnies away from the base of the plant, maybe kinda sorta. LOL
We're all learners, doers, teachers.
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