Watering Tomatoes in Raised Beds

Why

• ✓Extension guidance puts tomato water needs at 1-1.5 inches/week; the adjustments above tailor it to your conditions.
• ✓Fewer, deeper sessions beat daily light watering: deeper roots, fewer disease problems, steadier fruit.

When this doesn't apply

• →After significant rain (½ inch or more), subtract it from the weekly total before watering.
• →Always confirm with the finger test: if soil is moist 2 inches down, wait a day.

How this was calculated

1. 1. Base water need1.25 in/week

   Tomato: 1-1.5 inches of water per week (extension guidance); midpoint used

2. 2. Raised bed adjustment× 1.25 (our estimate)

   Raised beds drain and warm faster than in-ground soil, so they dry out sooner.

   Our estimate, derived from the cited guidance.

3. 3. Convert to gallons≈ 3.9 gal/week per plant

   1.56 in/week × 0.623 gal/sq ft/in × 4 sq ft root zone

4. 4. Split into sessions≈ 2 gal per session

   3.9 gal ÷ 2 deep waterings per week

Data sources

• University of Minnesota Extension — Growing tomatoes in home gardens — Tomatoes need about 1 inch of water per week; more in hot, windy weather and sandy soil. (checked 2026-07-15)
• Ohio State University Extension — Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden — Tomatoes require approximately 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. (checked 2026-07-15)