Should I stop watering the tomatos?

[Waterfish]

I’ve read that by mid September, you should stop watering tomato plants. I have a bumper crop, all inside a greenhouse. We've been picking ripe ones for weeks, and many more are at other stages from green to nearly ripe.

I haven’t watered them in over a week. Should I water them again or stop for the rest of the season? What’s the theory behind not watering tomatoes this late in the season?

[Waterfish]

Originally Posted by Waterfish

I’ve read that by mid September, you should stop watering tomato plants. I have a bumper crop, all inside a greenhouse. We've been picking ripe ones for weeks, and many more are at other stages from green to nearly ripe.

I haven’t watered them in over a week. Should I water them again or stop for the rest of the season? What’s the theory behind not watering tomatoes this late in the season?

[duckcall]

Not sure about inside a greenhouse, but the tomatoes have got all the growing done and are in a maturing stage. No water needed now.

[swampy]

I believe the idea is that by stopping the water you stress the plant into getting busy finishing the fruit. Or is it a vegi ? But in a green house maybe you could extend the cut off date?

[rwr]

I am no tomato expert, but this year, my tomatoes are a bust. They so far seem no better than the so called "vine ripe tomatoes" that you buy at Freddie's. Fried green tomatoes may be on the menu for me this year. Last year, I had a bumper crop of excellent tomatoes and this year I planted them in a different spot which was my mistake. I have known people that never water tomato plants and have had the best and tastiest tomatoes. I don't know about the not watering them in September thing, but I do know that to get a good return, go easy on the water and plant in a location with plenty of sun. Also, pinch out suckers throughout the growing season and prune down green stems as necessary. I would not water them at this time of year as Mother Nature will take care of that, but then it's hard for her to do in a greenhouse.

[marthagofish]

When you stop watering them they will put energy into the fruit rather than growing vines.

Stop watering.

[Charlie Storey]

Stop watering as soon as they begin to flower (outside)...like back in June, and don't water again till you've got several fruits, then give 'em just enough to keep them alive after that (which may be none if they are near plants that get a regular watering). I watered mine twice all summer and that probably wasn't necessary.

[fishkisser]

If you keep watering them they can grow all winter if you are on the coast ...
otherwise stop watering they will freeze soon as winter gets here ...

[Chrome Bumper]

People stress them with no water to encourage ripening. If they are getting ripe just keep watering them. We've gotten 500 pounds or so off ours and I keep them watered.

The elevation in Zigzag is different than ours, we are at 12' elevation.