How Often Should You Water Tomatoes in an Earth Box?

Watering Reservoir

• On the frequently asked questions section of its website, the Earthbox manufacturer says that "you can't overwater" plants grown in the Earthbox. The reason for this is the reservoir installed in every Earthbox that regulates the amount of moisture plants receive. As the gardener fills the reservoir with water, an overflow hole drains out excess moisture so that only the ideal amount of moisture can be doled out to plants as needed.

Watering Tomatoes

• The Earthbox's manufacturer recommends keeping the reservoir full at all times. Small plants that have recently been started in the Earthbox only need the reservoir to be filled once every few days. As the plants grow, add water more frequently, particularly on fruit-bearing plants such as tomatoes; they will likely require the reservoir be topped off once per day.

Other Tomato Care Tips

• While the Earthbox's reservoir system allows plants to only "drink" as much water as they need, successful tomato plant growth still depends in large part on the quality of the growing medium you use to establish the tomatoes. Earthbox recommends any peat-based growing medium that is designed for use in container growth supplemented with 2 cups of dry, granular fertilizer.

Other Considerations

• Growing tomatoes in an Earthbox, when done according to the manufacturer's instructions, can surely be less labor-intensive than doing the same in a container or in outside soil; it does not, however, make your tomato plants immune to diseases that could potentially render tomatoes inedible and threaten the long-term health of the plant. Carefully monitor your tomato plants for symptoms of tomato plant diseases.