What Size Emitters for Tomatoes?

What Size Emitters for Tomatoes?

Plants are watered slowly through a small, ¾-inch-diameter collapsible tube without wetting the foliage. Drip tape, usually 8 to 10 millimeters thick, is buried 1 to 2 inches deep. Dripper or emitter spacing is typically 4 to 12 inches. Tomatoes require a single drip line per row, offset about 2 inches from the plant.

How many GPH Do tomatoes need?

I'd run the main supply hose along the row and put two one-gallon-per-hour emitters at each plant, one on each side, six inches from the stem. When the plants are less than 18″ tall, run the system 30 minutes every three days. As they get bigger, increase the run time.

How do you size drip emitters?

With drip irrigation you want the water to be immediately absorbed into the soil as it comes out of the emitter. If you can find them I recommend 2,0 l/hr (0.5 gph) emitters. These are often called “1/2 gallon per hour emitters” in the USA. If you can't find them, then use the 4,0 l/hr (1 gph) emitters.

James H. Sterling
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James H. Sterling

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.