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There are always ways to get around Mother Nature if you live in a place with a short growing season. Water wall plant protection is one way to keep plants safe and get a few extra weeks at the start of the season. It may sound hard, but it’s actually a simple and effective way to keep young, weak plants warm and safe from harsh weather and even cold winds. Lets learn more about using water walls for plants.
Growing tomatoes is a favorite summer activity for many gardeners. Who doesn’t love biting into a sun-warmed, juicy tomato fresh from the vine? However, in many parts of the country, the tomato growing season is frustratingly short. Cool spring temperatures followed by hot, dry summers limit both the length of the season and the quality of the fruit.
Using a wall of water allows gardeners in northern climates to get a big head start on tomato production A wall of water is a simple but highly effective season extension device By surrounding plants with water-filled plastic cells, a wall of water creates a greenhouse-like environment that traps heat while protecting against wind and cold. This allows for tomatoes to be set out 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost date. The result is earlier fruit production and a longer period of harvest.
How Does a Wall of Water Work?
A wall of water consists of a set of clear plastic cells attached to form a cylinder. The cells are filled with water which acts as a natural insulator. During the day, the sun’s rays pass through the water and plastic to warm the soil and air inside the wall of water. At night, the water prevents heat from radiating back out into the cool air. This protection allows tomatoes and other heat loving plants to grow as if it were summer, even when temperatures may dip below freezing on some nights.
Walls of water provide protection on several fronts:
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Heating – The water absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night to keep the environment warm, This allows plants to grow vigorously
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Wind protection – The plastic cells buffer plants from damaging winds.
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Cold protection – Walls of water can protect plants even when temperatures drop below freezing. The water releases its heat slowly to keep the interior above 32°F.
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Frost protection – On cool nights, the wall of water prevents frost from forming on plants.
When to Use Walls of Water for Tomatoes
Walls of water can be placed around tomato plants as early as 6 weeks before the last expected frost. The added warmth provided allows plants to become well established so they are ready to grow rapidly when warmer weather arrives.
To get the earliest tomatoes possible, look for extra early hybrid varieties that can be harvested in 60-65 days. Pair these fast maturing tomatoes with a wall of water for maximum earliness. Sungold, Early Girl and Fourth of July are excellent varieties to try.
Heirloom tomatoes usually require a longer growing season of 80 days or more. However, with a wall of water, many heirlooms can be ready by early July rather than August.
Cherry and grape tomatoes often ripen earliest on the plant. Focus on these types for the very first harvests. Larger tomatoes will follow several weeks later.
No matter what variety is grown, a wall of water will lead to earlier harvests, more total yield, and a longer period of production than unprotected plants.
How to Use a Wall of Water Effectively
Using a wall of water takes a little bit of work, but the payoff in earlier tomatoes makes it very worthwhile. Here are some tips for getting the most from a wall of water:
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Start seeds indoors – Produce stocky, healthy transplants by sowing seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before setting them out. Grow the plants under lights or in a sunny window.
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Harden off plants – Set transplants outside in a protected area for 7-10 days to transition them to the outdoor environment before planting in the garden.
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Plant deeply – Bury the stem so just the top leaves are above ground. This encourages roots to form along the buried stem for added strength and drought tolerance.
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Fertilize – Put a handful of balanced organic fertilizer in each planting hole and water it into the soil. This gives plants immediate access to nutrients.
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Water thoroughly – Make sure soil under the wall of water stays consistently moist. Add water tubes or bottles if needed to irrigate buried stems.
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Allow ventilation – Leave the top open unless extreme cold is expected. Close caps only on the coldest nights to prevent overheating.
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Remove on time – Take the walls off after all danger of frost is past, typically 4-6 weeks after setting them out. Allow 2 weeks to transition before removing.
The Benefits of Using Walls of Water
Compared to other season extending options like cold frames or fabric row covers, walls of water provide superior frost protection and warming capabilities. They allow for unprecedented earliness in planting heat-loving crops like tomatoes.
The benefits of using a wall of water include:
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Tomatoes 4-6 weeks earlier than unprotected plants
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Longer total harvest period from early summer through fall
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Larger total yields due to the head start on growth
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Better fruit quality without excessive heat or sun exposure
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Protection from cold, wind and frost for tender transplants
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Able to keep plants alive even when temperatures drop below freezing
For gardeners who want the earliest, best tasting tomatoes with the least amount of hassle, a wall of water is the ideal way to get a jump start on the season. The additional care required is minor compared to the huge increase in earliness and overall productivity. No other season extension method can match the performance of a simple wall of water.
With the extra warmth and protection provided by a wall of water, tomatoes can be planted out weeks before the last frost date, leading to earlier harvests of juicy, vine-ripened fruit. Gardeners in even the coolest regions can enjoy fresh tomatoes straight from the garden in early summer rather than having to wait until late July or August.
Walls of water are inexpensive, reusable, and easy to use. The water itself provides natural insulation that outperforms other season extending tools. For northern gardeners anxious to get a head start on tomato season, a wall of water is an indispensable tool that can transform spring patience into summer bounty.
What are Water Walls?
Most of the time, water walls are used for tomatoes, but they can be used for any vegetable plant. They also let gardeners put plants out several weeks before the last expected frost. On the other hand, you can make the season last longer by growing your plants past the first frost in the fall. Water walls can be purchased from retail providers or made at home. You fill a wall of water with water. It’s basically a heavy piece of plastic that’s been cut into cells. In the same way that a greenhouse does, this gives off heat to keep cool air out and freezes
How to Make Your Own Garden Water Walls for Tomatoes
You can make your own wall of water for plants out of recycled 2-liter soda bottles instead of buying one at a store. The first step is to wash and remove the labels from the soda bottles. You will need approximately seven bottles for each small plant. Putting a piece of black plastic over the area will help warm the soil for a few days before you plant your tomato. As the sun warms the plastic, it will also warm the soil below. Once the soil is warm, you can transplant the tomato to the ground. Dig a deep, 8-inch (20 cm. ) hole that is 6 inches (15 cm. ) wide. Put a quart of water in the hole and tilt the plant slightly to the ground. Fill the hole and leave about 4 inches (10 cm. ) of the plant above ground. This will help encourage a strong root system. Fill the soda bottles with water and place them in a circle around the plant. It needs room to grow, so don’t leave big gaps between the bottles. Also, don’t put them too close together.
Wall of Water PLANT PROTECTORS substitute for expensive greenhouse
FAQ
How do you make a wall of water for tomatoes?
When to remove wall of water from tomatoes?
What is the best watering system for tomatoes?
Why do you put Epsom salt around tomatoes?
Does a wall of water for Tomatoes work?
Walls Of Water for Tomatoes. Start Growing Sooner. Does it work? W alls O water, Walls Of Water, water teepees, season extenders are all names for small, inexpensive plant protectors that use water as insulation to keep tomatoes or other heat loving plants warm when it’s cold.
Why do tomato plants need water?
It uses water as insulation to protect tomatoes and other heat loving plants from cold, wind and rain. This gives your tender, young plants a chance to establish themselves before problematic insects arrive on the scene. It also keeps tomato plant leaves dry and out of the rain, preventing disease.
Can a Wall o water teepee grow tomatoes?
There’s no doubt that compost is a huge factor in growing great tomatoes, but it was the use of Walls O Water that got my attention. Walls O Water is one of many brands of “water teepees” that are used as mini greenhouses with warm weather vegetable plants like tomato, pepper, cucumber, melon and eggplant.
How do you protect tomato plants from frost?
Protect your Tomato plants from frost damage. Wall O Water is a great tomato frost protector. You can also create greater Pepper Frost Tolerance. Make a Wall of Water to create tomato frost protection. Protect your Tomato plants from frost damage. Wall O Water is a great tomato frost protector.
How do you plant a tomato seedling?
Fill with water about 1/3 full. Form a ring with your wall of water at the place you will plant your tomatoes. Using a clothespin, connect the seam of two cells, so there is a slight overlap. Once you plant your tomato seedling, I found a small piece of twine works great for closing in the top of the wall of water slightly.
How do you keep Tomatoes warm in the garden?
In fact, I know people who use wall-o-waters in the garden as early as February and they keep the tomatoes warm and happy. Wall of waters can be a bit of a pain to fill, but I have found an easy solution. Simply put them around a 5-gallon bucket. The bucket helps hold them up and then you can fill them easily with a hose.