Viewing post #567203 by Paul2032

My use of water walls is a little different than the excellent article written by Joannabanana. Most years here in Utah we start getting spring like weather and nice days in mid- March and I get an urge to plant some tomatoes, Problem is that last reliable frost date is mid-May so I get out my water walls and buy some tomato plants. I plant the tomatoes and water in with warm water with a little fertilizer. Then I put a bucket or nursery pot over the plant and put the water wall over the container. I then use a 2 gallon water can and fill the wall using very warm water from the house. This is a good 2 person job. When the wall is full of water carefully remove the container. I leave the walls on for about 2 months. Sometimes we have a frost and I have had ice in the wall but the tomato was fine. Sometimes the plant grows out of the top of the wall and the top freezes but the lower portion and root system are fine. Depending on the weather I remove the walls in the first part of May, put on my tomato cages which are covered with clear plastic. The plastic provides a warm enviroment and then it is removed it in early June when it is dependably warm. By now plants have extensive root systems and plants are often in bloom. I shake the tomato cages to encourage pollination. Then I patiently wait for the first vine-ripe tomato
Tomato plants in early summer