If your tomatoes are in raised beds, think about root depth and wind too. My beds are exposed, so they dry out faster than my neighbour’s beds beside a fence. I water based on the plant and soil, not a calendar. Droopy leaves in the afternoon can be heat stress, but dry soil in the morning means they need water.

Mulch changed everything for my tomatoes. Before mulch, my raised beds needed water constantly and the tomatoes cracked after uneven watering. I now use straw around the plants and water early in the morning. The soil stays more even, and the fruit quality is better.

Raised beds dry out much faster than in-ground beds, so I do not follow the same watering advice exactly. I check the soil with my finger every morning when it is hot. If the top couple of inches are dry, I water slowly at the base. Consistency matters more than drowning them once a week.