Question
My garden is in containers but I don't know how much to water my tomatoes, bell peppers, chili peppers. I've been told to let the tomatoes go limp, then give them a good watering. My Anaheim peppers however may be getting too much water. The stalk is black in the bows of the branches, and some of the flowers have gone black and limp. What am I doing wrong?

Answer
Linda, this is a common problem when growing fruit-bearing vegetables in containers.  Inconsistent watering can lead to yellowing of leaves, tomatoes cracking, wilting, or root-rot.  The black leaves indicate the latter due to excessive watering.  What happens is that the excess water literally suffocates the roots, preventing them from absorbing nutrients and oxygen.  The end result is root-rot.

Although I do not advocate letting plants go limp before watering, you do need to let the soil completely dry out before watering again.  I would invest in a moisture meter to assist you in knowing when it is time to water the containers.  These meters have a six inch or longer probe that you insert into the soil.  Once the soil dries at root level, the meter will indicate that you need to water.

The benefit to using a meter is that most gardeners gauge their watering habits by the surface of the soil.  Since the surface always dries before the subsoil, the tendency is too water before it is necessary.  This tool prevents that. Attached is a link to a website that illustrates this particular meter.  You can also purchase one at many garden centers.

http://www.greenfeet.com/moisture-tester.html

Also, some gardeners do wait until the plants look limp before they water.  This is a good indication that the subsoil has dried.  The problem with this technique is that the plant becomes stressed due to the lack of water, and is weakened as a result.  The more times you do this, the weaker the plant gets.  Rather than risking damage to the plant, it is always better to water consistently, and when needed.  The meter will help accomplish this objective.

I hope this answered your question.  Please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike