Best watering/growing system for tomatoes? [View all]

I have mine in raised beds. The best watering system I have used is drip irrigation. For the past number of years, I have been trying to hand water using rain barrel water. I use large soda bottles with small holes drilled in the bottom to dribble the water onto the roots. But it is not enough or drains too fast or something because the plants are struggling. It is also high maintenance, so I am more likely to skip watering chores. I am thinking of buying an electric pump for the barrels so I can water more easily. Anyone have experience with this? I was hoping to find a solar system so I could be completely off the grid for water. Or maybe build high stands for the barrels and use gravity?

I tried containers one year, but after it got really hot, again, had problems keeping up with the watering. But it was nice not to have the weeds!

One way or another, I need to have a plan soon. If I wait until the last minute, it is not done in time.