How to Plant Tomatoes

I am resurrecting this old post, because it’s that time of year.

1.  Dig a Hole

2.  Plant Tomato

That’s how I have been doing it for years, until last year when I bought my plants at a Farmers Market and I was taught a new way.  I called to confirm with my dad and he agreed.  Still not sure why he was holding out on me all these years.

Here is the correct way to plant tomatoes.

1.  Take your perfectly good tomato plant out of the container.

2.  Cut off all the leaves, stems whatever you would like to call them all the way to the top.

3.  Once you have a Charlie Brown tomato plant you are ready to go.

4.  Dig a shallow and long hole because you are going to lay the plant down on it’s side.

5.  The root ball will be in the deepest spot, but the stem of the tomato will be just under the ground.  Cover with dirt.

You may be wondering what my reasoning behind this is.  Or why the farmer told me too.  The roots are close to the surface and get so much more heat and they are easier to water, thus producing tomatoes sooner.

Last year was the first year I did it and it did work wonderfully.  Once the plants grow you have no idea that they were even planted on their sides.

If you have a little plant it cannot be done, only do this with the tall ones.  I had one that had a few flowers and I even saw the start of a tomato.  I didn’t mess with that one, I just plopped it in the ground just the way it was.

I was just glad with all that was happening last weekend that I even had time to get these in the ground.  Getting my garden in that is what I am celebrating this week.

Finer Things in Life

What’s Happening in Your Garden