Key points to consider when planting tomatoes

 

Once your tomato plants have been properly acclimated to the outside, it is time to transplant from their starter pots into the garden. Here are some key points to consider when planting tomatoes: 

1. Choose the Best Spot. To get the best from your tomato plants this year, pick the sunniest spot in the garden. Your tomato plants need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day; 8 hours a day is better. 

  

Choose a spot where you did not grow tomatoes, potatoes, peppers or eggplant last year. Rotating your crops every year reduces the potential for diseases such as leaf spot, early blight and fusarium wilt. If you do not have enough space to rotate your crops, consider planting tomatoes in containers this season and plant a soil building crop such as peas and oats or winter rye where you grew tomatoes last year. Keeping the garden soil covered will protect and encourage the soil microbiome, through the season.   

 

2. Amend the Soil. Great soil is a must for growing tomatoes, so plan to amend the site with compost and peat moss. We recommend adding 2" to 3" of Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost and digging it into your existing soil 6" to 8". This locally produced product will work to enrich the planting site. Repeat this application again in the fall.   

  

3. Choose a time. Tomatoes are warm weather plants, so temperature is an important factor when it comes to deciding when to plant. You’ll want to wait until the nighttime temperatures stay consistently above 50° F and the soil temperatures measured at six inches below the surface are above 55° F before you plant tomatoes.  Planting on a cloudy day helps reduce transplant shock. 

 

  

4. Digging in. When it comes to planting tomatoes, instead of simply transplanting them at the same depth as they were in the pot, it’s beneficial to bury a larger portion of the stem. This can be achieved either by planting them vertically deeper or by tilting (or “planting on their side”) in a trench so that a longer section of the stem is in contact with soil. 

 

Here’s why this step matters: Encouraging Adventitious Roots: Unlike many plants that won’t tolerate being buried up to their stem, tomatoes have the special ability to generate adventitious roots along any part of their stem. By burying more of the stem—whether straight down or at an angle—you effectively increase the area from which new roots can emerge. This extra rooting not only boosts nutrient and water uptake but also offers greater stability to support a heavy fruit load. 

 

Tomatoes planted deeply—whether vertically or at an angle—tend to mature earlier and often yield healthier fruit. The extended root system helps the plant access more nutrients and maintain steadier hydration, which are key factors in robust development and increased productivity. 

 

Both methods harness the tomato’s natural strength to produce extra roots. Many gardeners experiment with both techniques to see which works better given their specific climate, soil conditions, and tomato variety. 

 

Start by removing the lower leaves from the plant. Next, dig a hole that's large enough to accommodate one-third to one-half of the plant.  

 

Add some granular tomato fertilizer such as Happy Frog Tomato and Vegetable.  The OMRI stamp on the bag assures you the product is organic. This will provide the nutrients necessary for your tomato plants to establish and grow.  fertilizers Plus, it contains mycorrhizae, beneficial fungi which will help your tomato roots grow bigger roots and take up nutrients more efficiently.  

 

Place your tomato plant in the hole and back fill with amended soil as necessary. 

 

Tip. If you’re using the trench method, place your plant on its side for a few hours. The top will curl, making it easier to plant at an angle. 

 

Please note, neither of these methods apply if you are growing grafted tomatoes. Plant grated tomatoes straight down, while making sure the graft point at the soil line.  

  

 

Spacing: Space the plants about 18 to 24 inches apart (or according to the variety's requirements) so they have enough room to grow and allow for good air circulation. This spacing helps in preventing disease and supports healthy growth. 

  

Now that your tomato is planted, give it a good drink.  Your tomato plants need to be watered deeply now and regularly through the growing season. Not watering consistently can lead to many problems including Blossom End Rot and cracking. Watering inconsistently can also cause the flowers to drop and the fruit not to set. Avoid watering your tomato plants overhead. Irrigate at the base of the plant. Building a moat around the plant will help control run off.  

Lastly, put the support cage in place. 

 

Starting your tomato plants out right will lead to better yields this season.