How to plant tomato seedlings 04/22/2010
 Today I want to show you how I plant tomatoes. I have said before that if you look close at the stems of seedlings you will see "hairs". These "hairs" if treated properly will turn into roots. That means you either plant it really deep, or on it's side...sort of. If you plant it on it's side, close to the surface, the Sun will heat the soil and cause the seedlings hair/roots to grow faster. The more roots, the more water it can take in and the more fruit it can accommodate. That is the theory, anyway.  First, dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the root ball. Plus about another inch or two.  Then you pinch off all but the very top 2-3 leaves.  I know it looks kind of naked...but it doesn't hurt them. I forget why you take them off...I am guessing so it doesn't rot the plant under the dirt.  Then, wrap a piece of newspaper around the stem, up close to the top.  Once the root ball is in the hole, dig a trench for the stalk and lay it in the trench.  I then took a handful of worm compost and put it in with the root ball.  Now cover it up with dirt. You want the paper ring to be half way in the dirt. The paper is to keep the cutworms from cutting your plant off at ground level. This is the best way I have found to grow tomatoes. Hope it works for you too. | ArchivesAugust 2010 CategoriesAll |
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