12/31/2023 0 Comments Tomato 2 carnegie pa![]() Staking: It’s best to stake tomato transplants immediately after planting to prevent driving the stake through the plant’s spreading root system. But, there are two more helpful steps to take at planting time to aid in seasonal maintenance and production. Now that your tomato crop is settled into its new home, the plants are ready to get growing. Though the root system will be extensive, it will also be quite shallow, increasing the importance of mulching and watering throughout the remainder of the season. The biggest benefit of this method is ease of digging. Backfill the trench and water it along the entire length of the trench. Loosen the roots with your fingers, and then lay the plant into the trench on its side, with the root system at one end of the trench and the shoot system at the other.Ĭarefully bend the shoot end upwards so that the lowermost leaf sits just above soil level, being cautious not to snap the stem in half. After the lower leaves are removed, dig a 3-inch-deep trench that’s nearly as long as the plant is tall. A second method, know as trench planting, also begins by removing all but the topmost four leaves. Since the root system on a tomato planted via this technique is so deep, the need for subsequent watering is reduced.Ģ. Gently press the soil down to ensure good contact with the roots and stem, then water the plant in well. This type of deep planting results in a lush root system and well-anchored plant. The first tomato-planting method entails pinching off all but the topmost four leaves, digging a large, deep hole, removing the plant from its pot, gently loosening its roots (so they can more readily spread into surrounding soil), placing the plant into the hole up to the lowest leaf and filling the hole back up. To maximize the potential for a healthy root system, there are two effective planting methods:ġ. Unlike a pepper or a cabbage, planting tomatoes deeply results in a very extensive root system which is exactly what the plant needs to better withstand drought, anchor itself and acquire nutrients. Close examination of a tomato stem reveals thousands of small hair-like projections, each of which can develop into a root. The planting process is a bit specialized for tomatoes as compared to other vegetable plants. To simplify the process, you may want to first arrange the still-potted transplants in the garden and move them around until you find the perfect position for each of them. Mature tomato plants can grow quite large, so space the plants a good 4 to 6 feet apart. Prepare the area by removing any existing weeds or other vegetation, and work 3 to 4 inches of organic matter (aged horse or cow manure, compost or leaf mold) into the soil. Once the danger of frost has completely passed, select a planting site with a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of full sun. Plus, if the soil is too cold, the plants will just sit there anyway and will not grow the extensive root system they need to support plant growth and fruit production. With tomatoes, it’s always better to wait than to put them in too early. Keep an eye on the forecast if May 15 arrives and the weathermen are still mentioning the threat of frost, hold off on planting your tomatoes for another week or two. Waiting until after May 15 to do your planting is a must in our region. Tomato plants don’t like cold soil or cold air temperatures. ![]() Proper planting starts with the proper timing, of course. Though it’s still about a month too early to plant tomato plants outdoors here in Pennsylvania, I thought I’d help you get a jump start on the season by offering some tips for planting this year’s tomato crop. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |