Tomatoes are one of the most popular and there is no shortage of them in almost all gardens. Although growing tomatoes is relatively easy, it is important to follow certain steps that will help you achieve maximum yields. Therefore, learn how to achieve even better returns with minimal effort. Follow these recommendations for a single YouTube channel. While it may seem strange to you that someone would plant tomato seedlings down to the leaves, planting them deep is essential.
You will achieve the best results when you grow tomatoes in loose, drained and heated soils. The soil should be rich in nutrients, and a southern exposure is ideal. Tomato is an annual plant that is planted and often grown in greenhouses. The maximum mass of the root system develops up to a depth of 40-50 cm, which depends on the quality of the soil. Also, the plant sends out additional roots, which provide it with additional nutrition, supply it with water and attach it to the soil.
The tomato bush is branched, its height can vary from half a meter to about 3 meters – it depends on the choice and the method of cultivation. Tomato is a heat-loving plant that needs a lot of light. It is classified as a medium water need plant. The critical moisture period is the flowering and fruiting period, which lasts from one to two months. When applying crop rotation in the garden, it is useful to grow tomatoes in the garden after lettuce, spinach, scallions, radishes and similar crops. However, they should never be grown after peppers, eggplants or potatoes.
The importance of deep planting tomato bushes is that the tomato will take root wherever its stem is placed in the ground. As soon as the tomato stem touches the ground, small white roots begin to form. A tomato takes from the soil through its roots (like any other plant) what it needs for its development and growth. The deeper you plant the tomato, the bigger and stronger the roots will develop.
How deep to plant tomato seedlings?
It is recommended to plant up to 2/3 of the plant in the ground so that the plant fully develops strong roots. If you’re not sure how deep to dig the hole, measure the plant first – it’s likely to be deeper than you think. The best time to plant tomatoes in the open garden is when they grow about 15-30 cm tall. But it’s not too late to plant a tomato even if it’s already a bit taller – you can eventually plant it deeper and it will be stronger and more resilient.
Removing the lower leaves and stems is not important, you can safely plant them with the remaining leaves. However, if it makes planting easier, you can remove them before planting. It is important to prepare the soil well when planting, so make sure the soil is not compacted or hard. The new root system will not be able to grow and penetrate the compacted soil, so deep planting in this case would be useless. First, loosen the soil until it is loose enough and then you can add compost. There are 2 methods of deep planting tomatoes.
Deep pit method
This method is the most common, but can be difficult in compacted soils. The hole should be deep enough to plant most of the stem, just below the top line of leaves.
Side planting
This planting is ideal if your soil is a bit compacted or if you can’t dig a deep enough hole. Dig a furrow about 15 cm deep, lay the tomato seedlings on their sides at a slight angle to expose the upper leaves, and add soil around the stem.
When planting, you can add compost, yard manure, or a suitable granular fertilizer to ensure the plant has everything it needs for healthy growth. Water your tomatoes well after planting and be sure to do so throughout the growing season to maintain a strong and healthy root system. It is only important that the proportion of phosphorus is greater than that of nitrogen and potassium, as phosphorus is necessary for good root development.
In order for tomatoes to grow nicely upwards, give them proper support – wait for the plant to grow a bit on its own, which can take about 24 hours, then tie it up. Tomatoes can be tied in different ways – you can put wooden sticks. Various structures can also be placed on which seedlings can be tied.
You can also use special rubber clips for fastening, which will not damage the plants. This is truly the best way to have healthy and strong plants. Learn more in the attached video.
We wish you success!
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