How to Plant Tomatoes in the Ground & Tomato Root Depth (2024)
Each Bonnie tomato label urges you to plant tomatoes deep, so that a full 2/3 of the plant is underground. That means that if you buy a 10-inch tall plant, all but the top three to four inches is buried. Why? Because the plant will have a better, stronger root system. Better roots mean better tomatoes.
Each Bonnie tomato label urges you to plant tomatoes deep, so that a full 2/3 of the plant is underground. That means that if you buy a 10-inch tall plant, all but the top 3 to 4 inches is buried. Why? Because the plant will have a better, stronger root system. Better roots mean better tomatoes.
We know, we know. This goes against everything you've ever heard about "don't plant too deep or you'll kill the plant." Tomatoes break that rule because they actually have the ability to sprout additional roots along the buried stem. These extra roots strengthen the plant so that it can support more fruit and is better able to survive hot weather. (This applies whether you're growing in the ground, in a raised bed, or in a container.)
Here's how to plant your tomato deep in the ground:
Start with great soil. If you're growing in the ground, improve the texture and nutrition of your native soil with compost or Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Vegetables and Herbs. When growing tomatoes in containers, fill pots with a premium quality potting mix like Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix, which is lighter and fluffier than in-ground soil. Raised beds need soil that's heavier than potting mix but lighter than in-ground soil; Miracle-Gro® Raised Bed Soil is a good choice.
Dig a hole that is about 2/3 the height of the plant, including the root ball.
If desired, pinch or snip off the branches on the portion to be buried. This can make burying the plant easier, but it isn't necessary.
Remove the plant from its container (or, if it's in a biodegradable pot, simply remove the label and very bottom of the pot) and place it in the hole.
If you prefer, you can instead lay the plant on its side in trench, provided that it is at least 5 or 6 inches deep when buried and that the ground beneath it isn't hard as a brick. To do this, angle the plant so that the growing tip is above ground.
Fill in the hole or trench with some of the soil you removed. Only the top few inches of the plant will be exposed.
Label the plant to help you remember which variety you're growing.
Water well. Throughout the growing season, continue to water thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil is dry.
Now comes the fun part. Within a couple of months or so, your plants with super roots will delight you with a bountiful harvest of lovely fruit!
Gardening How-ToGrowing TechniquesHow-To Plant TomatoesPlantingPots and Small SpacesTomatoesVegetables
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Banana Hot Pepper (2 Pack) If you like a hint of heat with your peppers, give hot banana pepper a try. The 6-inch-long, banana-shaped fruit provides a bit of a kick—without frightening less-adventurous eaters. Pickled, fried, or roasted, it adds terrific flavor to your favorite dishes. Plus, the fruit creates a pretty pop of color in the garden and on the plate, maturing from pale green to yellow to orange to red. You’ll appreciate its resilience in summer, too, as the plant produces well even in hot weather. Performs well in containers. Hybrid. Add a cage or stake to your pepper when planting to support stems heavy with fruit. Place in full sun, and feed regularly. Be sure to label plants if you’re also growing sweet banana peppers. Scoville heat units: 5,000 to 10,000. Matures in 75 days. 2-pack starter plants 19.3 fl oz pot volume Medium heat
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Greek Oregano (2 Pack) Enjoy oregano aroma and flavor on pizza, in egg dishes, and in tomato sauces. Native to the Mediterranean region, this plant prefers climates with lower humidity, so keep the foliage and roots away from too much moisture. Give it good air circulation. For that reason, it is perfectly suited for a container. In the ground it makes a ground-cover-like mat. Harvest anytime, but especially as the stems begin to get tall and are getting ready to flower -- that is when the leaves are the most flavorful. Cut it back several times during the growing season to harvest the leaves from the stems. 2-pack starter plants 19.3 fl oz pot volume Full Sun to Partial Shade
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Cayenne Pepper (2 Pack) Light: Full sun. Fruit size: 5 to 6 inches. Matures: 70 to 75 days. Plant spacing: 12 to 18 inches apart. Plant size: 18 to 24 inches tall. Scoville heat units: 30,000 to 50,000 (hot). This very hot pepper is the prime ingredient in Cayenne pepper, which is made when the dried peppers are ground into powder. This is also the favored spice of Creole and Cajun cuisine used to give gumbo and crayfish dishes their punch. Thin-walled, skinny, wrinkled fruits are 5 to 6 Inches long and very hot. However, they will not be hot when small. Wait until they get at least 5 or 6 Inches long to pick hot ones. They can be substituted for most dishes calling for Serrano, Jalapeno, or Habanero peppers. Easy to grow and tolerant of hot, humid weather, Cayenne will produce peppers all summer. These skinny peppers are also called chili or finger peppers. Great for containers. Some Bonnie Plants varieties may not be available at your local stores, as we select and sell varieties best suited to the growing conditions in each region. 2-pack starter plants 19.3 fl oz pot volume Hot heat
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Spearmint Mint (2 Pack) Spearmint has strong flavor and fragrance that is released with simple bruising. It's the best mint variety for hot and cold drinks. Toss bruised leaves into ice water for a refreshing summer drink or add to iced tea. Spearmint is favored for flavoring beverages such as mojito. Also know as Yerba Buena. Spreading plant is great for containers. Tolerates light frost. 2-pack starter plants 19.3 fl oz pot volume Full Sun to Partial Shade
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Tami G Grape Tomato (2 Pack) Gardeners who have grown Tami G grape tomatoes appreciate her hybrid qualities, both in the garden and at the table. These firm, sweet, dark-red grape tomatoes grow 1 1/4 inch long x 3/4 inch wide, perfect for a healthy snack or salad. Tami G grape tomatoes grow into a vigorous vine that can reach 8 to 9 feet tall in a season, easily growing over the top of the cage and back down again. Because this variety is disease resistant, you will enjoy an extended harvest. This makes an absolutely beautiful branch of grape tomatoes that you can lay out on a table and let folks pick their own from the stem (like grapes). It's a crowd pleaser. Resistant to fusarium wilt (F), alterneria stem canker (ASC), gray leaf spot (St), and bacterial spec race 0. 2-pack starter plants 19.3 fl oz pot volume Full Sun
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English Thyme (2 Pack) English thyme is a low-growing plant with fragrant leaves. This herb goes well with just about everything. Add it (fresh or dried) to blended herb mixtures, or use in soups, sauces, beans, meat dishes, and more. It’s also a great addition to potpourri or homemade soap. But thyme isn’t just useful inside the house, as it also makes a wonderfully aromatic ground cover or border. 2-pack starter plants 19.3 fl oz pot volume Full Sun to Partial Shade
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Catnip (2 Pack) Your favorite feline will purr-fectly adore fresh catnip. Add it to your garden bed or plant it in a container for inside kitties, and watch them go wild! A member of the mint family, catnip creates a comical response in most cats, with lots of purring, rubbing, and rolling on the plant. This easy-to-grow, hardy herb produces pretty clusters of white flowers with purple dots in the summer, adding beauty to your garden. And, if your feline friend will share, catnip leaves make a lovely tea for humans. Dry the leaves to create homemade cat toys stuffed with catnip for more cat antics! Plant in full sun to part shade. Perennial (zones 4 to 10). 2-pack starter plants 19.3 fl oz pot volume Partial Shade
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Chamomile (2 Pack) Need a little help relaxing? Add chamomile to the garden, and brew a cup of homegrown, soothing chamomile tea to unwind before bed. While best known for use in tea, the pretty, edible flowers also add a slightly sweet flavor to dishes, desserts, and drinks. Chamomile looks lovely and makes a great companion plant in vegetable gardens, attracting beneficial insects, like pollinators and predatory insects that feed on pests, to boost harvests and keep veggies healthy. Enjoy the large shows of pretty, petite, daisy-like flowers—they look great in bouquets, too. Plant in full sun to partial shade. Annual. Matures in 60 to 65 days. 2-pack starter plants 19.3 fl oz pot volume Full Sun
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Carolina Reaper Pepper (2 Pack) Demand for the Carolina Reaper plant has been as smokin' hot as the pepper itself! Do you dare to grow the world’s hottest pepper? Get your milk-chaser ready, because Carolina Reaper packs a punch! With an off-the-chart Scoville rating of 1,569,300, these devilish red fruits aren’t for wimps. Easy to grow, the infamous pepper possesses a fruity and sweet aroma, with an undertone of chocolate and cherry flavors. It may be hot, but it’s packed with flavor, too. A little goes a long way—use part of a pod to flavor an entire pot of chili, or dehydrate and grind the peppers to make ultra-hot pepper powder. Just be sure to wear gloves when handling and add a mask when processing. 2-pack starter plants 25 fl oz pot volume Extreme heat
Lemon Balm (2 Pack) Lemon balm, a member of the mint family, is a lovely mild herb named for the lemony scent of its leaves. Originally grown in South Europe, lemon balm is often used in combination with other herbs and is frequently found in poultry and fish dishes, desserts, and teas. It also makes a nicely scented sachet. Plant one at the edge of a gate so that when the gate opens and closes the lemony scent fill the air. Like other types of mint, it likes to spread, so a container is a great choice. 2-pack starter plants 19.3 fl oz pot volume Partial Shade
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Tomato plants should be spaced approximately 3 feet apart. The planting hole should be deep enough to cover not only the roots of the plant, but when you are planting also remove some of the lower leaves by pinching them off and plant to cover the lower stem.
Each Bonnie tomato label urges you to plant tomatoes deep, so that a full 2/3 of the plant is underground. That means that if you buy a 10-inch tall plant, all but the top 3 to 4 inches is buried. Why? Because the plant will have a better, stronger root system.
Compost and composted manure are great additions to the soil for tomatoes and lots of other plants. Compost adds basic nutrients and improves soil structure. Composted manure provides nutrients all season long. Composted manure: This provides a slow release of nutrients over the growing season.
You can plant tomatoes directly in the ground, in pots, or in raised vegetable beds. The most important thing is that they get lots of sun. Tomatoes need at least six to eight hours a day of sun. Soil amendment is a really important part of preparing the garden for planting.
We trim off the lower leaves, be there one, two, three or more, leaving only the top-most leaves. We put an inch or two of soil on top of the amendments in the hole. The plant is eased out of the pot, and before it's placed in the hole, I sprinkle about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of a product called Mykos on the rootball.
If planting in-ground, loosen the soil to create a welcoming bed for roots to grow. Add agricultural lime if you've done a soil test and the results recommend it. (For more about liming, see "Why Does pH Matter?") In addition, add 3 or 4 inches of compost or other organic matter, especially in clay or sandy soils.
Mounding up the dirt around the plant and watering in the furrows (not on the leaves or the mound) will help the plant receive the water it needs but will keep the roots drained and the soil aerated.
Growing in a raised bed allows you to create the perfect conditions for your tomato plants, rather than trying to amend your native soil to get just-right conditions.
For each of your tomatoes, dig holes 18-24 inches wide and about 18-24 inches deep. Space the holes 3½-4 feet apart, 4 feet is best if you have the room.
if you can see that the roots are growing in a circle, and there's not much room for soil between the roots. If it's not root bound, it's still a good idea to give it a quick. little massage, but your plant will likely be just fine if you don't.
Tomatoes will produce best if they are well-rooted, so bury them deep, right down to the topmost pair or two of leaves. They are able to root all along their stems if you plant them very deep or even sideways, in a trench.
When the tomato plants are about 10 to 12 inches tall and the last chance of frost has passed in your growing zone, it's time to plant the tomato seedlings in the garden or patio container.
Cucumbers, squash, and zucchini, like tomatoes, are larger plants that need 15 to 18 inches of soil to push into. Just think of how heavy a large cucumber is. You can imagine the kind of root structure needed to support a plant baring fruit that heavy!
Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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