I'm sure there has to be so many ways you can plant tomato plants as there are tomato varieties but I'll show you the ones that work the best for me.
The Raised Garden planting method and the Selfwatering Garden method
1. The Raised Garden method:
We all know the benefits of the raised bed garden, like: it will heat up earliest than traditional gardens, easier to dig in because you are never walking on the soil, we always try to work from the sides, and so on.
So there are good reason why is my favorite when it comes to gardening spaces. I have put together in simple steps how I go on and plant my tomato plant into a raised bad garden.
Preparation of your tomato plants:
To set your plants into the garden I usually go through a process to make sure the plant will get the best start possible in it's growing season.
Always start with strong healthy plants because this is the key factor in your growing season, you want to have your plants grow fast and produce fruit in the fastest time possible without any decease or detrimental issues . You want plants that will " almost " guarantee you a good harvest.
As you can see I like to prune my tomato plants heavy, this will make stronger roots and thicker stems thus providing a healthy growth, I sincerely recommend you too do the same or at least try a test on your garden. It can work on any plant, even on onions.
Here I have the two tomato plants that I will prune , take some sharp clean pruners or scissors and cut off the leaves . Leaving about one third of the plant with greens.
You've got it....that was too easy. :0
Next step is to water these plants with a mild solution of 10-52-10 plant starter fertilizer before they go into the ground, so when planted they won't go into shock and lose you time growth.
Done deal.....
Garden spot selection and soil preparation:
I always select a nice little spot where my tomatoes will get most of the sun light in a day, so this spot is ideal . I add a good amount of my home made compost and mix the soil up without working up a sweat. Well maybe a little.
Dig a hole deep enough that you can set your plant two thirds into the ground. Always plant tomatoes deep .
The deeper the more roots the stem is going to develop and the more nutrients will absorb from the soil, making your plant more productive.
Finally we firm the plant into the soil , at this moment you can put around the stem at ground level a cutworm collar if your garden has these kinds of pests, it will save you all the work you just did. They are just a piece of paper wrapped around the stem of the plant.
Again give your plant a good drink of water with a mild mixture of 10-52-10 fertilizer and protect it from the heat by mulching with grass clippings of coarse compost.
Selfwatering Garden method
If you leave in a country that the growing season is like over here in Alberta - Canada or in a dry climate where water is short this method is for you.
These buckets are made from 5 gallon pails that you can get most every where for free. They are easy to make and they will save you a ton of time in the watering department.
Fill the containers with fresh promix soil and compost , my formula is always half and half. After you fill and prime you bucket you are ready to plant .
Planting steps are very similar to the ones in the raised beds, they only difference is that you add water to the reservoir before or after you plant.
You can set one to two plants in each container, if you have those big beef steak tomatoes just plant one but you can plant two cherries in a bucket, they'll do fine.
I add basil , marigolds or onions sometimes and they do super good. Peppers love these buckets, I use the black ones for peppers because they heat up better....
The water supply will last for 4 to five days ( but all depend on the weather ) , a week end for sure. You can go own your happy way for the weekend and your plants will be fine.
But.....the best part of the 5 gallon selfwatering garden is...are you ready?
You can take them indoors to give your tomatoes or peppers more time to ripen ....Isn't that fantastic?
Thank you for reading and let me know your ideas for planting this season.