For years, I have planted my tomatoes the old conventional way–buried deep in the ground with only a few leaves showing barely above the dirt. Sometimes, I have to dig to China since my tomatoes overgrew in their seedling pots. Planting an 18 inch tomato plant is really, really hard. But not anymore, thanks to Green Talk reader, Neil. He suggested planting tomato plants on their sides!
Sideways? How on earth would the tomatoes get strong stems to carry all of those tomatoes?
Just to let you in a secret, Neil grows the most amazing tomatoes and peppers. Like E.F. Hutton, when he speaks, I listen. (Oh, come on. You remember that famous commercial.)
When I asked him why would I plant the tomato seedling sideways, he explained that the plant would be able to absorb more nutrients quicker. When it is buried in the Earth, it takes a longer time for the fertilizer to get to the root.
So, I decide to give it a whirl.
Instructions on Planting Tomato Plants On Their Sides.
Watch my video!
1. Depending on the length of your tomato, dig a trench about the 2 inches shorter than the length of the plant.
2. Make sure you dig it about 2 inches deeper than the size of the root ball of the plant.
3. Lay the tomato plant on its side in the trench.
4. I add some egg shells and some organic fertilizer in the trench. My favorite is Dr. Earth.
5. Bury the plant up to where its last leaves are. Turn the neck of the tomato upwards.
I was a little worried that I would break my plant when I turned its leaves towards the sky. Watch the video below for a really neat trick on how to get your plants to bend naturally to the sky.
That’s all you have to do!
How are my plants? They are thriving and I am looking for a bumper crop this year. I will keep you apprised on how they plants to compared to when I planted them deep into the earth.
Stay tuned.
Join the Conversation
How do you plant your tomatoes?
Lori Popkewitz Alper says
You always have such fantastic gardening tips Anna. I’ll have to file this one away until next year. Tomatoes have already been planted!
Anna@Green Talk says
Lori, from years of screw ups…I will let you know if this trick really works so you can tell Jr gardener! 🙂 Anna
Mariana Mill says
I still have some heirloom tomatoes to plant here in Sacramento, Ca. So I will tell you after I try it. We will be having at least a week of temps around 100 or above so have to plant first thing in the morning or around 7 in the evening. My garden gets east and west sun… Will check back with you. thank you….
Anna@Green Talk says
Marianna, can’t wait to hear how your tomatoes turned out. Anna
Nik says
When you plant on the side, the “root ball” essentially forms all along the length of the buried stem, so be sure that when you water the developing plant that you water all along the area where the “stem-root ball” forms, and not just at the base of the plant as you do when you plant in the conventional manner (root ball deep at the far end of the stem). Failure to water the entire stem-root ball will result in a stunted plant.
Anna@Green Talk says
Thank you for that great comment!
John says
Don’t you then reduce the density of plants that you can put in a given area?
Anna@Green Talk says
I don’t plant large tomato plants. I only plant a six inch plant. Mine are heirloom plants that get at least 2 feet wide anyways. Anna