Tomatoes

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There are hundreds of different types of tomatoes to choose from, but the process of planting them are all very similar. Tomato plants have two basic ways of growing. They can either be determinate (bush) or indeterminate (vine). Determinate tomatoes stop growing whenever a tomato sets on the top bud. Once this happens, all the tomatoes on the pant begin to ripen around the same time. After all of the tomatoes have ripened the plant will then die. Unlike determinate tomatoes, indeterminate tomatoes grow and produce until they are killed by frost. They bloom and ripen new tomatoes throughout the entire growing season. Today I am going to tell you how to plant indeterminate tomatoes in your garden from transplants. Transplants are plants that are already growing that you get from a greenhouse.

The best time to begin planting tomato transplants is after the last spring frost. Begin by choosing a spot in your garden. Tomatoes need a lot of warmth and sunshine to grow, so choose a sunny spot. After choosing a spot, it is time to begin placing the transplants. Begin digging holes that are 24-26 inches apart. These holes need to be deep enough that the lowest leaves on the plant are just above the soil. By doing this you are giving the plants more space to grow and develop new roots. After you have planted all the transplants, water them with warm water to avoid them being in shock. Each plant should get about 16oz of warm water everyday in the first 10 days after planting. After 10 days, you can then space out watering the plants. They should receive up to 3 inches of water a week.

Finally, once the plants begin growing you will need to add stakes next to them. Make sure that your stakes are about 8 feet long. When putting the stakes into the ground, make sure they are at least 1 1/2 to 2 inches away from the plant. Also, make sure that the stakes are pounded about 12 inches into the ground. As the plant grows tie it to the stake with rope, yarn, or a cut up t-shirt. Each tie should be about 3 or 4 inches apart. By tying the plant to the stake, it will keep it off the ground while it grows.

Preparing Your Garden!

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Before you begin doing any of your planting, you need to prepare your soil. Even though it might seem like tedious work to prepare your soil, it really helps in the long run. By preparing your soil, your plants will harvest better and you will have less disappointment at the end of growing season. Here are two easy steps to follow when beginning to prepare your soil!  

Step 1: Dig up the soil to loosen it. 

 

To loosen the soil you can use a handful of different tools. You can
go to http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/top-10-soil-turning-tools for the top ten tools to use. Normally plants need about 6 to 8 inches for their roots to grow comfortably. So when loosening the soil make sure you are digging at a dept of at least 8 inches. While loosening it, make sure to remove any rocks, clods, or greenery (weeds, grass, etc.). After you are finished digging up the soil let it sit for at least two days so it dries up.

Step 2: Further Remove Clumps & Add Organic Material

 

To further remove clumps spray water over the soil to moisten it and then dig it again. Make sure that you do not make it too moist when spraying the soil as this will cause the soil to compact and make digging and removing clumps more difficult. Once you have finished removing the clumps it is time to add organic material. Some organic material you can use includes: compost, dehydrated cow manure, well-rotted hose manure, shredded leaves, or even a mixture. Put the organic material over the entire soil surface then incorporate it into the 8 inch deep soil. Repeat adding and incorporating the organic material until your soil is 50-50 (50% soil, 50% organic material). After you have finished adding organic material, it is time to begin planting!