Guide to Planting Tomatoes in 11 Straightforward Stages

Ready to transport your freshly bought or self-grown tomatoes from their cozy nursery into your garden? Here's a no-nonsense guide to help you move those cherry bombs and beefsteaks with minimum fuss and maximum success!

Get Your Tools and Supplies Ready

Don't let a lack of gear derail your green thumb! Here's what you'll need to get started:

Hand shovel
Tomatofeast organic fertilizer (grab it from your local garden center, Wal-Mart, or online)
Crushed eggshells (they're optional, but we recommend them)
Watering can with water
A packet of toilet paper rolls
Tomato stakes
Hammer
Gardening gloves and a knee pad (both optional, but you'll appreciate them)

Dig a Plenty

If your soil's in good shape, grab your shovel and start digging a hole — tomatoes love to be planted deep! The depth depends on your transplant height. If they're tall, snip off the bottom leaves. Just make sure the primary leaves remain above the soil; the stem will form roots and access all the nutrients and hydration it needs.

Dig a bit deeper than necessary to make room for the additions coming up next.

Add Some Lavish Love

Organic compost, your chosen fertilizer, and a few spoonfuls of crushed eggshells will spoil your tomato plant silly! Throw them into the planting hole. Remember, a little goes a long way!

Embrace the Wet

Fill the hole with water — it'll encourage the new roots to take a plunge downward! If your soil's a slow dripper, you might need more water to maintain a small pool.

Get Them Outta That Container

Handle these delicate infants with care! If you're right-handed, stick the transplant container in your left hand and gently coax the soil from the edges using your fingers. Cradle the stem between your index and middle fingers, and then, slowly cradle the precious cargo into your left hand. Remember, no rough handling or handling the stem — we want these babies to thrive!

Plant Them Skyward

Tomatoes can go one of two ways: straight down or at a 45-degree angle. We've tested both, and they've worked like a charm for us! The second method lets the stem develop new roots faster and gives them quicker access to the topsoil. Within a day or so, they'll pump themselves straight toward the sun.

If you're not dealing with the best-draining soil, we suggest the tilted method. It minimizes the risk of them getting waterlogged and bogged down in those stormy summer downpours. But if your soil is a good drainer, go for the deep-dive! Those deeper roots will help them keep their cool (and hydrated) during extended droughts and hot weather.

Backfill and Burp

Gently cover your baby transplant with the soil you dug earlier. Pause when you're almost back to ground level.

Wrap the Stem

To shield your transplant from cutworms, take a half of a toilet paper roll and wrap it around the stem, pushing it into the soil a half an inch.

Water Like a Proud Parent

Give your new transplant a good drink to encourage growth and chase away any air pockets. Avoid drowning your plant; just saturate the ground. If a rainstorm's on the horizon, only water a splash.

Stake Your Tomatoes (Literally!)

We'll cover staking in another post, but it's best to stick those stakes in the ground now. Not only does it save you effort later, but it prevents root damage from happening when your tomatoes start climbing!

Each transplant needs a pair of stakes flanking it. Transplant four tomatoes side-by-side, and you'll need five stakes: the middle ones can share!

Space Them Out

Depending on the variety, place each transplant 2 to 3 feet apart. If you're into double rows, plant one row, wait 2-3 feet, and stagger the second row; this way, you can access both rows to pick ripe tomatoes. Besides encouraging a lush tomato jungle, it's great for weed management and makes watering a breeze, as one line can cater to both rows at once.

Add Mulch Later

Mulch is useful for suppressing weeds, but certain varieties of tomatoes, like cherries and plums, need warm soil to thrive. To bypass potential harm to baby transplants, wait a month after your last frost before tossing on the mulch. Until then, hang on to your hoe or knee pads and be prepared for a little hand-weeding action!

We hope these tips and tricks will kickstart your joyful experiment with tomatoes!

Use these garden printables to organize your home-and-garden tasks, creating a lifestyle that harmonizes with nature. Start a gardening journal, documenting your journeys in gardening as you nurture your tomatoes and develop a passion for this rewarding hobby.

Guide to Planting Tomatoes in 11 Straightforward Stages