It seems every gardener has their own secrets for growing tomatoes. But there are some basic things you should and shouldn’t do when moving tomato seedlings into the garden. Following these practices will ensure your tomato plants get off to a good start.
Transplanting tomato plants is an essential step to ensuring a successful crop. By properly transplanting your tomatoes you can help them establish strong root systems and maximize their yield. In this article, we’ll walk through the key steps for transplanting tomato plants into your garden.
Why Transplanting is Important
Tomatoes thrive when their stems are buried deep in the soil. This encourages the plants to sprout new roots all along the buried stem. More roots mean the plant can take up nutrients and water more efficiently. Transplanting lets you bury more of the stem and leads to stronger, healthier plants.
It also lets you carefully control spacing. Properly spaced plants get adequate sunlight and airflow. This prevents disease and helps the tomatoes set more fruit.
Finally, transplanting gives you a chance to prune your plants Removing lower leaves and flowers redirects energy into the growth you want most – more stems and roots
When to Transplant Tomatoes
Timing is critical. Wait until 2-4 weeks after your last expected frost date. The soil needs to be at least 60°F for transplanting. If it’s still cold out, the shock could stunt plant growth.
Don’t transplant too late either You want to maximize the growing season but also give plants time to recover from transplant shock Talk to experienced local gardeners to pin down the ideal window.
6 Key Steps for Transplanting Tomato Plants
Follow these steps when moving your tomatoes into the garden:
1. Prepare the Soil
Prep your beds or containers 2-3 weeks before transplanting. Tomato plants need nutrient-rich soil with a pH between 6.0-6.8.
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Till in 2-4 inches of compost or well-rotted manure. This improves drainage and provides nutrients.
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Mix in a balanced fertilizer according to package directions. Tomatoes are heavy feeders.
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For acidifying, try elemental sulfur, aluminum sulfate, or pine needles.
2. Select Healthy Transplants
Purchase stocky transplants with thick stems and healthy green leaves. Avoid spindly or root-bound plants.
If growing transplants yourself, wait until they have 3-5 true leaves. Use sterile seed starting mix and give them lots of light.
3. Harden Off Transplants
Hardening off acclimates plants to outdoor conditions. Leave transplants in a sheltered spot for a few hours, gradually increasing time outside over 7-10 days. Bring them in if frost threatens.
4. Prune Transplants
Right before planting, prune each transplant:
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Pinch off flowers and fruits. Let plants focus energy on roots and foliage.
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Remove the 2-3 lowest sets of leaves. You’ll bury this stem section.
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Check for discolored or dead leaves and prune those too.
5. Transplant into Garden
Now it’s go time! Move your transplants into the garden:
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Dig holes 12-18 inches apart, deeper and wider than the root ball.
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Place transplants in holes and bury 2/3 of the stem by mounding soil. Plant horizontally in a trench for tall transplants.
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Water deeply until soil is moist 8-10 inches down. Provide afternoon shade for 1 week.
6. Provide Support
Install cages or stakes when transplanting. Tomato vines can break under the weight of fruit without support. Tie main stems loosely to supports as they grow.
Common Questions About Transplanting Tomatoes
Should you prune flowers at transplant?
Yes! Removing flowers redirects energy into root and stem growth. Let plants establish themselves before fruiting.
How long should you harden off transplants?
7-10 days is ideal. Start with just a few hours a day and slowly increase exposure to sun, wind, and cooler temperatures.
How deep do you bury the tomato stem?
Bury 2/3 or more of the stem when transplanting. The lower leaves will fall off and new roots will emerge along the buried stem.
How far apart should you space tomato plants?
Plant tomatoes 18-36 inches apart depending on variety. Give indeterminate vines more space than determinate bushes.
How long until transplants recover and start growing?
Tomatoes bounce back quickly! Most restart growth within 5-7 days after transplanting if hardened off properly.
Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labor
With proper transplanting technique, your tomatoes will have the root systems they need to thrive. Careful spacing ensures adequate sunlight and airflow. Hardening off and pruning get plants off to the right start.
Follow these tips and you’ll be harvesting basketfuls of juicy tomatoes this season. Let us know how your transplanting goes in the comments!
Don’t Plant Too Early
Tomatoes grow best when the temperature between 60 and 80 degrees F during the day and at night. (15-27 C. ). When to transplant tomato seedlings into the garden will vary depending upon your climate and growing zone. In general, don’t move seedlings until the last frost date has passed and the soil temperature has reached 60 degrees F.
If you started tomato plants in a greenhouse or your home, they will need 7 to 10 days to get used to being outside before you can move them to the garden. This process acclimates the young plants to increased periods of direct sunlight and wind each day.
Do Choose Healthy Tomato Plants
The health of the tomato plants is very important for their future growth, whether you grow them from seeds or buy seedlings. Bright green tomato seedlings with strong stems that can hold the plant up should be free of pests.
If you’re not going to be moving the tomato seedlings into the garden soon, you should repot any plants that are root-bound or have grown too tall. Do this two to four weeks prior to planting in the garden. When repotting tomato seedlings, choose a well-draining potting soil and a 4 to 6 inch (10-15 cm. ) deep container.