How to plant tomatoes in your garden

Want to learn how to plant tomatoes in your garden this year, but not sure where to start? Lots of gardeners have their own techniques for getting a steady supply of tasty tomatoes throughout the growing season. Read on for the top tips from this Rachio Master Gardener!

Timing is everything

Before you buy your starter plants or begin playing in the dirt, stop and consider when the best time is to plant tomatoes in your area. Read about when to plant your garden based on your plant hardiness zone, last frost date, and more.

Space 'em out

Individual plants require space to grow so they’re not over-competing for important resources like nutrients and water. Perhaps even more important, plants with room to grow have more space for air circulation, which helps prevent the spread of diseases (which can harm and even kill your carefully-tended vegetables).

Start plotting

We suggest plotting out where each plant will go before you begin digging; this way you can make sure everyone has enough space. Plants of different sizes may require more or less space than other varieties, so always check the seed packet or plant care instructions before getting them in the ground.

Just a pinch...

Tomato plants (especially heirloom varieties) have the somewhat rare ability to create NEW roots from non-root parts of the plant by way of adaptable plant cells. These new roots are called adventitious roots, and you can encourage your tomatoes to grow more of them to help anchor the plant in the soil and search out nutrients and water. You can do this by removing the lower sets of leaves before planting. Just be sure to keep at least two or three sets of leaves undisturbed at the top of your plant.

To remove the lower leaves, just pinch them off with your fingernails or carefully clip them using scissors or garden shears.

Cover it up!

Once you’ve removed the lower sets of leaves, dig a hole and bury the tomato plant so that all of the roots and part of the stem is covered with soil. Covering your plant with soil an inch or two past the top of the root ball helps encourage the tomato plant to make more of those adventitious roots described above.

Another favorite method of planting tomatoes that some gardeners swear by is tomato trenching or sideways planting. This is a good choice for tall plants with long stems, and may result in increased root growth for stronger plants.

Give some support

Some tomato plants grow tall and require external support in the form of cages or trellising. Determinate tomato plants tend to be bushier varieties that stay small and compact without requiring extra support. Indeterminate tomatoes (like many heirloom varieties) continue growing and vining throughout the season, sometimes reaching heights as tall as 12 feet tall!

As tomatoes form on these plants, they are at greater risk of snapping branches under the strain of the fruit. Always be sure to stake, trellis, or cage your indeterminate tomatoes to keep them whole, get the maximum yield of fruit, and prevent diseases (plants with injuries like snapped branches are more susceptible to disease).

Let the water flow

Last but not least – don’t forget to water regularly!

When and where to water

Like many plants, tomatoes prefer to be watered in the early morning hours, as this prevents most of the moisture from evaporating in the summer sun. Avoid applying the water directly to the plant leaves, as this can create an environment that is ripe for diseases and fungal issues. Instead, apply water at the roots. The Root Quencher Spike is a great option for this.

How to water

The typical guideline for watering tomatoes is to apply 1 to 2 inches of water per week. With the Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller, you can automate your watering by setting a smart sprinkler schedule in the Rachio app.

Don’t have irrigation in your garden? The Rachio Smart Hose Timer turns your hose into a smart sprinkler system and can automatically water your tomato plants from a pre-set schedule or within the Rachio app. If you’re hand watering, we suggest applying water whenever the top couple of inches of soil feels dry.

Whichever way you water, make sure to do it regularly, but not too often; excess water damages the roots and can split the ripening tomatoes, whereas not enough water can reduce fruit yields or even kill your plants.