How to Plant Tomatoes: Depth, Spacing, Soil Amendments, Companions
Learn the best way to plant tomatoes, including tips on how deep to plant tomatoes, what to add to the planting hole or soil (and what to avoid), spacing requirements, companion plants and more. With these tips, you'll be growing huge healthy tomato plants this season!
Equipment
- tomato seedlings
- mycorrhizae, worm castings, and/or organic slow release fertilizer
Instructions
- Plant tomatoes in the spring once the risk of frost has passed, ideally once soil temperatures are regularly over 60F during the day.
- Harden off indoor-raised seedlings first.
- Amend garden bed soil a few weeks prior to planting with a slow-release organic fertilizer and/or fresh topping of well-aged compost.
- Dig a hole a deep hole and bury at least one-third to half of the plants main stalk (up to 2/3 buried for tall leggy seedlings). Carefully remove the lower and branches and leaves that would otherwise be underground first.
- Space determinate (bush) varieties at least 2 to 3 feet apart and support with a cage. Space indeterminate varieties as close at 18 to 24 inches, depending on pruning and training method.
- Add mycorrhizae and worm castings to the planting hole, but do NOT bother adding crushed eggshells or epsom salts - they don't prevent blossom end rot, and can make it worse!
- Water well (slow and deep) after planting.
- Add a stake along the main stem of the tomato plant, along with a support system of choice (cage, trellis, etc).
- Optional: Add tomato companion plants such as basil, french marigolds, peppers, lettuce, chives, onion, garlic, beans, cucumber, or nasturtiums around the plants.
- Cover the soil with a couple inches of mulch around the base of the plants, but not in direct contact with the main stem.
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