Really deep planting tomatoes

I haven't ever done it before-but I did see Monty doing it on GW when he was the boss.

 

I planted mine in pots last year, leaving a good couple of inches space at the top (as there are always roots near the surface looking like they want more compost on top, and of course stems of Tomatoes try to grow roots near the compost.

I was disappointed with how little root they actually put into the top-dressed-compost, and I figure that if you plant dead you will get roots from the stem, but the existing root ball will be planted nearer the bottom of the pot, so have less room to "grow down". No idea if it matter - and I'm sure it would be good for leggy Toms, but I'm not sure of any tangible benefit.

Be happy to hear otherwise though.

 

My tomatoes do fine just planted up to the seed leaves. I can't see what benefit they would get from being planted deeper or having more roots. I think sometimes these gardening programmes have to come up with something to fill the programme. A few weeks ago they were demontrating how to take cuttings from winter flowering pansies ! Who in their right mind ?????????????

 

Here the ground doesn't warm up enough in late spring so I woudn't want to bury mine so deep but I do strip the leaves up to the tip and lay the stem down along a trench in the ground and bury it. That way I get the new root growth but it's all near the warm top of the garden; the roots grow along near the top of the soil and have more access to both warmth & moisture.

I saw that done in "The Joy of Gardening" which was a 1970's gardening tv show with this book to go along with the series. It worked so well for me I always plant my tomatoes that way now.

 

I`m a bit sceptical of the benefits too.
I find the taps go deep looking for water and the rest stay relatively shallow but spread outwards over a large area, possibly due to more oxygen being available near the surface.

 

"she was wearing red tights at the time ..."

Ah, I remember that bit now. Didn't notice her planting any tomatoes though, for some reason ... :hehe:

"I want to get the plants in as low as possible"

Yes, good plant for that. Even if not "leggy" there won't be any flower trusses for several leaf pairs, so getting them nearer the ground will save height / gain trusses.

I had mine in pots last year (so that's an additional 12" approx above the floor :( ). This year I have excavated the soil, and replaced with half muck, half compost, and I will plant into that. In the process I dropped the greenhouse border surface 6" below the level of the path - so I've probably gained 18" compared to last year. (I layered by tomato plants last year, but its a bit of a kerfuffle)

" I also wonder if they grow more roots"

Not that I am aware of - the stems are usually not actually right on the deck. Could perhaps earth them up!

I'm not a fan of "N trusses and STOP" - I think Stop one month before first frost would be a better formula (and thus there will be a need, in most cases, to accommodate extra height.

 

Interesting, I think I may just do an experiment with this method, I two of each variety of toms this year, one can planted deep and the other how I normally would, I'll keep you updated

 

I laid about 2 inches of paper from the shredder in the bottom of the pots I placed a large 2 litre lemonade bottle,( with the bottom cut off ) upside down so that the neck touches the shredded paper I planted the tomatoes up to the seed leaves,. I intend watering only throguh the bottle and top feeding the compost i don't think thers is any beneft to deep planting

 

I laid about 2 inches of paper from the shredder in the bottom of the pots I placed a large 2 litre lemonade bottle,( with the bottom cut off ) upside down so that the neck touches the shredded paper I planted the tomatoes up to the seed leaves,. I intend watering only throguh the bottle and top feeding the compost i don't think thers is any beneft to deep planting
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Sounds a bit like Ring Culture - water at the bottom, feed at the top. I did that when I was a lad, never thought I got any noticeable benefit.

The thing I struggle with is how do the feeding roots cope between feeds? They get moisture, say, once a week, or maybe twice a week, aren't they going to get dessicated, or at least stressed, in between?

What I don't know is if that approach enhances flavour? If so I'm up for it!

 

"not sure about the long term effect or the taste though"

That's my No 1 question on this subject!

Stress a plant, its natural reaction is to think it is dying an hurry to reproduce. Yup, I understand that.

Does that make good flavour? Dunno, but I certainly would like to find out!

One of my Tomato varieties is under-pot-size (stupid, but I thought I would get away with 9" and then into the greenhouse border, but they were my first batch of sowings back in Feb. Twit that I am! so a bit yellow in the leaf and undoubtedly getting less water than the other two, later-sown, varieties in 11" pots. Not really a good comparison as not the same varieties, but ... maybe I can remember the flavour from last year and judge if they are better this <DreamsOn!>