In this episode I will show you how to plant tomatoes two different ways for best results. Tomatoes are easy to grow and so delicious home grown. Get some in your garden!
For the trench method, if you turn the pot on its side a day or two before planting the plant will be ready to put in the trench with a "bend" already in its stem.
As I was watching I got the first method, then I almost changed channels as I had heard something about planting a tomato on it's side. I think you should retitle the video so you get even more bites. Maybe "Planting tomatoes deep and on their side." Doesn't exactly grab anyone's attention, does it. I'll have to think about it.😊
My mother has grown award winning Flowers and vegetables and one thing she always did when planting rootbound starts like the one in this video, is to take the spade and slice the root in an x at the bottom about half the depth of the dirt or more depending on the size of the pot it came from. This enourages new growth of an already stressed root system ( by being root bound )
He's lying, we had another frost last night and gonna have one tonight too. He probably dug these up after the video or this video is a few days old. I had to cover my plants last night.
Mr Wizzard This video is at least a week old, same outfit he’s worn in the last 4 videos. A week ago the forecast looked a lot better for this week. I only live about 30 mins from Luke and I planted out some of my extra tomato plants last week because I had so many and figured worst case I’ll lose them and just have to replant with my backups. I’ve covered with frost fabric most nights and they’re still good!
Helpful hint for tomato lovers from an old pro.. Take a 2-liter pop bottle, cut off the bottom and remove the cap.. Bury the small end so the opening is adjacent to the root ball at a 45-degree angle.. Place a small rock inside the empty bottle to add weight. Now when you water the plant just fill the pop bottle. This will get water directly to the root system. Don't forget to pinch those suckers! My plants get to an average height of 14 feet in Michigan..
I am so glad to learn the trench method ! I have tall Yellow Pear tomatoes indoors growing in pots and I will try this ! Maybe I can plant around Memorial Day (yes we got snow this week in Cleveland).
I plant all my tomatoes in containers, and they have traveled more this spring than I have. (Into the sunroom, out of the sunroom lol). We had snow less than 2 weeks ago (NEOhio).
So excited to find your channel. We moved to Michigan last summer from Missouri and I love gardening. Looking forward to learning more from you about gardens in the North!
When I laid my tomatoes side ways I place the plant marker above the roots. I was just trying to prevent myself from forgetting and digging into that area later to plant something.
Im in Toronto and put mine in last weekend with empty 4 litre plastic water bottles with bottom cut out covering them like an incubator. Reuse bottles every year Works great.
Night temperature should be above about 55 degrees for tomatoes and many summer veggies for good root growth. I made mistakes by transplanting too early.
SW Ontario here....mine are going in on the 15th....got heavily burned last year by being in too early and a hard freeze killed off my first 18 plants. Back up plants to the rescue!!! Took a chance and paid the price...all worked out just fine and had an amazing tomatoe crop last year! All good advice from Luke! Mike 🇨🇦
I read through the comments hoping to find an answer to which plants are suitable for the trench method. Honestly, I had noticed my Brandywine toms were shorter than my Rutgers and Marglobe, but I never knew they were a type of beefsteak. My currant tomatoes are wee, tiny things. Not sure how to tell what is what. I would certainly love to know! Thanks for the continuing education, Luke and the MI Gardener team. You are to my gardening game what Rachel Ray was to my cooking game a decade ago. ❤️
Dude! Thank you so much. I had some seriously tall tomatoes that I started too early. I was worried about what to do. Now they are all trenched in and they are going to grow roots like crazy. You rock. Love your channel. Btw, these are started from your seeds. Black sea man, azoykcha, etc.
I have used this lay-down method for tomatoes. Works great. You can actually have only the very top of the plant exposed and those plants will grow very big! Do be careful later on when you're weeding that you don''t dig too deep and disrupt the roots.
Looking so forward to planting my tomato starts this weekend in my raised beds in 5b suburban Chicago! Because I was late last year starting my plants, this year I jumped the gun and started them mid March to end of March so I have well established starts that were uppotted 3-4 times. Can't wait to get them into the hockey garden!🏒🏒🏒
I started watching your channel this year and it has been a game changer for me! My seedlings are so much healthier than past years (when they almost all died lol!). I can’t wait to try this technique and others when I plant outside!
I've got my tomatoes and peppers hardening off waiting for these 40 degree or cooler nights to supposedly end by the 15th. Prepping the beds the last few days. This weekend, Baby!
@@sunii4264 I am in Kentucky. Zone 6B. Weather has been cool at night, into the upper 30s but the 15 day (now a lot shorter) had us breaking out with 70 some days and 50+ nights as of the 15th.
For the second lay down trench method I saw a tip where you lay the plant down for a few days before planting. The top of the plant will then naturally bend towards the light and you then don't need to bend the plant as much and so reduce the risk of snapping the plant.
I love your videos my man❗️ thank you for the wealth of information that you provide and all the positive energy that you radiate. Keep on shining my friend 💯☀️♥️
Hi Luke, Britt from Pennsylvania here! Absolutely love your videos and watch you all the time for much appreciated and helpful tips in my garden! I, too, have always assumed that the hairs growing along the tomatoes stems were preroots as well, but recently, I learned that they are called trycomes. They produce an oil that gives off the natural scent of the tomato plant to deter pests, but they will not turn into roots. Burying them deep is still very beneficial for your plants because at the nodes where the white bumps reside will still develop roots, they just won't be as substantial as the main root system but still be very beneficial in soaking up extra nutrients, water, ect. Thanks again for everything that you and your family do, I have learned so much through out the years from you and your channel and always look forward to seeing what you will put out next! Happy Gardening and grow big! 🙂
Most of my tomatoes have gotten really leggy, so this “lay down” method might be their only hope. Also- I knew toms grew roots from their stems but never understood how before now. Great info!
I'm outside Chicago (on the north end). I'm waiting until this weekend. Once we get through Tuesday night we should be out of the potential frost....hopefully.
We have a predicted low of 38 F at (our official recording station) O'Hare tonight, May 11/12, 2021. And it's predicted to fall into the 20s further inland...
@@paulgermanos5242 yep. The forecast was revised again to include another potential frost for tonight (5/12) It is still looking good for planting this weekend.
So informative, thank you! My question is about trench spacing: Say, like in the video, you want to 18" between each plant. Is that measured from root to root? Or from where the plant is above the soil?
Watch the video by Charles Dowding.. It was done around May 15 to showing the difference in gardens from last year.. This weird weather is happening globally
What glorious gifts from God all the veggies are! Regarding care of tomato plants during growth, I just read sprinkling dry milk around the plant helps the calcium content in the soil in order to prevent what is called blossom rot. Makes good sense and is easy.
i live in detroit, michigan, and we have had frost two nights straight. it's may, and no consistent warm weather, so maybe by first of june i can plant tomatoes. really good tips from your videos.
Planting my annual flowers this week but I’m going to wait another 2 weeks to put the tomatoes out. Which is good because I’m still behind on getting my drip irrigation in.
My tomato seedlings struggled with edema. I know we had issues with blossom end rot last year. I watched your video on fertilizing with calcium and decided to amend my raised beds with gypsum. Is there any advice on seedlings to prevent them from edema? I know I need to water less, but maybe a better starter soil? Only my sungold cherry and flavor bomb cherry are doing well. I'm going to get the rest in the ground and bury them deep and hope for the best. As always great information, thank you.
For the trench method, if you turn the pot on its side a day or two before planting the plant will be ready to put in the trench with a "bend" already in its stem.
good tip!
I dig the trench and then just lay the potted tomato in it. Like you said, in two or three days the plant is bent towards the sun.
Getting to be that time of year. I have about 24 plants ready to go in the ground-getting excited! 🍅
Good tip thx
I did this by mistake. Mine got so lanky that they fell over. LOL
Country boy here, been gardening since I was 10 (58 now) and you just taught an old dog a few new tricks. Thank you.
I agree with you! Love learning.
if an old dog catches new trick so we are growing as well
Welcome to everyone new! This video has really been blowing up. 🥰
As I was watching I got the first method, then I almost changed channels as I had heard something about planting a tomato on it's side.
I think you should retitle the video so you get even more bites. Maybe "Planting tomatoes deep and on their side." Doesn't exactly grab anyone's attention, does it. I'll have to think about it.😊
My mother has grown award winning Flowers and vegetables and one thing she always did when planting rootbound starts like the one in this video, is to take the spade and slice the root in an x at the bottom about half the depth of the dirt or more depending on the size of the pot it came from. This enourages new growth of an already stressed root system ( by being root bound )
Thank you Scott! ...and your mother =]
thanks for the tip
I’m staring at the layer of frost on my neighbors’ roofs here in MN while listing with pangs in my heart to the sound of you planting lovely tomatoes.
He's lying, we had another frost last night and gonna have one tonight too. He probably dug these up after the video or this video is a few days old. I had to cover my plants last night.
Mr Wizzard This video is at least a week old, same outfit he’s worn in the last 4 videos. A week ago the forecast looked a lot better for this week. I only live about 30 mins from Luke and I planted out some of my extra tomato plants last week because I had so many and figured worst case I’ll lose them and just have to replant with my backups. I’ve covered with frost fabric most nights and they’re still good!
@@MattBruman Are you his neighbor?
@@regenerated4life Basically, get same weather and it's easy to look up his weather in PH
@@MattBruman Ok, so where were you seeing a frost in his area?
DUDE! I've watches 6 or 7 tomato planting videos and this is by far the best bang for the buck video so far. Thank you!
Helpful hint for tomato lovers from an old pro.. Take a 2-liter pop bottle, cut off the bottom and remove the cap.. Bury the small end so the opening is adjacent to the root ball at a 45-degree angle.. Place a small rock inside the empty bottle to add weight. Now when you water the plant just fill the pop bottle. This will get water directly to the root system. Don't forget to pinch those suckers! My plants get to an average height of 14 feet in Michigan..
We’ve got ten acres. We’ve been here a year now and getting our greenhouse going and garden beds going! Love watching your garden videos! Thanks.
I am so glad to learn the trench method ! I have tall Yellow Pear tomatoes indoors growing in pots and I will try this ! Maybe I can plant around Memorial Day (yes we got snow this week in Cleveland).
You just saved us because we started our tomatoes way too early this year and they are huge. Thank you so much!
I plant all my tomatoes in containers, and they have traveled more this spring than I have. (Into the sunroom, out of the sunroom lol). We had snow less than 2 weeks ago (NEOhio).
Those plants are gorgeous!
So excited to find your channel. We moved to Michigan last summer from Missouri and I love gardening. Looking forward to learning more from you about gardens in the North!
When I laid my tomatoes side ways I place the plant marker above the roots. I was just trying to prevent myself from forgetting and digging into that area later to plant something.
Great idea! Thanks for the tip!
Perfect timing. I'm planting mine this weekend. 😊
Thank you so much for this! Extremely informative and the perfect length for this video.
Omg I didn't know about laying them down. Love this!!
Morning coffee with Migardener. My seedlings are almost ready to go in the ground. May 24 is our last frost date here in Ontario.
Im in Toronto and put mine in last weekend with empty 4 litre plastic water bottles with bottom cut out covering them like an incubator. Reuse bottles every year Works great.
Also from Ontario and it's my first year gardening, so excited! I hope you get a beautiful yield of fruit!!!
Night temperature should be above about 55 degrees for tomatoes and many summer veggies for good root growth. I made mistakes by transplanting too early.
Also from Ontario (Spencerville) 👋 hello guys
SW Ontario here....mine are going in on the 15th....got heavily burned last year by being in too early and a hard freeze killed off my first 18 plants. Back up plants to the rescue!!! Took a chance and paid the price...all worked out just fine and had an amazing tomatoe crop last year!
All good advice from Luke!
Mike 🇨🇦
8 more days before I trust the weather to plant tomatoes, but totally doing the bend trick this year. Thank you 😊
Time to harden off my seedlings for this weekend! Sooo excited!! :)
I read through the comments hoping to find an answer to which plants are suitable for the trench method. Honestly, I had noticed my Brandywine toms were shorter than my Rutgers and Marglobe, but I never knew they were a type of beefsteak. My currant tomatoes are wee, tiny things. Not sure how to tell what is what. I would certainly love to know! Thanks for the continuing education, Luke and the MI Gardener team. You are to my gardening game what Rachel Ray was to my cooking game a decade ago. ❤️
Thanks Luke, I always learn something from you!
Beautiful method of planting tomatoes .Thank you
Your teaching me all the time, I’m still learning but I’m getting better every year
Dude! Thank you so much. I had some seriously tall tomatoes that I started too early. I was worried about what to do. Now they are all trenched in and they are going to grow roots like crazy. You rock. Love your channel. Btw, these are started from your seeds. Black sea man, azoykcha, etc.
I buy my seed from MIGardner too. I have great success. No complaints. Nothing but gratitude. 😎
Excellent information Luke! Having my morning coffee with my MIGardener mug! Be well.
Wait! There's a mug?!
@@carolb5677 Yes there is! AND a matching puzzle!
I have used this lay-down method for tomatoes. Works great. You can actually have only the very top of the plant exposed and those plants will grow very big! Do be careful later on when you're weeding that you don''t dig too deep and disrupt the roots.
Looking so forward to planting my tomato starts this weekend in my raised beds in 5b suburban Chicago! Because I was late last year starting my plants, this year I jumped the gun and started them mid March to end of March so I have well established starts that were uppotted 3-4 times. Can't wait to get them into the hockey garden!🏒🏒🏒
Awesome, I needed this as I need to get my plants in the raised bed.
So good to know! Thank you. I'm about to pot up some of my tomatoes and this will help!
Learning something new everyday!
I started watching your channel this year and it has been a game changer for me! My seedlings are so much healthier than past years (when they almost all died lol!). I can’t wait to try this technique and others when I plant outside!
Thank you! coldish spring here in mid Iowa...
Awesome! Thank you for those tips. I can’t wait to try it. 😊
Learned something new. Thanks Luke!
Great tip I used to plant mine that way. Thank you
Awesome tomato tips!!! The bend method blew my mind. Thanks!
Right on man, love your channel , Paul, Australia.
I've got my tomatoes and peppers hardening off waiting for these 40 degree or cooler nights to supposedly end by the 15th. Prepping the beds the last few days. This weekend, Baby!
What state are you in? I'm assuming MI as this is the MI gardeners channel.
I'm in MI & prepping as well.
@@sunii4264 I am in Kentucky. Zone 6B. Weather has been cool at night, into the upper 30s but the 15 day (now a lot shorter) had us breaking out with 70 some days and 50+ nights as of the 15th.
I'm glad that you are doing the tutorial about the plants.
For the second lay down trench method I saw a tip where you lay the plant down for a few days before planting. The top of the plant will then naturally bend towards the light and you then don't need to bend the plant as much and so reduce the risk of snapping the plant.
Thank you! I will apply those methods in my planting today. 🤓
Today is my last frost day! 😍 So excited!
I love your videos my man❗️ thank you for the wealth of information that you provide and all the positive energy that you radiate. Keep on shining my friend 💯☀️♥️
im planting my first garden this year. thank you for the helpful tips! im excited to get started! great video! -Val
Hi Luke, Britt from Pennsylvania here! Absolutely love your videos and watch you all the time for much appreciated and helpful tips in my garden! I, too, have always assumed that the hairs growing along the tomatoes stems were preroots as well, but recently, I learned that they are called trycomes. They produce an oil that gives off the natural scent of the tomato plant to deter pests, but they will not turn into roots. Burying them deep is still very beneficial for your plants because at the nodes where the white bumps reside will still develop roots, they just won't be as substantial as the main root system but still be very beneficial in soaking up extra nutrients, water, ect. Thanks again for everything that you and your family do, I have learned so much through out the years from you and your channel and always look forward to seeing what you will put out next! Happy Gardening and grow big! 🙂
Most of my tomatoes have gotten really leggy, so this “lay down” method might be their only hope. Also- I knew toms grew roots from their stems but never understood how before now. Great info!
i mean this dude is so cute in this video.
Thats some seriously beautiful soil! 😍😍😍
I saw what seems like flowers growing on my tomato plant after *transplanting it deep into the soil* several months ago. Thanks for the help
I always trench plant my tomatoes & they grow so much stronger. Plus it’s so much easier than digging holes.
Good morning everyone. Its still cold here in Chicago for tomatoes. Usually this time is perfect
I planted mine a few weeks ago when we had the 80’s. Freaking out a little now but hoping for the best.
I'm outside Chicago (on the north end). I'm waiting until this weekend. Once we get through Tuesday night we should be out of the potential frost....hopefully.
We have a predicted low of 38 F at (our official recording station) O'Hare tonight, May 11/12, 2021. And it's predicted to fall into the 20s further inland...
@@paulgermanos5242 yep. The forecast was revised again to include another potential frost for tonight (5/12) It is still looking good for planting this weekend.
Thanks for tip Luke
Excellent video, thank you so much for the information and content in general.
Even here in the DC area we’re still waiting for nighttime temps to rise out of the 40’s, so we haven’t yet planted any of our tomatoes.
Yup
Hahahahahaa......
*Agrees In Northern Irish*
Tomato experts say night temperatures should be 55
Here in St Louis we have high 30's low 40's all week at night...Ive been hardening off my plants for 2 weeks plus now.
Oops, I planted mine 1-2 weeks ago in DC. Hopefully they won't suffer too much.
So informative, thank you! My question is about trench spacing: Say, like in the video, you want to 18" between each plant. Is that measured from root to root? Or from where the plant is above the soil?
Love the trench method! Awesome!
Such good timing going to plant my tomatoes in a few minutes.
Thank you for this information - very helpful!
I’m 30 mins from Detroit area and it’s still too cold to plant mine outside :/ last frost date was May 9th, but this weather is drivin me nuts!
Same here! Grrrrrrr🤦🏻♀️is there an emoji showing someone pulling their hair out??🤨🤨
May 15 doesn't look promising us either.🤔😳
Watch the video by Charles Dowding.. It was done around May 15 to showing the difference in gardens from last year.. This weird weather is happening globally
@@sarahr2498 seriously!! And all of a sudden we have 80 degrees
@@sueweathers3978 global warming. Hoping by growing some of my own food I can help in some small way.
To the point, educational, apsolutley appreciate it!
Really cool I learned a lot from your video, I can’t wait to try and see my results! Thanks.
Thanks for the Tip 👍👍👍
Thanks. That was very insightful.
Thank you for the info. didn't know that about 🍅.
Thankyou. For. The. Advice
What glorious gifts from God all the veggies are! Regarding care of tomato plants during growth, I just read sprinkling dry milk around the plant helps the calcium content in the soil in order to prevent what is called blossom rot. Makes good sense and is easy.
Thanks so much!
Awesome mate!!! I can’t wait to plant a heap of toms again :)
Thanks for this👍😁
Planted my Tomatoes back on may 1st they're doing great.
I probably should have waited til then. I planted mine 2wks earlier on March 13 and they are huge already.
Thanks for the great tips.
Thanks for the nice technique in planting tomato
Thanks for the information
lesson learnt, thank you
Thank you👍🏼
good teaching; I do both, but mostly the deep. Great share, God bless
Great advice!!
Thanks Luke!
Great ideas!
Great info. Thanks
Thanks!
i live in detroit, michigan, and we have had frost two nights straight. it's may, and no consistent warm weather, so maybe by first of june i can plant tomatoes. really good tips from your videos.
Me too. Looks like June will be when they go in. 👀
Learned something new ...that's valuable ...thanks!
Super helpful, thank you so much.
Extremely useful thank you 🙏
Great information, thanks for sharing!
Planting my annual flowers this week but I’m going to wait another 2 weeks to put the tomatoes out. Which is good because I’m still behind on getting my drip irrigation in.
Still frosting here in Missouri! Cant get tomatoes or peppers in yet highs in the days are still mostly in the 50’s! Never had to wait this long
same I bought my peppers in last night ready to get planting
Thank you!
Love watching your video keep it up good work
I am so ready to plant .
Thank you for this
Great tips😊
Very helpful video!
Thanks for the Great video
Great technique, I definitely learn something new 🌿🌿🌱
TIL great info, now I have to go back out and put more dirt around my tiny 3-4in maters! I just bought and planted.
Thank you.
My tomato seedlings struggled with edema. I know we had issues with blossom end rot last year. I watched your video on fertilizing with calcium and decided to amend my raised beds with gypsum. Is there any advice on seedlings to prevent them from edema? I know I need to water less, but maybe a better starter soil? Only my sungold cherry and flavor bomb cherry are doing well. I'm going to get the rest in the ground and bury them deep and hope for the best. As always great information, thank you.
It'll be a couple more weeks before I can plant my tomato plants. Still getting frost overnight here in Wisconsin.