How deep do you plant?

[Scarlet]

I'm in the middle of planting up my tomatoes the OH popped up to the GH last night and said "you've planted those in too deep!"

I plant deep to get more roots growing from the stem but also the first flowering truss is much lower down so in theory I get more fruit before it hits the greenhouse roof.
How do you plant yours?


Not sure this is a good example..

[Stan79]

Yep. Same as you.... although I take it out of the pot first!!!

[Bren In Pots]

This year a couple of mine were leggy so I dug what seemed to be a very deep hole for those two to go in, now they look just the same as the other toms.

[Jay-ell]

I planted as deep as I can. The ones I planted yesterday weren't as large and ended up with only the growing tips visible.

When I plant in flower buckets I only put a handful of compost in the bottom then put the Tom on top of that and backfill.

[Small pumpkin]

Tell OH not to interfere with things he doesn't understand

They look perfect
I always plant them about that depth.

[mysteryduck]

I do the same as Jay-ell. I heard planting deep makes for a healthier plant. With a larger root system (since toms grow roots from any part of the stem that touches the ground) it has more stability and is better able to search for water / nutrients in the ground. I guess that’s helpful in a pot too

[chillithyme]

As deep as possible, mine can get a bit leggy sometimes, this solves the problem, plant deep, legginess gone

[Snadger]

In virgin soil, by planting that deep you may be growing in the subsoil. If you have double dug and improved the subsoil this shouldn't be an issue though
Unworked subsoil has a poor structure and is fairly devoid of nutrients..

Having said that, I totally agree with your logic for deep planting.

[Dynamite]

When I plant in flower buckets I only put a handful of compost in the bottom then put the Tom on top of that and backfill.

Likewise, I do exactly that too. I always plant deep.

Kind Regards.............Rob

[MyWifesBrassicas]

I bury leggy stems too, doesn't seem to harm them in the slightest.
Rather than dig a deep hole, I lay them in a trench and have the top pokeing out to continue growing

[Scarlet]

I lay the bent ones! The ones I've hit over with the hose while watering and forgotten to pick up!

[SarrissUK]

I plant deep too. This year my tomatoes were 1m tall when I planted them out, and I sunk them two thirds into the depth of 50cm of compost, so they were half buried. Only those with flower trusses further down than that were planted more shallow.

[Derbydal]

as deep as pos, even turned them on thier side to get more roots growing atb Dal.

[MarkPelican]

Like everybody else - as deep as possible.

[bario1]

Seems I'm alone in planting mine at the depth they were in their pots!

So I'm going to give deep planting a go this year, but just wondered, what do all you deep planters do with the leaves that end up below soil level? Strip off before backfilling? Leave in the ground?