Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Weekly Gardening Thread (Transplanting Tomatoes) Vol. 10, March 9, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012 | JustaDumbBlonde

Posted on 03/09/2012 10:51:08 AM PST by JustaDumbBlonde

Photobucket

.

Good afternoon gardeners! After a high of 81 degrees yesterday, we are at 50 degrees today after experiencing high winds and 3 inches of rain last night. Radar would indicate that there is more rain to come, as I see it in Texas right now. I hope that all of our Texas gardeners are catching up on much needed rain! PTL!

We have so many new gardeners in our group, in addition to folks with the desire to begin gardening, that I thought a primer on transplanting might be useful. Please feel free to add to the discussion with your regular practices. And, as always, please feel free to ask any questions that you may have. This group loves to share information, and advice is free for the asking!

Because I plant over 100 tomato plants every year, I've got my transplanting down to a science that works for me and allows me to move down the row quickly. My tools are a bulb planter, a old spoon from the kitchen, a small bucket and several 2-liter soda bottles. (One day I'd love to do a thread on all of the common non-garden-related items we all use in our gardens.)

I start off my mixing up several bottles of a starter fertilizer, either the TNT pictured below, or Miracle Grow Quick Start. Whatever you use, make sure it is a low-nitrogen product, or you will grow lovely leaves and not much else. I also put some tomato food around the base of the tomato after transplant. Please notice the N-P-K formulation on these products. Similar products from any manufacturer are fine, these are what stores in my area offer for sale.

Photobucket

Photobucket

My tomatoes are planted through a commercial quality landscape fabric for weed control and moisture retention. It has other benefits, but weed control is my major concern. I begin by measuring off 30 inch increments and marking them on my fabric, then I go back and cut X's in the fabric and fold the corners under to access the soil.

Begin by digging your hole. I use a bulb planter because it makes the perfect diameter hole for a transplant that comes from a commercial 6-9 pack, or the small newspaper pots that I make myself. Tomatoes should be planted "deep", so dig your hole accordingly.

Here is an example of a bulb planter:

Photobucket

By "deep", I mean that you are going to plant more than just the roots, you are going to plant at least half of the stalk as well, up to 3/4 of the height of the plant is perfectably acceptable. Bonnie Plants, which supplies the likes of WalMart, Lowes and Home Depot garden centers, used to suggest 80% of the plant stem, but they have since backed that off to 2/3. This method is really the ONLY way to grow the strongest possible plant. Roots will develop on the entire length of the stem that is buried, giving your plants lots of roots to anchor the plant, as well as the ability to absorb more moisture and nutrients. In the photo below, the top of my index finger is indicating how deep I'm going to plant this tomato.

Photobucket

The next photo shows that I have pinched-off the leaves of the plant up to the point that I will bury the stem. This is not a required step, many folks let them stay, but it is my personal preference to remove them to avoid air pockets around the new roots.

Photobucket

Next, gently place your plant in the hole you've prepared. You can see from the photos below that there is enough room in the hole to surround the delicate roots with looser soil to accomodate quick spread and avoid transplant shock.

Photobucket

Photobucket

In the next step, you should replace the soil you removed with the bulb planter, just enough to cover the existing rootball. I use the small bucket to break up the soil and hold it until I'm ready to put it back. If you're not working on landscape fabric, of course you can keep the soil on the ground next to the hole. The important thing is making sure you break it up well.

Photobucket

Then water that soil in with your starter fertilizer/water mixture. Water until the loose soil is underwater and then allow it to soak in. It only takes a minute or less.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

After the water soaks in and settles the loose soil, fill in the remainder of the hole, and build it up to a small pyramid. The next rain or watering will take that pyramid down to level ground and, if it doesn't, that's okay too. At this point if you have not already fertilized your soil, place a tablespoon or two of a good tomato fert around the base of the plant. DO NOT let the crystals touch the stem!

Photobucket

My final step is unfolding the landscape fabric to cover the soil, and standing back to watch the growth!

Photobucket

.

Photobucket

The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you.

This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks. No matter what, you won’t be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread ... there is no telling where it will go and that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!


TOPICS: Agriculture; Food; Gardening; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: garden; gardening; tomatoes; transplant
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 141-160161-180181-200 ... 241-245 next last
To: MissMagnolia

I am running FireFox and when I click Help then Custom it opens a new window with the list of help items.


161 posted on 03/10/2012 5:54:36 PM PST by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 158 | View Replies]

To: JustaDumbBlonde

“Woo Hoo! We’ve added 6 new members to the ping list so far this week!”

Thanks again for adding me a few weeks back....look forward to every Friday now! (Well more than usual).


162 posted on 03/10/2012 6:37:33 PM PST by Sparky1776
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: Red_Devil 232

I’m running IE. You are definitely getting a result different from what I get ... I am happy for you! :-) I’ll keep trying to figure it out. I was trying to get ‘livestreaming’ video of a tennis match yesterday & couldn’t get it. I finally googled the error message & found out it was a Java issue .... I ended up working around it by using ‘compatability view’ & got the darn thing to work. Maybe I can get this figured out as well.


163 posted on 03/10/2012 6:39:09 PM PST by MissMagnolia (Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't. (M.Thatcher))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 161 | View Replies]

To: JustaDumbBlonde

The ping list will exceed 600 this year!


164 posted on 03/10/2012 6:42:00 PM PST by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: txhurl; JustaDumbBlonde
TV weathermen get lots of feedback from viewers — some positive, some negative.

Thanks for the morning laugh. That kid must have a FReeper for parents.

165 posted on 03/11/2012 6:32:47 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (Dear God, thanks for the rain, but please let it rain more in Texas. Amen.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 154 | View Replies]

To: JustaDumbBlonde

Thank you for the planting information. I will fertilize as I plant, now and will plant only 2/3rs of the tomato plant.


166 posted on 03/11/2012 7:48:48 AM PDT by tillacum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MissMagnolia

WOW, what a girl.


167 posted on 03/11/2012 7:56:43 AM PDT by tillacum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Red_Devil 232

Happy you had a succesful move AND a place to garden.


168 posted on 03/11/2012 8:00:35 AM PDT by tillacum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: txhurl

We bought some bags of humas and good soil from the zoo the other day. Our first purchase. Next year I’m going to order a palet load of each.


169 posted on 03/11/2012 8:15:53 AM PDT by tillacum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: tillacum

Thanks! We did have one minor delay. My ford F-150 pickup had a tire slowly leaking air. My wife was driving the pickup and following me in the rental truck. We had pulled into a rest stop. Walking back to the trucks I noticed a rear tire on the F-150 half way deflated. I changed that tire out with the spare. I was glad we were not on the side of the interstate changing a tire!


170 posted on 03/11/2012 8:16:40 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 168 | View Replies]

To: Sparky1776

You’re mighty welcome! :)


171 posted on 03/11/2012 8:37:04 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies ... plan it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 162 | View Replies]

To: Arrowhead1952

We’ve been getting 3 days of nice gentle rain. It is causing the the fairways to green up. It looks like we’re going to have another nice day of rain. Our lake has filled and even had some water outflow. Nice.


172 posted on 03/11/2012 8:39:31 AM PDT by tillacum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: MissMagnolia
"I finally googled the error message & found out it was a Java issue .... I ended up working around it by using ‘compatability view’ & got the darn thing to work."

My IE recently did the same thing. Can't watch imbedded video either ... I get the audio but the video box is blank. Must have been an update that caused the problem, but I have no idea which one because it auto-updates.

I resolved the issue by downloading Google Chrome as a browser. It works beautifully and I'm really liking it so far. Has lots of neat features.

173 posted on 03/11/2012 8:43:22 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies ... plan it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 163 | View Replies]

To: JustaDumbBlonde

Hmm great minds. I fixed some cajun red beans and rice, boiled crawfish, greens w/bacon and cornbread. I didn’t have any rice or cornbread. I’ve lost 10 pounds on this hi pro diet.


174 posted on 03/11/2012 8:45:22 AM PDT by tillacum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: Red_Devil 232

I hope so, Red. The more, the merrier. I am enjoying the posts from our new members.


175 posted on 03/11/2012 8:45:54 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies ... plan it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 164 | View Replies]

To: tillacum

You’re welcome, tillacum! I use starter fert on everything I transplant, with good results.


176 posted on 03/11/2012 8:48:52 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies ... plan it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 166 | View Replies]

To: txhurl

Whata Kid!


177 posted on 03/11/2012 8:49:06 AM PDT by tillacum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 154 | View Replies]

To: tillacum
We bought some bags of humas and good soil from the zoo the other day."

I had no idea! Now I will contact the Monroe zoo and see if they have similar stuff.

178 posted on 03/11/2012 8:51:41 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde (Don't wish doom on your enemies ... plan it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 169 | View Replies]

To: Red_Devil 232

Oh, you were lucky to be in a rest stop. I know what it’s like to be by the side of the road, with a load of wood and a tire leaks.


179 posted on 03/11/2012 8:52:49 AM PDT by tillacum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 170 | View Replies]

To: JustaDumbBlonde

Our zoo in Waco sells “soil” twice a year. We can order what we need or wait and attend the sale. Next time, we’re going to call in our order and pick it up. This was our first try and OH, the number of people before us, so our sale was very limited.


180 posted on 03/11/2012 8:58:09 AM PDT by tillacum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 178 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 141-160161-180181-200 ... 241-245 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson