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Leggy Tomato Plants

Posted by eurolarva z4 MN (My Page) on
Thu, May 14, 09 at 20:20

I started about 25 of these early girls from seed in mid March. They are pretty leggy this year due to the new member of the family being a cat and I had to move the growing lights to the laundry room where there is no sunlight. After I harden these plants can I plant them as deep as the red line I put on the picture or even deeper? I dont know how to post the pic so here is the link
http://home.comcast.net/~printergod2000/tom.jpg


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Leggy Tomato Plants

Yes, but trim those 2 long side branches (the 2 just at the line) off too.

Dave


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RE: Leggy Tomato Plants

So the branches at the very bottom should be cut as well? Do I cut them flush with the main stem or leave a litte on it when I bury it?

Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato Picture


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RE: Leggy Tomato Plants

I dont agree with planting deep like many here do. You'll see that the stem below about 3-4 inches just dies and the stem above reroots. Its better to plant sideways about 3-4 " below the surface then the stem will sprout roots all along the stem.


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RE: Leggy Tomato Plants

Whether you trench in or bury deep makes no difference as long as you don't shallow plant.

Just snip off the leaf branches that will be buried - or don't - works either way its just easier to plant I think with them trimmed and there is nothing to be gained by having a forked-tongue plant sticking out at the soil line.

Snip them close to the stem or leave a short stub - works either way - I usually leave about a 1/4" stub or so but it's not a big deal either way. It's not brain surgery. ;)

Dave


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RE: Leggy Tomato Plants

You'll be fine planting them at the red line as planned. Just snip the bottom shoots and dig a trench.


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Tomato Plant mulching

I kept reading that you should mulch your tomato plants, but no mention of what kind of mulch. So I used cypress mulch, which I had, and use it on my landscaping. Is cypress OK? I do have a couple unknown problems with a couple plants.

Beekymartin


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RE: Leggy Tomato Plants

I agree with snipping off all branches below the red line and planting 1 inch below the remaining stem branch - in over 40+ years of growing tomatoes I have never had an occurrance of what happened to sillyrib - I prefer to plant that way and only rarely side plant - Ialways get new roots all along the buried stem - as far as mulch I use garden and bloom which comes in a 3cu ft compressed bale and also contains beneficial micorrhizae


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RE: Leggy Tomato Plants

I planted mine over a foot deep this year and had no die off of the bottom of the plant. When I pulled them up this past weekend large roots branched off the main stem all the way down to the original root ball. sillyrib perhaps you have a perched water table or something specific to your planting conditions that's causing your troubles with deep planting.


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