Planting tomato seedlings in the garden
You have launched into tomato seedlings, with success. Now it's time to transplant them into the garden or into containers (if you're doing a container garden).
Preparing the plants:
The tomato is native to South America, so it is an ''exotic'' plant that does not support frost . It is therefore necessary to wait until the end of the night frost forecast in your area before installing them outside. Consult our sowing calendar to get an idea of the best time.
Before transplanting them to the garden, consider acclimatizing them to outdoor conditions . Just take them outside in good weather, a week to two weeks before, a few hours a day at first then the whole day afterwards.
Be careful, the plants can suffer a shock if they are suddenly exposed to direct sunlight. They must therefore first be taken out in the shade for a few days before exposing them to full sun. Getting them used to the wind (light to moderate) can also be beneficial.
Once the plants have acclimatized and the risk of night frost has passed, the time has come to plant in the garden.
A short walk in the sun to acclimate the squash seedlings
In which location/exposure do we plant our tomato plants?
As an exotic plant, the tomato needs sun, lots of sun. Prefer a place that will receive a maximum, and as a bonus sheltered from the wind.
In what type of soil?
The tomato is greedy, very greedy. It needs lots of nutrients . It therefore likes rich or enriched soils . Add additional compost or fertilizer when transplanting and regularly during the season, combined with abundant and regular watering.
How to ground?
Choose a windless and preferably cloudy day to give your plants a smooth transition.
Bury the stem as much as possible. If the stem of the plants is too long and fragile, plant your plant horizontally, laying the stem completely on its side. This will promote the appearance of roots and therefore the possibility of fetching more nutrients and water and anchoring itself well in the soil for resistance and increased growth potential.
So, dig a hole with a diameter that is double or triple that of the clod of earth that you have previously loosened slightly in order to encourage rooting. Water the bottom of the hole to moisten the soil thoroughly and throw in two good shovelfuls of compost. Place the plant and cover it with soil + compost. If necessary, place the stem horizontally, gently straightening it so that the first leaves are just at ground level.
To maximize the flow of water to the roots, I like to use the 'little pool' technique for gourmet vegetables like tomatoes, squash and cucumbers. This 'technique' makes it possible to maximize watering. Simply form a bowl-shaped depression all around the stem of the plant which will direct the water from the next waterings directly towards the root system of the plant.
We water again and add a stake if desired. Here is our plant is in the ground for the summer!
The technique of the small swimming pool
After transplanting, some plants may appear limp and wilted. It's normal, they didn't like being manipulated. But everything should be back to normal after a few hours or the next day.
Throughout the summer, it is best to fertilize your plants a few times with liquid fertilizer or compost, regularly hoe the surface of the soil to keep the soil aerated and free of weeds, to carry out watering regularly and in depth and to eliminate the auxiliary stems (greedy) if desired in order to control the diameter of your plants and to make it easier to maintain and harvest.
Are you ready? To your shovels! And we wish you a good harvest!
Here our beautiful variety of Campbell tomato