How to Transplant Tomatoes into the Garden
**How I Transplant My Tomato Plants: A Step-by-Step Guide**
by Vanessa the Crafty Gemini
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### Introduction
Hello everyone! It’s Vanessa, the crafty Gemini, and I’m here in my garden to show you how I transplant my tomato plants. These babies are doing amazing—they’re even flowering right now! I started these from seed on Christmas Day 2019, and now it’s the first week of March 2020. You can see they’re thriving, which makes me so happy.
I’ve already planted one row with about 12 tomato plants, and today, I’m showing you how to plant another 12. Let’s get started!
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### Preparing the Soil
I have this area here covered in woodchips, but I need to access the actual ground. So, I’ll just scoot the woodchips back. Tomatoes love being transplanted, and one of the coolest things about them is that you can plant them super deep!
For example, if a plant is tall, I’ll plant it so most of its stem is underground. This helps it develop strong roots. Right now, these plants have leaves all over them, but I’ll show you how to remove them before planting. They’ll just compost in the hole anyway—why not?
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### Digging the Hole
I’m trying to dig about eight to ten inches deep for this one. Tomatoes like their roots to be well-established, so depth is key. This is a Super Boy tomato variety, and I want to make sure it has enough space to grow.
Once I’ve dug the hole, I’ll tease the roots a little bit—not by yanking on them, but just gently rubbing them to get them out of their square pot shape. This helps them spread out in the soil once they’re planted.
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### Adding Fertilizer
Before dropping the plant into the hole, I like to add a little scoop of Espoma Organic Garden Tone. I’ve been using this fertilizer for the past season and have had great results. A little goes a long way!
I mix it in with the dirt already in the hole, making sure the roots are nice and cozy. Then, it’s time to drop the plant into its new home.
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### Backfilling and Mulching
After placing the plant in the hole, I’ll backfill it with the dirt I took out earlier. Then, I’ll cover it back up with mulch—woodchips and hay. I press it down a little to hold the plant upright.
And just like that, one plant is done! Repeat this process for all 12 plants in this row.
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### Labeling and Watering
Once they’re in the ground, I make sure to label each plant. For example, this one is Amy’s Apricot Mix—a little cherry tomato variety with yellow and orangey colors.
I water them with plain water using a pressurized container I got from Harbor Freight. It holds one and a quarter gallons, which is perfect for giving the plants a good drink without access to a hose.
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### Supporting Indeterminate Varieties
All the varieties I’ve planted here are indeterminate, meaning they grow and grow until something stops them. That’s why they need support—like tomato cages or stakes with elastic ties.
Right now, this plant is a bit floppy because it was growing in a smaller three-inch pot for too long. But planting them deep helps them get taller and stronger. I’ll start trellising them soon to guide their growth upwards.
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### Four Weeks Later: A Quick Update
Four weeks after transplanting, both rows are thriving! Every single plant has fruit on it. We have big chunky varieties and several different cherry tomato varieties—all looking great.
The indeterminate varieties need support because they’ll keep growing until they’re stopped. These tomatoes should be between 12 and 16 ounces each, and the weight of the fruit will require strong stems to hold everything up.
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### Final Thoughts
Tomatoes are such a joy to grow, especially when you see them thriving like this. With proper care—like deep planting, mulching, fertilizing, and staking—you can enjoy a bountiful harvest.
If you’re new to gardening, don’t be afraid to experiment. Start small, learn as you go, and soon you’ll be just as excited about your garden as I am!
Happy gardening, everyone!