Planting Tomatoes - trench planting method

 

Try the 'trench planting' method for planting your tomatoes this year. By capturing more heat sooner you can pick tomaotes from the vine, 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule!
1. Scoop out a shallow 2-inch trench and sprinkle some compost on the bottom of the trench. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and need this extra supply of energy.

2. Stip off almost all leaves except the topmost cluster. The thick stem is going to be buried and will be converted into roots and will create a very sturdy plant.

3. Lay the young plant on its side in the trench. Gently press down the soil along the trench and cover everything except the topmost cluster. It may be at an angle, but don't worry, after a few days it will straighten out. Water thoroughly.

**note you may want to wrap a newspaper collar around the stem that is exposed in order to protect against cutworms. Cutworms are in the soil and wrap their bodies around young plants and literally 'cut them down' in one night!