Planting Tomatoes

We have a weekend of gorgeous weather ahead of us with temperatures in the 20's and overnight temperatures above 10 C.  It's time to plant tomatoes!

Time to plant tomatoes

And about time, too, because the tomatoes in the potting shed are getting rather large.  I've already put out 3 in containers protected with hot caps.  These are all cherry varieties - Sweet Baby Girl, Gold Nugget and Principe Borghese.  I'd been going to put a 4th in a half barrel, but cedar roots have invaded the barrel and I won't waste a tomato under these circumstances.  It'll be flowers for that container this year and then the barrel will be dismantled.

Principe Borghese tomato protected by a hot cap

Before planting can begin, the site must be prepared.  Several weeks ago I had added lots of compost and a couple of wheelbarrow loads of SeaSoil, then placed the drip irrigation line.  Each of 14 holes in the tomato bed received a cup of homemade fertilizer (see March 2nd post) which was dug in and then watered.

The tomato bed ready to receive the young plants

Then 12 tomatoes were set in place with the soil level brought up to the first leaves of each plant.  By planting them deeply, the tomatoes will send out more roots up to the soil level, making them stronger.  I planted 4 each of Bonny Best, Moneymaker, 3 Principe Borghese and 1 Sweet Baby Girl.  The final 2 spots are being saved for experimental Beth's Big Fat Tomato when the plants get a bit bigger.

Plant tomatoes a bit deeper to encourage root growth

Tomato cages were placed over each plant.  When they grow bigger, I'll set up my tomato frame which is made up of bamboo poles lashed together.  It's strange looking, but it works!  Once the plants are well established, I'll finish the bed off with a mulch of chopped maple leaves.  Tomatoes need lots of water and the mulch, which will be on top of the water line, will help keep moisture in.  Not enough moisture and you start getting blossom end rot, which can also be a sign of not enough calcium.  Since the homemade fertilizer has lots of that, it won't be a worry.

Nearly all planted

Finally, I took the hot caps off the container tomatoes.  Since it's such a warm day, the tomatoes were wilting a bit.  Garden setup is now almost complete.  There's just a small space in one bed to take some more kale and swiss chard plants and, of course, the Three Sisters bed to do in a couple of weeks.

Principe Borghese in his half barrel