Planting Tomatoes: How Deep Should You Go?

So, I’ve been growing tomatoes for years now, and let me tell you - there’s always something new to learn. This year, I’ve been digging into the whole planting depth debate. It’s not exactly breaking news, but damn if it doesn’t get gardeners fired up.

Deep vs. Shallow: What’s the Deal?

Here’s the thing - you’ve probably heard that planting tomatoes deep is the way to go. And yeah, there’s some logic to it:

The buried stem grows more roots Plant stands up better Supposedly handles dry spells better

But honestly? I’m not totally sold.

Last season, I did a little experiment in my backyard. Planted half my tomatoes deep, half just to the first set of leaves. The shallow guys? They took off faster and I was picking ripe tomatoes a good week or two earlier.

It’s Complicated (Isn’t Everything?)

Look, it’s not just about shoving the plant in the ground and calling it a day. You gotta consider:

Soil

My soil’s pretty heavy clay. It stays cool and damp forever in spring. Planting deep in that? Recipe for stem rot. If you’ve got sandy soil that drains quick, maybe deep planting makes more sense.

Your Setup

Container gardening? Those pots heat up fast. Raised beds? Depends what they’re made of. I’ve got a mix of wood and metal beds, and let me tell you - the metal ones are like little tomato saunas in summer.

The Plants Themselves

Sometimes you get these leggy, stretched-out seedlings. I’ve had luck laying them sideways in a shallow trench instead of digging a crazy deep hole. They straighten themselves out in no time.

So What Should You Do?

Here’s my take:

Get to know your soil. Grab a cheap soil thermometer if you’re really curious. Think about where you’re planting - ground, pots, beds? Look at your plants. Sturdy seedlings? Leggy monsters? Warm soil? You can probably go a bit deeper. Cool, damp soil? Keep it shallow. Plants falling over? Maybe go deeper for support.

Bottom Line

There’s no magic formula here. Gardening’s all about trial and error. Pay attention to what works in your yard. Maybe do your own little experiment - plant a few different ways and see what happens.

I will say this though - I’ve had volunteer tomatoes pop up from where birds dropped seeds, barely in the soil at all, and they grew like weeds. So don’t stress too much. Tomatoes are pretty damn resilient.

Just get them in the ground, give ‘em sun and water, and you’ll probably end up with more tomatoes than you know what to do with. Trust me, I’m still working through my frozen sauce from last year’s bumper crop.

If you’re looking to take your tomato growing to the next level, check out our ultimate guide to growing organic tomatoes. And for more tips on transplanting, don’t miss our article on the right way to transplant tomatoes.