How To Plant Tomatoes In The Ground: Perfect Guide

There is nothing in the world that tastes quite like a sun-warmed tomato picked fresh from your own garden. It’s the true taste of summer! Growing your own tomatoes is a classic and incredibly rewarding gardening project. This guide is here to walk you through every step of how to plant tomatoes in the ground for the most delicious, successful harvest you’ve ever had.

Don’t be intimidated if you’re a beginner. Tomatoes are vigorous plants that want to grow. We will break down the secrets to success, from choosing the right variety to a special planting trick that will give you bigger, stronger plants.

Let’s get ready to grow some garden gold!

Determinate vs. Indeterminate: Choosing Your Perfect Tomato

Before you buy a single plant, it’s essential to understand the two main types of tomato growth habits. This will determine how you care for the plant and how you’ll harvest from it.

Determinate Tomatoes (“Bush” Tomatoes)

Think of these as “determined” to reach a certain size and then stop.

Growth Habit: They grow to a compact, predetermined height (usually 3-4 feet), produce all of their fruit in a concentrated period of a few weeks, and then they are done for the season.
Best For: Gardeners with limited space, container gardening, or people who want a large harvest all at once for canning or making sauce.
Support: They still need support, but a sturdy tomato cage is usually sufficient.
Examples: ‘Roma’, ‘Celebrity’, ‘Rutgers’.

Indeterminate Tomatoes (“Vining” Tomatoes)

These tomatoes are “indefinite” in their growth.

Growth Habit: They will grow and produce fruit all season long, right up until the first frost. These are vining plants that can easily reach heights of 6-10 feet or even more.
Best For: Gardeners who want a steady supply of fresh tomatoes for slicing and salads all summer long. They require more space and very sturdy support.
Support: They need tall, strong cages or a robust staking system.
Examples: Most heirloom varieties like ‘Brandywine’, and popular slicers like ‘Better Boy’ and ‘Early Girl’. Most cherry tomatoes are also indeterminate.

Gardener’s Tip: Many gardeners plant both types! They use determinate varieties for making their big batch of sauce and indeterminate varieties for daily summer salads and BLTs.

[Amazon Product: Organic Heirloom Tomato Seed Collection]

Timing is Everything: When to Plant Your Tomatoes

Tomatoes are warm-weather plants. They cannot tolerate frost. Planting them outside too early is a common mistake that can stunt their growth or kill them outright.

The Golden Rule: Plant your tomatoes in the ground 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date. The soil temperature should be consistently at least 60°F.
Patience is a Virtue: It’s always better to wait an extra week if you’re unsure. Planting in warm soil will allow the tomato to take off quickly, and it will easily catch up to a plant that was put out early into cold soil.

The Hardening Off Process: A Crucial Step

You can’t take a tomato seedling that has been growing in a cozy greenhouse or on your sunny windowsill and plant it directly into the harsh conditions of the garden. You need to acclimate it gradually through a process called “hardening off.”

What it is: Hardening off is the process of slowly introducing your young plants to the outdoor elements of sun, wind, and fluctuating temperatures.
How to do it: For 7-10 days before you plan to plant, start taking your tomato plants outside.
- Day 1-2: Place them in a shady, protected spot for just 1-2 hours.
- Day 3-4: Increase their time outside to 3-4 hours and introduce them to a little bit of morning sun.
- Day 5-7: Gradually increase the amount of direct sun and time outside each day.
- Day 8-10: Let them stay out all day and even overnight if temperatures are mild (above 50°F).
This step is critical! Skipping it can lead to sunburned leaves and a severely stressed plant.

How to Plant Tomatoes in the Ground: Site and Soil Prep

Tomatoes are heavy feeders and they need a prime location to produce a bountiful crop.

Finding the Perfect Location

Sun, Sun, and More Sun: Tomatoes need a spot that receives at least 8 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day. This is the most important requirement for good fruit production.
Good Airflow: Choose a spot where air can circulate freely. This helps to dry the leaves after rain and can prevent common fungal diseases.
Rotate Your Crops: Avoid planting tomatoes in the exact same spot where you grew tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or potatoes the previous year. This practice, called crop rotation, helps prevent the buildup of soil-borne diseases.

Preparing the Soil for Superstars

Tomatoes thrive in rich, loose, well-draining soil. Taking the time to amend your soil before planting will make a huge difference in your harvest.

Loosen the Soil: Use a shovel or garden fork to dig and loosen the soil to a depth of at least 12 inches. This gives the roots plenty of room to grow deep.
Add Organic Matter: Tomatoes love rich soil. Spread a generous 3- to 4-inch layer of compost or well-rotted manure over the entire planting area. Organic matter improves soil structure, drainage, and provides essential nutrients. [Amazon Product: Premium Organic Compost for Vegetable Gardens]
Add a Starter Fertilizer: While you’re at it, now is the time to add a fertilizer that is formulated for tomatoes or vegetables. Look for one that is high in phosphorus (the middle number), which promotes strong root development and flowering. Sprinkle it over the bed according to the package directions.
Mix It All In: Thoroughly mix the compost and fertilizer into the loosened soil. Rake the surface of the bed smooth.

The Secret to Strong Tomato Plants: Plant Them Deep!

This is the single most important planting technique that will lead to a stronger, healthier, and more productive plant. It’s a true tomato-growing game-changer.

The Magic of Adventitious Roots

Look closely at the stem of a tomato seedling. You’ll see tiny little hairs or bumps. These are called adventitious roots. Any part of that hairy stem that is buried underground will sprout new roots.

More roots mean the plant can absorb more water and nutrients, which leads to a sturdier, more resilient plant that can produce more fruit. This is why we plant tomatoes deep.

The Deep Planting Method (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Dig a Deep Hole

Instead of digging a hole that’s just the size of the pot, dig a hole that is deep enough to bury about two-thirds of the tomato plant’s stem.

Step 2: Pinch Off the Lower Leaves

Before you place the plant in the hole, gently pinch or snip off the lower sets of leaves from the part of the stem that will be buried. You only want the top cluster of leaves to be above ground.

Step 3: Add a Boost (Optional but Recommended)

For an extra boost, you can toss a small handful of bone meal or a crushed eggshell into the bottom of the hole. This provides a slow-release source of calcium, which can help prevent blossom-end rot later in the season.

Step 4: Place the Plant and Backfill

Set the tomato plant into the deep hole.
Gently fill the hole with the amended soil, burying the bare stem. Pat the soil down lightly around the plant.

The Trenching Method (Alternative for Leggy Plants)

If you have a very tall, “leggy” seedling, digging a hole deep enough can be difficult. In this case, use the trenching method.

Dig a shallow trench about 6 inches deep.
Pinch off the lower leaves as before.
Lay the plant down on its side in the trench, gently curving the top few inches of the plant upwards so it is pointing out of the soil.
Fill the trench with soil, burying the long stem. The plant will correct itself and grow straight up towards the sun in a day or two.

After Planting: Essential First Steps

Spacing

Give your plants enough room to grow! Proper spacing improves air circulation and helps prevent the spread of disease.

Determinate (Bush) varieties: Space them 2 feet apart.
Indeterminate (Vining) varieties: Space them 3 feet apart.

Support, Support, Support!

Just like with peas, you need to install your support system at the same time you plant. Waiting until the plant is larger risks severely damaging the root system you worked so hard to establish.

Cages: A sturdy, tall tomato cage is great for determinate varieties. For indeterminate types, you’ll need the largest, strongest cage you can find. [Amazon Product: Heavy-Duty Square Tomato Cages]
Stakes: The “stake and weave” method is excellent for rows of tomatoes. Drive tall, strong stakes (at least 6-8 feet tall) between every other plant and weave twine between them to support the growing vines.

Watering and Mulching

Water Deeply: Immediately after planting, give each tomato plant a deep and thorough watering. This helps to settle the soil and reduce transplant shock.
Mulch: After the initial watering, apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch (like straw, shredded leaves, or grass clippings) around the base of the plant. Mulch is a gardener’s best friend—it suppresses weeds, conserves soil moisture, and keeps the soil temperature even.

Ongoing Care for a Great Harvest

Watering: Tomatoes need consistent moisture. Aim for about 1-2 inches of water per week, including rain. Water deeply at the base of the plant, avoiding the leaves.
Pruning: For indeterminate (vining) tomatoes, pruning is beneficial. Prune off the “suckers”—the small shoots that form in the “V” between the main stem and a side branch. This directs the plant’s energy into producing fruit instead of more leaves.
Fertilizing: About a month after planting, when the plant starts to set fruit, you can begin feeding it with a liquid tomato fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.

Conclusion

You have officially graduated from Tomato University! You now have all the expert knowledge on how to plant tomatoes in the ground for a spectacular and delicious harvest. By choosing the right variety, preparing your soil, and using the game-changing deep planting method, you’ve set your plants up for incredible success. Get ready to enjoy the unparalleled taste of a homegrown tomato, and be prepared to never look at a store-bought one the same way again!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do you prepare the ground for planting tomatoes?
Prepare the ground by choosing a spot with at least 8 hours of sun, loosening the soil to 12 inches deep, and mixing in a 3-4 inch layer of compost and a balanced vegetable fertilizer.

2. What is the secret to growing good tomatoes?
The biggest secrets are: 1) Full sun (8+ hours), 2) Rich, well-prepared soil, and 3) Planting them deep to encourage a stronger root system.

3. Should you put anything in the hole when planting tomatoes?
Yes, for an extra boost, you can add a handful of bone meal or crushed eggshells to the bottom of the planting hole. This provides calcium, which helps prevent blossom-end rot.

4. How deep should you plant tomatoes in the ground?
You should plant tomatoes deep enough to bury about two-thirds of the stem. Before planting, pinch off the lower leaves from the part of the stem that will be underground. This encourages roots to grow all along the buried stem.

5. What is the best month to plant tomatoes?
This depends entirely on your climate zone. The key is to plant them 1-2 weeks after your last average frost date when the soil has warmed up. For many, this is May or early June.

6. Do tomatoes need a trellis or cage?
Yes, almost all tomato varieties need support. Determinate (bush) types do well with a sturdy cage. Indeterminate (vining) types need a very tall, strong cage or a staking system to support their long vines and heavy fruit load.

7. How far apart should I plant my tomatoes?
Give them plenty of space for air circulation. Space determinate varieties about 2 feet apart and indeterminate varieties about 3 feet apart.