Grow Stronger Tomato Plants with Deep Planting

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One of those golden rules of gardening is never to set plants deeper than their original soil line. Most plants will struggle, and sometimes even die, if buried too deep. Tomatoes, though? They're the exception.

Here's the secret: tomato stems can actually sprout roots when buried underground. That extra root system gives the plant a sturdier foundation and better access to water and nutrients. When planting, sink your tomato as deep as you can, leaving just three to four sets of leaves above the soil line. Strip off any leaves and flowers that'll end up below ground.

If you're dealing with heavy soil or just don't feel like digging a deep hole, the trench method works beautifully. Instead of going deep, dig a long, shallow trench. Lay the stem on its side, then gently bend the top upward as you backfill, making sure several sets of leaves stay above the soil line.

One caveat: skip the deep-planting method if you're working with hard, compacted soil. New roots won't be able to push through, and you'll end up doing more harm than good.

Discover more tricks and take your tomato-growing efforts to the next level with Craig LeHoullier's award-wining guideEpic Tomatoes.