New to gardening with new tomato plant

DbleT 5/30/2012, 12:04 pm

Hi, I just got everything completed and ready to start planting. My wife's boss gave me a tomato plant, that is native to Japan, that he has grown from a seedling and now that it is in my hands for planting. It has two stalks that separate right at the dirt level with the more mature stalk about 1/4" in diameter and 14" tall and the other stalk a bit less than that in diameter and 11" tall. Is this plant too mature to trim the suckers and lay down on its side? Since I'm new to this I'd hate to screw this plant up as her boss is a really nice guy and I'd really like to give him some nice tomatoes off this plant. Any advice would be appreciated. On a side note, I've heard that it is a good thing to plant Marigold's next to tomato plants. Myth or true?

Much thanks!

Chopper 5/30/2012, 8:24 pm

Yeah. Were it I, and this has no scientific basis, I would plant it with both stalks and just raise it as a two main stem plant. Although there is no reason you could not take off the weaker stem.

There is no reason not to lay this on its side when planting. I believe the point of that is to encourage more root growth along the stem in the buried parts. Just use the shorter one as your guide as to how 'deep' you want it.

DbleT 5/31/2012, 12:43 am

Appreciate your input.

Sponsored content

New to gardening with new tomato plant

New to gardening with new tomato plant

Re: New to gardening with new tomato plant

Thanks Chopper

Re: New to gardening with new tomato plant


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.