Cover the stem up to the plant’s leaves. You can even cover the first few leaves with soil. Roots will grow along the buried stem to make the plant stronger.
Each Bonnie tomato label urges you to plant tomatoes so that a full 2/3 of the plant is underground. That means that if you buy a 10-inch tall plant, all but the top three inches is buried. Why? Because the plant will have a better root system. Better roots mean better tomatoes.
How does it work? This goes against everything you’ve ever heard about “don’t plant too deeply or you’ll kill the plant.” Tomatoes break that rule. They sprout roots along the buried stem. The extra roots strengthen a plant so that it can support more fruit and is better able to survive hot weather.
Whether in a pot or in the ground, set each tomato transplant so that 2/3 of the plant is buried.
Once you’ve nearly buried it in soil, only the top few inches of the plant will be exposed. Water well and label. So dig your hole and dig it deeply. In really heavy soil, or if you just don’t want to dig deeply, you can lay the plant on its side, provided that it is at least 5 or 6 inches deep when buried and the ground beneath isn’t hard as a brick. Angle the plant so that the growing tip is above ground. If your soil drains poorly, create a raised bed so that the soil is piled at least 8 inches above ground level.
Within a few weeks, your plants with super roots will delight you with a bountiful harvest of lovely fruit.
If you grow in containers, do the same thing using premium potting soil.
i love growing Bonnie plants , this year I have a small greenhouse on my garden area and am wanting to know if I can get tomatoes plants earlier than they are available in my local area ?
Hi Van,
We do not currently offer early or online sales through our website but we will soon be offering this service through a few of our retail partners. When this launches (in a few weeks), we’ll let you know through our Facebook page, so go to Facebook and “like” Bonnie Plants. You can follow our progress on this service and also get gardening tips, ideas, and news there.
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
I know for a fact that this info really works I am 66 yrs old an I remember asa child, my dad planting the tomatoes like this an he always had the best tomatoes around. I love Bonnie plants!!!!
I love your plants. We have been loyal customers for over 10 years now. We love how healthy your plants are and they are easy to grow when your instructions are followed. Using your plants only made sense when we became empty nesters, with today’s economy, one of our kids is back with us and now I’m spoiled and I won’t give up my Bonnie Plants! Thank You. I like you web site too.
Hi Janis,
Thanks so much! We really appreciate your nice comments and your business. Best of luck gardening this year with your family!
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
HI this is my first time using containers and plants. I want to know if i can use my soil from last year flowers to grow my tomatoes and peppers. Robin
We recommend that you replace the potting mix in your containers annually to provide the best growing environment for your plants. Also be sure to use a good potting mix. It’ll make a big difference!
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
Hello Bonnie plants, this is my first time to plant tomatoes what do I do if the plants already have tomatoes?should I still plant 2/3 down? Thank you!
Hi Dawn,
Yes, you should still plant 2/3 down. You might also remove the tiny fruits already forming so that your plant can put energy into growing a good foundation before setting fruit.
Happy growing!
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
When I get my Bonnie plants there is two to three per container. Am I to plant all in the same hole or try to seperate them?
Hi Richard,
Yes, sometimes you get a few plants for the price of one in our pots. For tomatoes, separating the seedlings is possible but you have to be very careful or you could cause damage. Instead, you could just choose the strongest seedling and clip the others back at the base.
Happy growing!
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
I am a novice. Planted my first Tomato plants in a pot 6 days ago. I did not plant deep (2/3) as recommended. Should I replant or leave as is? Thank you.
Hi David,
Your plant will still grow even if you didn’t plant deep, but 6 days is not too late to replant, this time planting deeply. Be sure your container is large enough for a tomato (24 inches and/or 5 gallon) and filled completely with soil.
Happy growing!
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
Hi! I just bought 2 Bonnie tomato plants. I bought two very large plastic pots to plant them in. The pots do not have drainage holes in the bottom. Do I need to drill some?
Hi Billie,
Yes, it’s crucial that you have drainage holes in your pots!
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
I have purchased 4 Bonnie Tomato plants and your planting suggestion is to plant them a full 2/3 of the plant in in the ground. Do you have to trim any of the stems or do you plant the complete stem, leaves and all?
Hi Ken,
You can pinch off the lower leaves if you’d like but it’s not necessary. Learn more about how to plant tomatoes from this article:
How to Plant Tomatoes Step by Step
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
MY QUESTION IS SIMILAR TO ANOTHER ONE, MY PLANTS HAVE BEEN IN THE GROUND ABOUT 3 WEEKS OR MORE AND I JUST NOW SAW THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO PLANT 2/3 DOWN. THEY SEEM TO BE THRIVING SO FAR. IS IT WORTH RE PLANTING NOW OR SHOULD I JUST DO BETTER NEXT SEASON.
Hi Jake,
Your tomato plants should be fine this year as you planted them. Planting 2/3 down helps tomatoes grow strong root systems, but tomato plants will grow when not planted this way, too. Try planting 2/3 down next year and compare notes from this year!
Happy gardening,
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
hey. i bought 2 tomato plants and planted them about two weeks ago. i just read that i need to plant them 2/3 deep. is it too late to redo them? thanks!!!
Hi Jason,
Your tomato plants should be fine the way you’ve already planted them. Planting 2/3 down helps tomatoes grow strong root systems, but tomato plants will grow when not planted this way, too. Yours have probably begun establishing more roots, so it’s probably best to avoid disturbing them now. Try planting 2/3 down next year and compare notes from this year!
thanks, mary!
I bought 2 tomato plants. Planted them in huge planters for the patio. One plant is about 41/2 feet tall with 27 tomatoes. the other much smaller, with 12 tomatoes. Old timers say when the plant gets bushy and has fruit, back off the watering. Is this true? How much do you water? I think all living plants should have lots of water! Thanks
Hi Peggy,
Congratulations on your healthy, productive tomatoes! The fun thing about growing tomatoes is that everyone seems to have their own secret tips or tricks. It is debatable that restricting water will develop more flavorful tomatoes, but play it safe with watering a consistent amount at least 1″ of water per week while fruiting, especially in containers. Blossom End Rot is a disappointing result of lack of consistent water and unavailable calcium (http://bonnieplants.com/library/conquer-blossom-end-rot/), so look out for that. This article should help clarify. We also have a section on Watering in our library of articles.
Let us know how it grows! ~Mary Beth, Bonnie Plants
I just bought 3 Bonnie tomato plants. Can I plant more than one plant is a planter that is 24 inches big?
It’s best to have one tomato plant in a pot that size. Different varieties grow to varying sizes in maturity — some are tall and have lengthy vines and others are short and compact. They all need about a deep 18-24″ pot at a minimum, though, for best results. Let us know how it grows. ~Mary Beth, Bonnie Plants
is it ok to plant tomatoes in the ground without soil?
Hi Jason,
I’m not sure I understand your question…Perhaps you mean is it okay to plant tomatoes in the ground without using potting soil? If so, yes, that is completely fine. If you would like to learn more about amending your garden soil and the desired texture and pH, check out this article. ~Mary Beth, Bonnie Plants
I have planted a variety of your plants in my garden (bought from Lowe’s) Now, I have a few pots on my porch I’d like to walk out and grab some smaller tomatoes just to pop in my mouth – what varieties do you recommend – the porch gets a lot of sun.
Thank you
Kathy
Hi Kathy,
You are just in time! Today we are sharing a new Tomato Chooser Tool that we’ve had in development this Spring. Our page on everything you need to know about tomatoes is a great place to start. Within the Tomato Chooser, click your preferred plant size, container, heirloom or hybrid, and more to see all of your options! http://www.bonnieplants.com/tomatoes/ Let us know how it grows! ~Mary Beth, Bonnie Plants
I have a grape size tomato plant am trying to grow for the first time . My question is how do I transplant into a bigger pot with the stakes in it ? Help
Hi Anita,
I’m not sure how large your tomato plant is at this point, but do the best you can to keep the plant intact and the rootball together while transplanting. If the stakes are removable and the plant hasn’t grown too much around them, it might be easier to remove the stakes and re-tie the stems to newly inserted stakes in the new pot. The great thing about tomatoes is that the stems will root and grow very well — wherever they touch soil. Good luck! ~Mary Beth, Bonnie Plants
At risk of sounding obvious, I would recommend doing it very carefully!
I have planted Celebrity and Early Girls for several years now. However, there is much differing information regarding Celebrity as determinate/semi-determinate/indeterminate. How much pruning of Celebrity does Bonnie recommend?
Hi Fred,
Pruning is a personal preference and choice. Many folks swear by pruning suckers and keeping the plant within a desired size, while others let nature take it’s course. Some say pruning leads to bigger, tastier fruit, while others think you get more fruits by not pruning. Let us know what you decide! ~Mary Beth, Bonnie Plants
I’m using a 18″ pot in diameter and 24″ deep is this a good
size for one Bonnie Better Boy Hybird Tomato plant. I purchased one from home depot indicating it would produce in 70 to 75 days once planted.
Hi Wes,
We typically recommend 24 inches diameter for an indeterminate tomato like Better Boy, but 18 inches should do fine since your pot is so deep. Happy growing!
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
I plante a Celebrity and a Better Boy about 3 weeks ago. They have really taken off and I need to stake them before thy get too big. Any tips on staking?
Hi Andy,
Great news on your tomato plants! The best time to add support for plants is right after you plant them, so you don’t disturb the roots after they’re growing. So you’re right—now is the time to add support. Check out our article Stake Tomatoes Off the Ground, which gives lots of options for supporting your tomato plants.
Happy growing!
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
Hi, I planted 4 different varieties of Tomatoes from Bonnie plants.
a. Roma – even after 60 days of planting , the plant is very small ( about 12-16″ in height) and there is one tomatoe on the plant for about 3 weeks now
b. Marion Heirloom – this has grown to almost like a tree with 4ft tall and 2-3 ft wide. I only have so far 3 tomatoes on the plant as of today. I planted this about 50 days ago
c. Arkansas Traveller – planted about 45 days ago..so far there is only one small tomatoe on the plant
d. Celebrity – planted about 60 days ago..so far there is only one big tomatoe on the plant ( growing for more than 3 weeks)
I grow my vegetables organic and was wondering if the slow growth is normal ? If not, do I need to do anything to fasten the process.
Naveen Rojanala
Hi Naveen,
The growth rates you describe sound pretty normal. It sounds like you’re facing a problem we gardeners often face…finding the patience to wait for those tasty tomatoes! If you look at the variety description for each of these tomatoes, you’ll see the days to maturity (which equates to days until you’ll harvest ripe tomatoes). Here are the days to maturity and links to variety pages below.
Roma: 73-80 days
Marion: 70-75 days
Arkansas Traveler: 75 days
Celebrity: 65-70 days
I’m not sure of your climate, but if you’ve had cool weather, this could slow the growth a bit, too. You could apply an organic vegetable fertilizer to keep plants growing healthy, too. Otherwise, just keep watering and waiting for the plants to mature.
Happy growing!
Kelly, Bonnie Plants
Hi Kelly,Thank you for your comment.
I live about 25 north of Dallas, TX. We did have bit of cold climate recently. I have been applying the Herb & Plant fertilizer regularly ( once about 4-5 days) from Bonnie plants.
Naveen
This is my first time growing tomatos and I am growing them in pots. I am growing the Tammi G hybrid and the Better Boy hybrid. The Better Boy is in a 18″ clay pot. I have a question about watering. The weather has already been in the upper 80′s during day, an 50′s-60′s at night. How frequently should I be watering? I did plant them 2/3 deep as instructed and used organic potting soil. The Tammi G is growing like a weed and the Better Boy has just started to grow (it was a small one when I planted it 3 wks ago and just had a few leaves on top of the soil). Should I be watering daily if I see that the top of the soil is dry? Or just once a week? Do I want to water more frequently when they are in their growth stage? I used your vegetable food last week and am not completely clear on how frequently I should be using that as well. Thanks!
Hi Mia,
Congrats on growing tomatoes for the first and on planting your tomatoes in pots! Vegetables planted in containers typically need to be watered more often than those planted in the ground because pots can dry out quickly. Clay pots dry out especially fast, so watering daily might be necessary for you in hot weather. Read more about watering containers in our article “For a Plentiful Harvest, Keep Pots Watered.” Also be sure to read about how to grow tomatoes on our Growing Tomatoes page. I think you’ll find this info very helpful!
You also can read more about watering and watering techniques on our Watering section of the website (including “How Much Water Do Vegetables Need?” and “Crucial Growth Stages When Vegetables Need Water“. You can also learn more about gardening in pots in our Container Gardening section.
On using our Bonnie Herb & Vegetable Plant Food, you can feed plants twice a week, referring to instructions on the Little Green Jug. Mix a capful of plant food into a gallon of water, which should cover 30 to 40 sq. ft. For reference, a 4 x 8 foot garden is 32 sq. ft. I hope this helps!
Happy gardening!
Kelly, Bonnie Plants