How to Transplant Tomato Seedlings
Learn everything you need to confidently move your tomato seedlings from pots to garden beds. This guide covers when to transplant, how to prepare your plants and soil, and what to do afterward to set them up for strong, healthy growth.
Equipment
- shovel
- trellis or cage
Materials
- tomato seedlings
- compost or tomato fertilizer
Instructions
- Transplant your seedlings in the later afternoon or on a cloudy day so they aren't exposed to harsh sunlight immediately.
- Water the seedlings well a few hours before transplanting.
- Dig a hole deep enough to bury two-thirds of the stem or a trench to lay the seedling down sideways.
- Gently remove the seedling from its pot, trying not to disturb the roots too much.
- Place the seedling in the hole and cut off the lower branches of the plant that will be underground.
- Backfill the soil and water thoroughly to settle the soil and help to eliminate air pockets.
- Tomatoes should be planted about 24 inches apart, and rows should be 3 feet apart to allow for proper airflow and to decrease pest pressure and the potential spreading of diseases.
- You can add a light layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture.
- For determinate tomatoes, add a cage to help support the bushy tomato plant. For indeterminate tomatoes, add some kind of stake or trellis to help hold the plant up as it grows.