How to Lay Tomato Plants Down

Unlike many other vegetables and plants, tomatoes must be planted much deeper than the root system to develop a strong, healthy plant. After planting, new roots emerge along all portions of the stem that are under the soil. Some tomato seedlings are classified as leggy, meaning that they are tall with few lower leaves. When planting these tomatoes, lay them down on their sides, which will eventually create more foliage above ground.

Things You'll Need

Hand spade or shovel
Bucket
8-8-8 granular fertilizer

Spoon
6-foot tomato stake

Instructions

- 1
  Plant in a site that has well-draining but moist soil and full sunlight for the majority of the day.
- 2
  Dig a 3-inch-deep trench that is 3/4 the length of the tomato plant's height. A hand spade works best for this, but a shovel can be used if desired.
- 3
  Pull off all of the leaves on the tomato plant stem except for the very top cluster, which has three to five leaves on it. Discard the leaves in a compost area.
- 4
  Insert the tomato plant on its side in the trench with only the top leaves extending above the ground.
- 5
  Push the soil back into the trench by hand until it is completely filled and the stem is no longer visible. Pat the soil lightly by hand.
- 6
  Insert a 6-foot long tomato stake 12 inches into the ground to support the plant in the future. Insert it 3 to 5 inches away from the plant on the opposite side from where the stem is buried.
- 7
  Pour 1 gallon water into a bucket and mix in 3 to 4 tbsp. of an 8-8-8 granular fertilizer. Stir the mixture until the granules are completely dissolved. Water the soil around each tomato plant with 1 cup of the liquid fertilizer to stimulate root development.

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