How to Grow Garden Tomatoes & Jalapenos in Raised Planters

Planting Garden Tomatoes

• 1

  Fill the raised planter with potting soil purchased from the garden supply store or homemade by combining equal amounts of composted soil, peat moss and perlite. Keep the soil an inch below the rim of the container. Incorporate 3 inches of compost and 10-10-10 fertilizer into the soil with a garden fork. Apply the fertilizer according to label directions.

• 2

  Level the soil with your rake. Smooth out lumps and remove any sticks or rocks you find in the soil. Plant your tomatoes outdoors after all danger of frost is past.

• 3

  Dig holes that are slightly wider than the root ball and almost as deep as the entire tomato plant. Do not dig all the way to the bottom of your planter box. Leave at least 2 inches of room between the roots and the bottom. Space holes 18 to 24 inches apart and allow 2 feet of space between rows, or as noted on the label of your variety of tomato.

• 4

  Remove the tomato plant from the container and insert it into the hole. Only the top two to four leaves should be sticking out of the hole.

• 5

  Backfill the hole with amended soil and firm the soil lightly around the plant. Repeat until each tomato is planted.

• 6

  Water the soil in the raised box thoroughly. Check the soil every day to test for moisture. Insert your finger into the top inch of the soil. If it feels dry, give the plants some water.

• 7

  Apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch around the base of the tomato plants. Mulch helps the soil retain moisture and keeps the weeds from growing.

• 8

  Feed the tomato plants every 10 to 14 days with a 10-10-10 fertilizer, or use a special tomato fertilizer. Mix and apply according to label directions.

Planting Jalapeno Peppers

• 9

  Fill the raised planter with potting soil bought from the garden supply store or homemade by combining equal amounts of composted soil, peat moss and perlite. Keep the soil an inch below the rim of the container. Amend the soil with 3 inches of compost and 5-10-10 fertilizer. Apply according to label directions.

• 10

  Level the soil with your rake. Smooth out the lumps and remove any sticks or rocks you find. Plant your jalapeno pepper plants outdoors after all danger of frost is past.

• 11

  Dig a hole with a trowel that is the same size as the root ball of the jalapeno pepper plant. Space the planting holes 1.5 feet apart with the rows spaced 2 feet apart.

• 12

  Remove the jalapeno pepper from the nursery pot. And insert the root ball of the pepper into the planting hole. Firm the soil around the root ball. Don’t bury the plant any deeper than it was originally growing in the pot.

• 13

  Water the soil thoroughly to a depth of 6 inches. Check the soil daily, and don't allow it to dry out.

• 14

  Lay a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the base of your jalapeno plants. Mulch keeps the weeds from growing and helps the soil to retain moisture.

• 15

  Fertilize with time-released fertilizer after the first batch of flowers set fruit. Mix and apply according to label directions.