"Hardening off" is a process of preparing your plants for the move to your garden. Whether you buy your tomato plants or grow your own, it takes a few days to get them adjusted to the outdoors. Slow up their growth by giving them less water and setting them outside during the day. Water the plants several hours before planting so that the soil sticks to the roots when the tomatoes are removed from the container.

Transplanting should be done late in the afternoon or on a cloudy day. Another good time would be just after a rain. The plants should be put deeper in the garden than they were in the containers. This allows the tomato to form roots along the stem as well as being protected from the wind. All flowers should be removed from the tomato plants. Firm the soil around the plant and water to settle the soil and remove air pockets. A slight depression should be left around each plant to catch rain water and hold moisture after watering.

Protect the tomatoes from cutworms immediately after planting. Use collars made from paper cups, milk cartons or metal cans with the bottoms cut out. Carefully slip the collar down over each plant and into the soil to a depth of about 1 inch.

A starter solution of fertilizer can help your young tomato plants get off to a fast start. Buy a dry (water soluble) fertilizer that can be dissolved in water. And as always, follow the directions on the label!

This page was last updated April 2003

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