Wow this is so weird! Just a couple hours ago I was looking at a tomato seedling and wondering why there were so few fuzzies on the middle of the stem!
May I suggest one more experiment? Plant a tomato plant in a grow bag deep into the mix.
Along the stem bury a 3/4 inch plastic pipe that is full of holes. This way the entire stem
will be within an inch or two of the surface air and some of the surface heat...With the pipe end about an inch above the surface, if you run into drought conditions you could add a little water through the tube. Thanks again for posting this very useful knowledge.
I think my last round of failures were from burring them to deep in the self watering/wicking Barrels by that style... Found the same root pattens but didn't put much thought into it like you have... Might try the horizontal method...
@jethrob34 Pretty much all of my tomato stalks increase in size. It defies the laws of plumbing. If deep planting has been working, I wouldn't change a thing. :-)
great video. I grow mine deep because I live in vegas and need those bottom roots to stay cooler and get the deep water. I would like to see if the ones you have sideways have the same results with the roots as the ones planted deep. thanks for another great video
@knyquol I get mine from discount-hydro online. You might can get them from a local hydro store if you have one and save on shipping. They do ok outside as well. :-)
I always thought the benefit of planting deep was so the plant wouldn't dry out. Hot days in the south can dry a tomato plant quick. If it has a deep root it still has access to water. The top layers of dirt dry to quick and deep down it is still moist. Is this wrong?
@hillbillybushcraft Not wrong at all. Having deep roots is a plus during drought. I'm trying to understand why the roots don't grow along the whole stem underground. Or maybe they do...and I just did something wrong. Gonna find out either way. If its usually dry where you are, I wouldn't change a thing. Keep putting 'em deep. :-)
looks like this made for good conversation, interesting about the roots, did you notice any difference in yields? by planting one deeper and one not so deep.. I have been trench planting for years, and the main reason for me is they get too tall by the time they go outside..I usually have great crops should say more than enough for the 2 of us to eat....
@dianemummvideos Yields were pretty equal in the last 2. A couple inches deeper won't make much difference. I have the same problem, the plants just got too tall in the spring and I had to dig some mighty deep holes to plant them. I'll lay them in a trench if they get away from me again. From the looks of that haul that you had, trenching works just fine for you. ;-)
I've heard of laying the plant sideways to get a better yield on potatoes from the old timers but I could never envision it or fathom the reason why until you just demonstrated it. I think I'll try this method on my tomato plants this year. I usually get huge tomatoes and a very good yield so I wonder how much more I'll get with this method. I speak blessings over my garden as I'm out there so I get a good yield to share with others.
@prettyroads I think as long as you speak blessings and pray over you garden, its not gonna matter how you plant them. They're gonna do just fine ! ;-)
Could be the upper growth of roots may be due to the warmer temp twards the surface of the ground , but thats a laymans speculation , it may be good to document the fruit size and production along with the root growth just to see if adding the additional soil is worth the effort. Im curious to see the findings , thanks doc....lol....!!!
@bowhunter2439 I thought of that, but these were in growbags planted in September. It was hot, and the soil temp should be fairly consistent top to bottom. I'm gonna see how all this plays out, and what grows where. I'm pretty curious too. Doc? Where do I send the bill ? LOL :-)
Oh my! I just transplanted my baby mater plants deeper in their pots a couple days before watching this video. I only went about 2 inches deeper though, so maybe it will still help??? I guess I'll find out in the fall!!! You really got me curious now.....
@Learning2homestead You'll be fine. 2 inches is better than none. If you have an opportunity to transplant them again, a few more inches wouldn't hurt. I'm looking forward to seeing that football field of a garden that ya'll are planting ! :-)
@mhpgardener looking at them again, I would say they are 2-4 inches deeper depending on the particular plant. The plants are still fairly small though, so I really couldn't do more than that right now. They will def. need to be transplanted into a bigger container eventually, so I'll keep lowering them. Thanks for your research!
What I have always done with my tomato plants (being sort of a lazy gardener) is just dig a hole big enough for the roots and then sort of a shallow trench from that spot out and laid the plan down and covered the stem with dirt in the trench. Doesn't take long for the growing part on top to turn itself so it is growing up the way it should in stead of laying down.
I was just as suprised as you when i pulled my tomato plants in december. They looked very simular to yours. I had burried them about 10 inches and there was about 6 inches of stalk with just fussies.
Informative and definitely something to think about. I actually noticed the same thing when I dug up my tomato plants this past season, though I didn't know why. Eager to see your results. Thanks brother!
@Planogardener It seems to be pretty consistent..root growth near the surface, and then at the root ball..but not much in between. Hoping to find out why.
Nice demonstration on tomato root growth. Never gave the whole thing too much thought. I do avoid the deep method because the ground is always so cold here in the spring and have done the trench method instead just because it seemed to make sense. Next fall I have to remember to yank a couple to see what the roots did. btw, your plants look wonderful!!! Just like your plants, I'm doing my best to grow towards the Light too... but think I may need the deep rooted method for myself… lol
@dustyanderson1 In cold soil, I'd trench them too. The surface will warm up much faster. I'm gonna do some of both outside this year. LOL...gotta plant yourself deep huh? :-)
Interesting topic. Looking forward to see the results. I was planning on trying Luke's method on a couple plants this spring. The idea of adding soil only as the plant grows up makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks for sharing your idea. After watching many of your videos, I believe you are a successful gardener because you are a thinking gardener. I always look forward to your videos and enjoy your ways of educating us on growing methods that you have learned.
@apaulanarius I'm gonna try some other plants too. I'll just put a plastic bag around the base, rolled up kinda, then unroll it and fill it up as the plant grows. Probably use a grow bag, but I think any small plastic bag would work just as well. Thanks for the kind words. You're quite correct, I am always thinking. :-)
It's been a while since we talked. Like you I have tried planting my Maters in everyway you mentioned and probably more over the past fifty years. Here is what I have discovered 'It doesn't seem to mater'. My success which as you know is good always seems to be be what I plant them into and what I feed them. Deep, shallow. or trench all will produce lots of fruit if the plant is happy.
@DwayneEParsons I think thats what it will boil down to. Its all about the soil, as opposed to the method. I just wonder about the root growth, and whether it really matters. Time will tell. Been planting 50 yrs huh? Wow....do you give lessons? I bet you could teach as all a thing or two. ;-)
Bobby: continued: Now I have a hugh root mass to keep the plant going and new roots coming from the stem that kick in to add growth and make more fruit. When I pull my plants the upper roots from the stem are more than the lower roots and the upper roots will have grown each direction up to 2 feet from the plant. I fertilize and lime my row and till it in. I plant 1 week later. I place the roots in the row. I put 4" of compost on the plants and I never fertilize again and it takes less water.
@navajopa31 Sounds like you've got it pretty well figured out. What varieties do you grow? I'd love to see some pictures of your garden. I bet its quite impressive.
Bobby: The method of laying the roots on their sides is best. I have being doing this for over forty years. I dig my holes with a shovel. The lowest part of the roots is about 8 inches and the upper is about 4" below the soil. My root mass is about 9" long. I then have about 8" to 10" of stem in the soil up to a stake. I then tie the plant to the stake and water the root ball and cover all the plant under the soil. The nodes on my 60 day old plants are under the soil and will make roots.
Hey Bobby,you went to college,called Hard Knocks of Life U.I know God puts us in tough life situations sometimes,and it might not seem like it at the time.But it most of the time turns out well.Man,look at you now.Colossians3:23 See ya
@TheSemperfidude You are correct. He has a plan, and we don't always see it until years after the fact. But everything happens for a reason. I agree.."And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men "
Great vid! I've always planted my tomatoes deep, but last year I also hilled them up similar to planting potatoes. It seemed to work well as we had lots of top growth, even in the drought. This is to be another dry year. grrr But I'm going to try a few test plants to compare root growth!
@HomesteadAcres Theres many ways to do it, depending on the location and soil. Deep or shallow, I think they both produce. It probably comes down to personal preference. Good luck ! :-)
look at you getting all scientific :) I love it when we back up what we think with evidence not conjecture. you are gonna end up with a tv show you keep it up,.
This is very interesting because I noticed exactly the same thing when I was clearing my tomatoes out last October. I had decided to try the shallow trench idea because professional growers do it so I'll go ahead with that now and also do some in tubs like I was doing to see how our results compare.
@baconsoda I threw away a bunch of plants last year cuz they were just too tall from me starting them too early. And I got tired of digging 2 foot deep holes. I never once considered a trench, and it would have really saved me a lot of time. I had a one track mind..deep, deep, and deeper. I just started some tomatoes, and if they get to be 3 foot tall before I can plant them....I ain't throwing them away ! :-)
@singmacabresongs Ag College? Hmm...my studies began on Sept 19,1975..the day I was adopted. I was 8 yrs old, spent 10 yrs on a huge farm, sunup to sundown..often missing school...doing what I was told. Work, work, and then work, Left the farm when I graduated and thought I'd never look back. Well, you can take the boy outta the farm, but you can't take the farm outta the boy. I planted my first garden in '07..and now here I am ! Just as happy as a pea in a pod ! ;-)
@MrMunchiemo I do use the root hormone when I'm rooting suckers, but never thought about adding it to transplants. I reckon its something to think about.
Definitely a side by side comparison with identical cultivars, growing conditions, waterings, feedings, etc would yield some definitive results. The more plants in each method the better the average results would be. Interested in what you find out. "Seeking the Light".....I LOVE IT! :)
@BoondockFarms I'm gonna try to make it as equal as possible, so that the results will be fair. Yes sir...is there any wonder that plants always grow to the light? ;-)
This was excellent! I too have always been told to plant the Tomato plant deep, and even on it's side and deep, but your findings here are definitely "study" worthy.
Interesting. I wonder if a well aerated substrate would get you more roots, like maybe more perlite in a mix or something. I've had volunteer tomatoes I did nothing for but mulched and peed on that turned into monsters. Nobody comes along in the rain forest and plants wild tomatoes deeper. Have you ever tried an Earthbox? You can make your own, youtube earthtainers. If set up properly, your plants continuously get the perfect amount of moisture, aeration, and nutrients, giving explosive growth.
@rubbernecker13 The mix in the growbags is fairly loose, it really fills up with roots. LOL... peed on? I've heard of it, but have refrained thus far. I have never used the EB's, but I've seen some folks growing beautiful plants in them.
@rubbernecker13 The guy out on TomatoFest has vidoes and a .PDF with contruction plans. I am going to make a few of them for my Mom so she can have some gardening fun too!
maybe this was already asked, but I don't have time to read through all the comments...is there an above ground difference in the plant behavior on the ones you showed? as far as production, plant health, etc?
Last summer the tomato plants pulled down the tomato cages, and where the vines touched the ground, they put down more roots. It makes me wonder... in propagating with cuttings, just how many plants can a single tomato plant turn into?! : )
@Helioforge A single indeterminate tomato could go on for a very long time like that. My guess is the number would be off the charts if someone really tried it.
Nice....We have always trenched our tomatoes, but I have not ever dug them up to see the root growth......But that was some good "Splaneing".......Take care....
Seems like the roots grow where there are leaves, i mean intersections in the stem where leaves and suckers would normally grow. But not in between the branches, ya think?
I still believe it is best to plant tomato plants deep to protect them from the drought. Also, do you remember how the plants performed? Did the deeply planted plants produce better during the hottest part of summer.
@vintageozarks I thoroughly agree. If drought is a concern, get the roots as deep as possible. But as for additional root growth, deep or shallow....both seem to be equal. The plants that I set out last spring did ok, typical....and many of them were 18-24 inches deep. I think I started my seeds just a bit early...LOL By the time the heat set in, the septoria and blight were such a problem that I didn't have much summer production.
Interesting Bobby... (I confess, I didn't hit pause), but I did notice the void of roots in the stem. I'll look forward to seeing what transpires from the double bagging....
sounds like a nice experiment to me, although if the roots seem to grow within the two inch barrier of soil, sounds like the potato growing method would be a good choice, as for fruit production I've planted tomatoes at different depth before and still actually averaged the same amount of fruit production, but then I really didn't take notice , I just ate the tomatoes that grew, lol I look forward to your results, finally a possible end to the myth...take care
@wmkk808 There are just so many variables in gardening. What works one year doesn't always work the next year. Adaptability is a necessity. As long as it produces....all is well !
you know what i tried with tomato plants? i planted them side ways and the ones that i did grew the best and the most prolific. pretty much a waste of space though. lol.
@franzb69 I'm not wasting any space here. I have 33 plants in a 50 foot bed......LOL....do the math ! Once I saw how easy it was to get them planted, I made sure I got as many as possible in there ! :-)
I hate to be tthe bearer of bad news...but I did the trench method last year.....and it did the same thing as your first two examples. There were long blank spaces with no roots then scraggy places with roots and the main mass was near the top. Good luck with yours.
@22justus2 Grrr....So I'll get the same amount of roots huh? At least I didn't have to dig a hole 2 foot deep to get those things in the ground...whew. Sometimes my transplants get away from me...ok a lot of times....and trenching will at least allow me an easier time of planting. All things being equal...I'll be happy with that. :-)
@mhpgardener Well what happened to me was I couldn't resist an end of the season sale on some leggy tomatoes. I trenched them to keep them from breaking over in the wind. They were planted in new ground, which could have affected them. In the fall, I specifically pulled up every one of them to check the roots. They were ugly! I didn't especially care for the foliage growth on them either. I decided I would not trench anymore after that. Like I say, you may get entirely different results.
@22justus2 Sounds like me, can't pass up a good deal. With all the talk about bacteria in the top few inches of soil, I'm really looking forward to the next few months. With plants in the trench, and some in growbags, it oughta be interesting.
My tomatoes this past summer did the exact same thing. For some reason, those two uppermost nodes get the dominance. It's true of the growing tips of plants too. It's called apical dominance. Hmmm...I'm going to do some more research. Good video!
iLife your demonstration, it made it very clear. I like knowing why and this explains why tomatoes should be planted in a trench. This is what I have heard for ever and never knew why. Now, what about combining both to get a super duper root system, trench then a bucket over the plant with gradual addition of soil. Just thinking, lol
@shadowofjuniperhill Hmmm...suppose I just positioned a growbag over a couple of the plants for now, then filled it up as they grew. We'd have the trench and the bucket..super duper...LOL
So is your assumption that if your plant grows more roots your should be able to get more fruit from it? If so, I am not sure I understand were the correlation between the plants roots and the plants fruit output comes from.
@bowlmeoverva I think it would help, but just how much I don't know. That was Lukes assumption that he stated in his video, something like 30-50% increase in production. I agree that more roots should equate to greater nutrient uptake and a healthier plant overall. But as for fruit output, I don't know what type of increase you'd really get. I'm gonna try this test, and see if the results are close to what he suggested.
@bowlmeoverva its proven that larger roots allow the plant to be grown at optimal rates. more water and nutes available to the plants so a healthy plant should get larger and there fore produce more fruit compared to a plant that didnt have as many roots and didnt grow as optimal as the other plant...they have smart pots that air prune roots and allow new root growth
@mhpgardener Haha! Yea this little girl has had ALL of my attention ! Shes 6 months already ! It was just ...yesterday I let everyone know a baby was on the way! Now that I am getting the hang of things shes gonna have to be my little shinning star on YouTube with all of us ! As always thanx for taking the time to put out these videos and please keep it up ! We enjoy them all !
In the book I read on roots the most bacteria are at the top of the 2 inches of the soil. This is why you plant your Tomato plant sideways. not straight down. Chuck out Praxus, he uses 1 plant and lets suckers grow out then let the suckers root about ever 2 feet. I suggest planting sideways. Also consider Aquaponics it gives oxygen to all the roots from top to bottom.
@marthale7 Ok...so you're saying the bacteria are NOT down deeper. Hmmm. Interesting. I've seen Ray's 20 foot wide tomato. Thats fine out in the yard, but that aint gonna happen in a typical garden. Its just too invasive. I'm looking into aqua....gonna be a few more months.
@mhpgardener Yep got the book "Roots Demystified" by Rober Kourik Look at these numbers Bacteria (1-3) inches 9750, (8-10) inches 2175, (25-30) inches 11. The same is true of Actinomycetes, Fungi, and Algae per this book page 15. The plants excrete sugar from the roots to feed the bacteria that digest the food in the soil to feed the plant. More bacteria, healthier roots.
@marthale7 I don't have that book. Sounds interesting though. Does it say anything in regard to root growth along the tomato stem? I'd like to see something definitive.
Great experiment! Interesting to see what happens. I am just glad I get tomatoes. LOL Was meaning to ask if you have tried the Zamzow's Tomato Maker yet? The mad scientist at work. Muuuuuh ha ha.
@loislaney23 I have 2 Big Beefs that I used Zamzow on. They are looking just as good as the other plants. I noticed the writing on the bags today and stepped back to see if there was a difference. They look just fine. Mad scientist? Me? Shhhhhh ! ;-)
I would like to toss my two cents into the ring. I promote a deep planting method but at a gradual rate as it grows. I combine it with a deep water/dry cycling. This keeps the top of the soil drier which inhibits early blight while keeping the deeper soil moist & encouraging proven deep root growth & extreme drought resistance. BUT, I also agree that trench method is great if you have the time to keep the plant watered often due to the shallower root pattern. Many great methods are out there. :)
@Praxxus55712 I agree on the gradual part, in regards to the transition from seedling to transplant. Once its in the ground..gradual is over. Unless you enclose the stem in some manner and follow up the growth of the plant. Very true, shallow roots will dry out faster, and need more water. I'm using a soaker hose on this row in the greenhouse. We'll see how it goes. In the end though, its all a matter of preference...and confidence.
I never tried the trench method. What I have read is, roots develop along the buried stem, like you said, also, the roots a closer to the top of the soil, where the soil is warmer. Which gets your plants off to a faster start. When you bury them deep, the soil is not a warm. I can believe that. It seems that when I firsrt plant my tomatoes, they don't grow all that much, at first, then after 3 weeks to a month they take off.
It's all about learning about and discovering new method to gardening.
@scottmanb2005 That makes sense about cold soil down deep, especially in early spring. But in the buckets and growbags in the GH, soil temps should be fairly consistent. So if roots were gonna develop, they'd have equal opportunity. Thats whats so cool about gardening...so many ways to do it, and still be productive.
Nice job. I've seen people take a potted tomato plant and instead of planting it deep they dug a trench and layed the plant down leaving the last few inches popping up through the soil. That way you might have over a foot of stem in the top two inches of soil. Now that root system would be interesting to see. I'm going to try it next summer.
@MrSchpankme I planted some last spring about 24 inches deep. It was very dry for quite some time. Even without me watering, the plants still produced ok. In that sense, you're quite right about depth being income. ;-)
I've seen similar observation of root systems when planting a sucker or a cutting from a tomato plant to make a new plant, planting the majority of the stem deep in the ground. I would only get roots up towards the top with very few further down. I planted a transplant one time just a few inches deeper than it's original soil line. I let it grow all summer her in Florida. It measured 13ft and when I pulled it up it's root system had grown clear across the bed 2 in deep, not down. Great info!
@Whadsupgator1 Wow, now thats a root system I would like to see. Theres a lot about this process that I don't understand, so I'm trying to find out first hand what the deal is. Hands on experience is a good teacher.
I have to agree with you on this one because I've planted them both ways and my best results were the trench planting. In 09' I used the trench method and I gave away about 8 bushels of tomatoes. When I planted them 18 inches deep the plant was too busy trying to reestablish the roots in the warmer soil and I got hardly any tomatoes. Great video and I think I'll listen twice, lol. Thanks
@2Bibleppl I'll be doing a lot more drip irrigation and soaker hoses this year, so planting in a trench might work out quite well. It's certainly an easier way to plant. :-)
Informative and innovative idea! Will have to try treating Tomatoe plant like a Potatoe plant. Seems as though the increased root growth, would spell more nutrition uptake into the plant, to produce even more fruit. Scratching head, wondering how many other plants this would also benefit in production output. As always great video Bobby.
I found the same thing Bobby that your talking about. Last year I planted a 36 inch plant in a trench.. Month later I doug it up. The only roots was at the top of the surface just like you showed. And I planted more than 20 inches in a trench. 15 inch rotted off or something it was gone. THANKS Buddy I like this 1..
@Teddybearcop48 It never hurts to try, especially if its something that you're not sure of. I always say this..whats the worst that could happen? The plant dies... no problem. Grow another one !
I'd love to see the update at the end of the season on your finding, very interesting
trungson 1 week ago
Wow this is so weird! Just a couple hours ago I was looking at a tomato seedling and wondering why there were so few fuzzies on the middle of the stem!
heathermemacdonald 3 weeks ago
@heathermemacdonald Hmmm....it's funny how things work out sometimes. :-)
mhpgardener 2 weeks ago
Great video and very good to know information. Thanks!
biglo3524 3 weeks ago
@biglo3524 And thank you too !
mhpgardener 2 weeks ago
May I suggest one more experiment? Plant a tomato plant in a grow bag deep into the mix.
Along the stem bury a 3/4 inch plastic pipe that is full of holes. This way the entire stem
will be within an inch or two of the surface air and some of the surface heat...With the pipe end about an inch above the surface, if you run into drought conditions you could add a little water through the tube. Thanks again for posting this very useful knowledge.
yesmagic 4 weeks ago
@yesmagic That sounds like an interesting idea. I'll try to remember that the next time I'm potting up some maters. ;-)
mhpgardener 2 weeks ago
Thank you very much for posting this video..........My money is on the trench.
That's how mine are going in......It's hard to trench a grow bag or a bucket.
yesmagic 1 month ago
@yesmagic Indeed..VERY hard to trench in a bucket !
mhpgardener 2 weeks ago
Thanks for the information.
DeerHunter10101 1 month ago
@DeerHunter10101 Glad I could help. :-)
mhpgardener 2 weeks ago
Burying that is...
**face palm**
bnbob01 1 month ago
Thanks for that Bobby...
I think my last round of failures were from burring them to deep in the self watering/wicking Barrels by that style... Found the same root pattens but didn't put much thought into it like you have... Might try the horizontal method...
Many thanks...
bnbob01 1 month ago
just wondering did the thickness of the stalks increase in size/girth?
I have always planted deep because i felt it helped protect them while they
hardened to the outdoors
jethrob34 1 month ago
@jethrob34 Pretty much all of my tomato stalks increase in size. It defies the laws of plumbing. If deep planting has been working, I wouldn't change a thing. :-)
mhpgardener 2 weeks ago
I'm anxious to see your results of this experiment. Great thinking!
SweetGumMinis 1 month ago
eah your tomato plants in january ive only just sowed my load for this year
Mazdarx82012 1 month ago
great video. I grow mine deep because I live in vegas and need those bottom roots to stay cooler and get the deep water. I would like to see if the ones you have sideways have the same results with the roots as the ones planted deep. thanks for another great video
SteveHarpster 1 month ago
Thanks for this! I like the idea of the grow bags, where do you buy those, I'd like to give them a try this year do they work outdoors as well?
knyquol 1 month ago
@knyquol I get mine from discount-hydro online. You might can get them from a local hydro store if you have one and save on shipping. They do ok outside as well. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
I always thought the benefit of planting deep was so the plant wouldn't dry out. Hot days in the south can dry a tomato plant quick. If it has a deep root it still has access to water. The top layers of dirt dry to quick and deep down it is still moist. Is this wrong?
hillbillybushcraft 1 month ago
@hillbillybushcraft Not wrong at all. Having deep roots is a plus during drought. I'm trying to understand why the roots don't grow along the whole stem underground. Or maybe they do...and I just did something wrong. Gonna find out either way. If its usually dry where you are, I wouldn't change a thing. Keep putting 'em deep. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
looks like this made for good conversation, interesting about the roots, did you notice any difference in yields? by planting one deeper and one not so deep.. I have been trench planting for years, and the main reason for me is they get too tall by the time they go outside..I usually have great crops should say more than enough for the 2 of us to eat....
Diane
dianemummvideos 1 month ago
@dianemummvideos Yields were pretty equal in the last 2. A couple inches deeper won't make much difference. I have the same problem, the plants just got too tall in the spring and I had to dig some mighty deep holes to plant them. I'll lay them in a trench if they get away from me again. From the looks of that haul that you had, trenching works just fine for you. ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
I've heard of laying the plant sideways to get a better yield on potatoes from the old timers but I could never envision it or fathom the reason why until you just demonstrated it. I think I'll try this method on my tomato plants this year. I usually get huge tomatoes and a very good yield so I wonder how much more I'll get with this method. I speak blessings over my garden as I'm out there so I get a good yield to share with others.
prettyroads 1 month ago
@prettyroads I think as long as you speak blessings and pray over you garden, its not gonna matter how you plant them. They're gonna do just fine ! ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Could be the upper growth of roots may be due to the warmer temp twards the surface of the ground , but thats a laymans speculation , it may be good to document the fruit size and production along with the root growth just to see if adding the additional soil is worth the effort. Im curious to see the findings , thanks doc....lol....!!!
bowhunter2439 1 month ago
@bowhunter2439 I thought of that, but these were in growbags planted in September. It was hot, and the soil temp should be fairly consistent top to bottom. I'm gonna see how all this plays out, and what grows where. I'm pretty curious too. Doc? Where do I send the bill ? LOL :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Oh my! I just transplanted my baby mater plants deeper in their pots a couple days before watching this video. I only went about 2 inches deeper though, so maybe it will still help??? I guess I'll find out in the fall!!! You really got me curious now.....
Learning2homestead 1 month ago
@Learning2homestead You'll be fine. 2 inches is better than none. If you have an opportunity to transplant them again, a few more inches wouldn't hurt. I'm looking forward to seeing that football field of a garden that ya'll are planting ! :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
@mhpgardener looking at them again, I would say they are 2-4 inches deeper depending on the particular plant. The plants are still fairly small though, so I really couldn't do more than that right now. They will def. need to be transplanted into a bigger container eventually, so I'll keep lowering them. Thanks for your research!
Football field?!?!? maybe someday...... :)
Learning2homestead 1 month ago
This is so interesting! I have never heard of this. Thanks for doing such a great job explaining it!
PretendFarmerGirl 1 month ago
@PretendFarmerGirl Thx. I'd heard of trenching, but never gave it much thought. It now has my attention ! ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
What I have always done with my tomato plants (being sort of a lazy gardener) is just dig a hole big enough for the roots and then sort of a shallow trench from that spot out and laid the plan down and covered the stem with dirt in the trench. Doesn't take long for the growing part on top to turn itself so it is growing up the way it should in stead of laying down.
anniequilts 1 month ago
@anniequilts Nothing wrong with being "lazy" as long it produces. Work smarter, so you don't have to work harder ! :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
I was just as suprised as you when i pulled my tomato plants in december. They looked very simular to yours. I had burried them about 10 inches and there was about 6 inches of stalk with just fussies.
itsjustdeb579 1 month ago
@itsjustdeb579 It pretty much unanimous...the roots develop top and bottom, but not in between. But why ? Hmmm.. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
@mhpgardener I think it has something to do with oxygen at the top of the soil level. But thats just a guess in the dark
itsjustdeb579 1 month ago
Great explanation Bobby. I look forward to seeing the results!
TheOntarioGardener 1 month ago
@TheOntarioGardener Thanks Jake....me tooooo !
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Informative and definitely something to think about. I actually noticed the same thing when I dug up my tomato plants this past season, though I didn't know why. Eager to see your results. Thanks brother!
Planogardener 1 month ago
@Planogardener It seems to be pretty consistent..root growth near the surface, and then at the root ball..but not much in between. Hoping to find out why.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Nice demonstration on tomato root growth. Never gave the whole thing too much thought. I do avoid the deep method because the ground is always so cold here in the spring and have done the trench method instead just because it seemed to make sense. Next fall I have to remember to yank a couple to see what the roots did. btw, your plants look wonderful!!! Just like your plants, I'm doing my best to grow towards the Light too... but think I may need the deep rooted method for myself… lol
dustyanderson1 1 month ago
@dustyanderson1 In cold soil, I'd trench them too. The surface will warm up much faster. I'm gonna do some of both outside this year. LOL...gotta plant yourself deep huh? :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
This is the most useful video i'v seen on youtube this year so far. Thanks!
madeofyucca 1 month ago
@madeofyucca Cool...thank you kindly. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Interesting topic. Looking forward to see the results. I was planning on trying Luke's method on a couple plants this spring. The idea of adding soil only as the plant grows up makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks for sharing your idea. After watching many of your videos, I believe you are a successful gardener because you are a thinking gardener. I always look forward to your videos and enjoy your ways of educating us on growing methods that you have learned.
apaulanarius 1 month ago
@apaulanarius I'm gonna try some other plants too. I'll just put a plastic bag around the base, rolled up kinda, then unroll it and fill it up as the plant grows. Probably use a grow bag, but I think any small plastic bag would work just as well. Thanks for the kind words. You're quite correct, I am always thinking. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Very cool, wonder how the trench roots will come out... Can't wait to see.
Savemyplant 1 month ago
@Savemyplant Yea, I'm curious too. It'll take a few months, but I hope to get an answer.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Hey My Friend,
It's been a while since we talked. Like you I have tried planting my Maters in everyway you mentioned and probably more over the past fifty years. Here is what I have discovered 'It doesn't seem to mater'. My success which as you know is good always seems to be be what I plant them into and what I feed them. Deep, shallow. or trench all will produce lots of fruit if the plant is happy.
Keep The Faith!
DwayneEParsons 1 month ago
@DwayneEParsons I think thats what it will boil down to. Its all about the soil, as opposed to the method. I just wonder about the root growth, and whether it really matters. Time will tell. Been planting 50 yrs huh? Wow....do you give lessons? I bet you could teach as all a thing or two. ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Bobby: continued: Now I have a hugh root mass to keep the plant going and new roots coming from the stem that kick in to add growth and make more fruit. When I pull my plants the upper roots from the stem are more than the lower roots and the upper roots will have grown each direction up to 2 feet from the plant. I fertilize and lime my row and till it in. I plant 1 week later. I place the roots in the row. I put 4" of compost on the plants and I never fertilize again and it takes less water.
navajopa31 1 month ago
@navajopa31 Sounds like you've got it pretty well figured out. What varieties do you grow? I'd love to see some pictures of your garden. I bet its quite impressive.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Bobby: The method of laying the roots on their sides is best. I have being doing this for over forty years. I dig my holes with a shovel. The lowest part of the roots is about 8 inches and the upper is about 4" below the soil. My root mass is about 9" long. I then have about 8" to 10" of stem in the soil up to a stake. I then tie the plant to the stake and water the root ball and cover all the plant under the soil. The nodes on my 60 day old plants are under the soil and will make roots.
navajopa31 1 month ago
Good video
sugerbear520 1 month ago
Thanks so much Bobby!
goosearrow 1 month ago
@goosearrow I'm still learning too ! ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Hey Bobby,you went to college,called Hard Knocks of Life U.I know God puts us in tough life situations sometimes,and it might not seem like it at the time.But it most of the time turns out well.Man,look at you now.Colossians3:23 See ya
TheSemperfidude 1 month ago
@TheSemperfidude You are correct. He has a plan, and we don't always see it until years after the fact. But everything happens for a reason. I agree.."And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men "
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Great vid! I've always planted my tomatoes deep, but last year I also hilled them up similar to planting potatoes. It seemed to work well as we had lots of top growth, even in the drought. This is to be another dry year. grrr But I'm going to try a few test plants to compare root growth!
HomesteadAcres 1 month ago
@HomesteadAcres Theres many ways to do it, depending on the location and soil. Deep or shallow, I think they both produce. It probably comes down to personal preference. Good luck ! :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Seek the light!
TheSonoman1976 1 month ago
@TheSonoman1976 Pretty good idea huh? ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Brilliant!
TheSonoman1976 1 month ago
Great video Bobby! I wonder if the plant will put some shoots out of the ground from around the stem area? Kind of like a main stem splitting in two.
ZachAttacksPHX 1 month ago
@ZachAttacksPHX It will try to make a sucker at that first node above ground. Since I'm growing these single-stem, I keep them pulled off.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
look at you getting all scientific :) I love it when we back up what we think with evidence not conjecture. you are gonna end up with a tv show you keep it up,.
very nice video brother God Bless and tks again
MarinePrepper 1 month ago
@MarinePrepper Haha.... tv? no way ! I think Donald (webcajun) would be perfect for TV....much more so than me. Thanks friend. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
This is very interesting because I noticed exactly the same thing when I was clearing my tomatoes out last October. I had decided to try the shallow trench idea because professional growers do it so I'll go ahead with that now and also do some in tubs like I was doing to see how our results compare.
Best Wishes, Brendan.
baconsoda 1 month ago
@baconsoda I threw away a bunch of plants last year cuz they were just too tall from me starting them too early. And I got tired of digging 2 foot deep holes. I never once considered a trench, and it would have really saved me a lot of time. I had a one track mind..deep, deep, and deeper. I just started some tomatoes, and if they get to be 3 foot tall before I can plant them....I ain't throwing them away ! :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Wow! you are always thinking! Did you go to an Agricultural college? Great vid! Thanks for posting, looking foward to the follow-up!
singmacabresongs 1 month ago
@singmacabresongs Ag College? Hmm...my studies began on Sept 19,1975..the day I was adopted. I was 8 yrs old, spent 10 yrs on a huge farm, sunup to sundown..often missing school...doing what I was told. Work, work, and then work, Left the farm when I graduated and thought I'd never look back. Well, you can take the boy outta the farm, but you can't take the farm outta the boy. I planted my first garden in '07..and now here I am ! Just as happy as a pea in a pod ! ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Great thoughts...especially about seeking the light!
scooter17568 1 month ago
@scooter17568 Light is MUCH better than dark. ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
These experiments and comments really help people out. Look forward to the results of the grow bag tests.
XhanaLabs 1 month ago
@XhanaLabs I agree. The comments have been very informative. Thats what its all about, the sharing of ideas. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Interesting!!! What about some good old root growth stimulus to put put on those roots? Hey maybe you can pull them and hydroponic them puppies up.
MrMunchiemo 1 month ago
@MrMunchiemo I do use the root hormone when I'm rooting suckers, but never thought about adding it to transplants. I reckon its something to think about.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
why are you so awesome?
jjoohhnnnnyybb 1 month ago
@jjoohhnnnnyybb hmmm...is that a trick question? LOL I'm just me...its all I can be.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
@mhpgardener not a trick question no. Just loved the vid. awesome.
jjoohhnnnnyybb 1 week ago
Definitely a side by side comparison with identical cultivars, growing conditions, waterings, feedings, etc would yield some definitive results. The more plants in each method the better the average results would be. Interested in what you find out. "Seeking the Light".....I LOVE IT! :)
BoondockFarms 1 month ago
@BoondockFarms I'm gonna try to make it as equal as possible, so that the results will be fair. Yes sir...is there any wonder that plants always grow to the light? ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
So glad I'm subbed to this channel. Always more than I ever anticipated. Loving the gardening related science projects. Thanks so much.
modoc42 1 month ago
@modoc42 Glad to have you on board. I enjoy those animal videos that you do quite a bit. You and your "friends"..just awesome. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
This was excellent! I too have always been told to plant the Tomato plant deep, and even on it's side and deep, but your findings here are definitely "study" worthy.
sly2kusa 1 month ago
@sly2kusa Thanks...its certainly "food for thought". :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Interesting. I wonder if a well aerated substrate would get you more roots, like maybe more perlite in a mix or something. I've had volunteer tomatoes I did nothing for but mulched and peed on that turned into monsters. Nobody comes along in the rain forest and plants wild tomatoes deeper. Have you ever tried an Earthbox? You can make your own, youtube earthtainers. If set up properly, your plants continuously get the perfect amount of moisture, aeration, and nutrients, giving explosive growth.
rubbernecker13 1 month ago
@rubbernecker13 The mix in the growbags is fairly loose, it really fills up with roots. LOL... peed on? I've heard of it, but have refrained thus far. I have never used the EB's, but I've seen some folks growing beautiful plants in them.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
@rubbernecker13 The guy out on TomatoFest has vidoes and a .PDF with contruction plans. I am going to make a few of them for my Mom so she can have some gardening fun too!
sly2kusa 1 month ago
the root are mainly going to grow at the leaf nodes that are placed below the soil.
ewetubesuxass 1 month ago
@ewetubesuxass I hope you're right. These were pretty tall and have several nodes below ground.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
I think you are onto something when you mention growing them like potatoes. I will definitely stay tuned for further updates : )
Planting81 1 month ago
@Planting81 I'm curious too. Hopefully some other folks will play around with this a bit, and we can all learn from it.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Would a thick mulch over the soil to help maintain moisture in the top of the soil put more nutrients available in a drought situation?
iamdoroda 1 month ago
@iamdoroda It would help retain moisture for sure. And depending on the composition of the mulch, it could certainly provide additional nutrients.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
maybe this was already asked, but I don't have time to read through all the comments...is there an above ground difference in the plant behavior on the ones you showed? as far as production, plant health, etc?
RookieGardner 1 month ago
@RookieGardner None that I can recall. I'm just trying to find out why theres a blank space on the stem underground.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Last summer the tomato plants pulled down the tomato cages, and where the vines touched the ground, they put down more roots. It makes me wonder... in propagating with cuttings, just how many plants can a single tomato plant turn into?! : )
Helioforge 1 month ago
@Helioforge A single indeterminate tomato could go on for a very long time like that. My guess is the number would be off the charts if someone really tried it.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Nice....We have always trenched our tomatoes, but I have not ever dug them up to see the root growth......But that was some good "Splaneing".......Take care....
mmlrc6atgmailcom 1 month ago
@mmlrc6atgmailcom I had no idea trenching was so popular. Looks like I was the last to know ! :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Seems like the roots grow where there are leaves, i mean intersections in the stem where leaves and suckers would normally grow. But not in between the branches, ya think?
GardenNewbie 1 month ago
@GardenNewbie You could be right. I aim to find out for sure. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Love a good experiment!! Cant wait to see what happens :)
saritasgarden 1 month ago
@saritasgarden Me too..and me too !
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Very interesting , good detective work :)
GospelTruth37059 1 month ago
@GospelTruth37059 Always looking and observing...trying to learn. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Very well thought out video!!! this is very interesting keep us posted!
Thesmalltowngardener 1 month ago
@Thesmalltowngardener Thanks Ronnie. I'll try to follow up on it later in the year.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
I still believe it is best to plant tomato plants deep to protect them from the drought. Also, do you remember how the plants performed? Did the deeply planted plants produce better during the hottest part of summer.
vintageozarks 1 month ago
@vintageozarks I thoroughly agree. If drought is a concern, get the roots as deep as possible. But as for additional root growth, deep or shallow....both seem to be equal. The plants that I set out last spring did ok, typical....and many of them were 18-24 inches deep. I think I started my seeds just a bit early...LOL By the time the heat set in, the septoria and blight were such a problem that I didn't have much summer production.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Interesting Bobby... (I confess, I didn't hit pause), but I did notice the void of roots in the stem. I'll look forward to seeing what transpires from the double bagging....
MelodeeRose 1 month ago
@MelodeeRose Ha...I knew you wouldn't stop ! ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
sounds like a nice experiment to me, although if the roots seem to grow within the two inch barrier of soil, sounds like the potato growing method would be a good choice, as for fruit production I've planted tomatoes at different depth before and still actually averaged the same amount of fruit production, but then I really didn't take notice , I just ate the tomatoes that grew, lol I look forward to your results, finally a possible end to the myth...take care
wmkk808 1 month ago
@wmkk808 There are just so many variables in gardening. What works one year doesn't always work the next year. Adaptability is a necessity. As long as it produces....all is well !
mhpgardener 1 month ago
you know what i tried with tomato plants? i planted them side ways and the ones that i did grew the best and the most prolific. pretty much a waste of space though. lol.
franzb69 1 month ago
@franzb69 I'm not wasting any space here. I have 33 plants in a 50 foot bed......LOL....do the math ! Once I saw how easy it was to get them planted, I made sure I got as many as possible in there ! :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
I hate to be tthe bearer of bad news...but I did the trench method last year.....and it did the same thing as your first two examples. There were long blank spaces with no roots then scraggy places with roots and the main mass was near the top. Good luck with yours.
22justus2 1 month ago
@22justus2 Grrr....So I'll get the same amount of roots huh? At least I didn't have to dig a hole 2 foot deep to get those things in the ground...whew. Sometimes my transplants get away from me...ok a lot of times....and trenching will at least allow me an easier time of planting. All things being equal...I'll be happy with that. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
@mhpgardener Well what happened to me was I couldn't resist an end of the season sale on some leggy tomatoes. I trenched them to keep them from breaking over in the wind. They were planted in new ground, which could have affected them. In the fall, I specifically pulled up every one of them to check the roots. They were ugly! I didn't especially care for the foliage growth on them either. I decided I would not trench anymore after that. Like I say, you may get entirely different results.
22justus2 1 month ago
@22justus2 Sounds like me, can't pass up a good deal. With all the talk about bacteria in the top few inches of soil, I'm really looking forward to the next few months. With plants in the trench, and some in growbags, it oughta be interesting.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
great info! You look like a football coach drawing plays on that white board :)
03DexterHauler 1 month ago
@03DexterHauler LOL... need more X's and O's huh? :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
My tomatoes this past summer did the exact same thing. For some reason, those two uppermost nodes get the dominance. It's true of the growing tips of plants too. It's called apical dominance. Hmmm...I'm going to do some more research. Good video!
22justus2 1 month ago
@22justus2 apical dominance? you can't be using those big words around here, LOL So at least theres a scientific name for this phenomena..cool ! ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
I like . .
shadowofjuniperhill 1 month ago
iLife your demonstration, it made it very clear. I like knowing why and this explains why tomatoes should be planted in a trench. This is what I have heard for ever and never knew why. Now, what about combining both to get a super duper root system, trench then a bucket over the plant with gradual addition of soil. Just thinking, lol
shadowofjuniperhill 1 month ago
@shadowofjuniperhill Hmmm...suppose I just positioned a growbag over a couple of the plants for now, then filled it up as they grew. We'd have the trench and the bucket..super duper...LOL
mhpgardener 1 month ago
So is your assumption that if your plant grows more roots your should be able to get more fruit from it? If so, I am not sure I understand were the correlation between the plants roots and the plants fruit output comes from.
bowlmeoverva 1 month ago
@bowlmeoverva I think it would help, but just how much I don't know. That was Lukes assumption that he stated in his video, something like 30-50% increase in production. I agree that more roots should equate to greater nutrient uptake and a healthier plant overall. But as for fruit output, I don't know what type of increase you'd really get. I'm gonna try this test, and see if the results are close to what he suggested.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
@bowlmeoverva its proven that larger roots allow the plant to be grown at optimal rates. more water and nutes available to the plants so a healthy plant should get larger and there fore produce more fruit compared to a plant that didnt have as many roots and didnt grow as optimal as the other plant...they have smart pots that air prune roots and allow new root growth
whyUspeakin 1 month ago
Its about that time of the year for me to get all my seedlings ready for the season !
WickedHazeSilver 1 month ago
@WickedHazeSilver Haha...lookee what the cat dragged in ! Good to hear from ya !
mhpgardener 1 month ago
@mhpgardener Haha! Yea this little girl has had ALL of my attention ! Shes 6 months already ! It was just ...yesterday I let everyone know a baby was on the way! Now that I am getting the hang of things shes gonna have to be my little shinning star on YouTube with all of us ! As always thanx for taking the time to put out these videos and please keep it up ! We enjoy them all !
WickedHazeSilver 1 month ago
In the book I read on roots the most bacteria are at the top of the 2 inches of the soil. This is why you plant your Tomato plant sideways. not straight down. Chuck out Praxus, he uses 1 plant and lets suckers grow out then let the suckers root about ever 2 feet. I suggest planting sideways. Also consider Aquaponics it gives oxygen to all the roots from top to bottom.
marthale7 1 month ago
@marthale7 Ok watched more video I see you are doing it sideways. Again check out aquaponics it addresses the root problem.
marthale7 1 month ago
@marthale7 Ok...so you're saying the bacteria are NOT down deeper. Hmmm. Interesting. I've seen Ray's 20 foot wide tomato. Thats fine out in the yard, but that aint gonna happen in a typical garden. Its just too invasive. I'm looking into aqua....gonna be a few more months.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
@mhpgardener Yep got the book "Roots Demystified" by Rober Kourik Look at these numbers Bacteria (1-3) inches 9750, (8-10) inches 2175, (25-30) inches 11. The same is true of Actinomycetes, Fungi, and Algae per this book page 15. The plants excrete sugar from the roots to feed the bacteria that digest the food in the soil to feed the plant. More bacteria, healthier roots.
marthale7 1 month ago
@marthale7 I don't have that book. Sounds interesting though. Does it say anything in regard to root growth along the tomato stem? I'd like to see something definitive.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
thanks so much
gonny417 1 month ago
where do you live
gonny417 1 month ago
@gonny417 Southern VA, close to the NC line.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
thanks i need all the help i can get as far as tomatos
gonny417 1 month ago
@gonny417 Apparently so do I ...LOL :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Great experiment! Interesting to see what happens. I am just glad I get tomatoes. LOL Was meaning to ask if you have tried the Zamzow's Tomato Maker yet? The mad scientist at work. Muuuuuh ha ha.
loislaney23 1 month ago
@loislaney23 I have 2 Big Beefs that I used Zamzow on. They are looking just as good as the other plants. I noticed the writing on the bags today and stepped back to see if there was a difference. They look just fine. Mad scientist? Me? Shhhhhh ! ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
I would like to toss my two cents into the ring. I promote a deep planting method but at a gradual rate as it grows. I combine it with a deep water/dry cycling. This keeps the top of the soil drier which inhibits early blight while keeping the deeper soil moist & encouraging proven deep root growth & extreme drought resistance. BUT, I also agree that trench method is great if you have the time to keep the plant watered often due to the shallower root pattern. Many great methods are out there. :)
Praxxus55712 1 month ago 4
@Praxxus55712 I agree on the gradual part, in regards to the transition from seedling to transplant. Once its in the ground..gradual is over. Unless you enclose the stem in some manner and follow up the growth of the plant. Very true, shallow roots will dry out faster, and need more water. I'm using a soaker hose on this row in the greenhouse. We'll see how it goes. In the end though, its all a matter of preference...and confidence.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
I never tried the trench method. What I have read is, roots develop along the buried stem, like you said, also, the roots a closer to the top of the soil, where the soil is warmer. Which gets your plants off to a faster start. When you bury them deep, the soil is not a warm. I can believe that. It seems that when I firsrt plant my tomatoes, they don't grow all that much, at first, then after 3 weeks to a month they take off.
It's all about learning about and discovering new method to gardening.
scottmanb2005 1 month ago
@scottmanb2005 That makes sense about cold soil down deep, especially in early spring. But in the buckets and growbags in the GH, soil temps should be fairly consistent. So if roots were gonna develop, they'd have equal opportunity. Thats whats so cool about gardening...so many ways to do it, and still be productive.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Nice job. I've seen people take a potted tomato plant and instead of planting it deep they dug a trench and layed the plant down leaving the last few inches popping up through the soil. That way you might have over a foot of stem in the top two inches of soil. Now that root system would be interesting to see. I'm going to try it next summer.
djs6576 1 month ago
@djs6576 Thx, its certainly worth a try. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
For my roots - Width is stability and depth is Income.
MrSchpankme 1 month ago
@MrSchpankme I planted some last spring about 24 inches deep. It was very dry for quite some time. Even without me watering, the plants still produced ok. In that sense, you're quite right about depth being income. ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
I've seen similar observation of root systems when planting a sucker or a cutting from a tomato plant to make a new plant, planting the majority of the stem deep in the ground. I would only get roots up towards the top with very few further down. I planted a transplant one time just a few inches deeper than it's original soil line. I let it grow all summer her in Florida. It measured 13ft and when I pulled it up it's root system had grown clear across the bed 2 in deep, not down. Great info!
Whadsupgator1 1 month ago
@Whadsupgator1 Wow, now thats a root system I would like to see. Theres a lot about this process that I don't understand, so I'm trying to find out first hand what the deal is. Hands on experience is a good teacher.
mhpgardener 1 month ago
I have to agree with you on this one because I've planted them both ways and my best results were the trench planting. In 09' I used the trench method and I gave away about 8 bushels of tomatoes. When I planted them 18 inches deep the plant was too busy trying to reestablish the roots in the warmer soil and I got hardly any tomatoes. Great video and I think I'll listen twice, lol. Thanks
2Bibleppl 1 month ago
@2Bibleppl I'll be doing a lot more drip irrigation and soaker hoses this year, so planting in a trench might work out quite well. It's certainly an easier way to plant. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
@mhpgardener
Agreed, take care.
2Bibleppl 1 month ago
great experiment!
road2health 1 month ago
@road2health Should be interesting. ;-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Very interesting. Thank you.
johnatncsu 1 month ago
@johnatncsu I'm just trying to learn from what I see. College was never an option. :-)
mhpgardener 1 month ago
Informative and innovative idea! Will have to try treating Tomatoe plant like a Potatoe plant. Seems as though the increased root growth, would spell more nutrition uptake into the plant, to produce even more fruit. Scratching head, wondering how many other plants this would also benefit in production output. As always great video Bobby.
KingRyltar 1 month ago
@KingRyltar my video states this exact thing, more roots = more nutrient uptake = healthier plant = more fruit production.
MIgardener 1 month ago
I found the same thing Bobby that your talking about. Last year I planted a 36 inch plant in a trench.. Month later I doug it up. The only roots was at the top of the surface just like you showed. And I planted more than 20 inches in a trench. 15 inch rotted off or something it was gone. THANKS Buddy I like this 1..
Teddybearcop48 1 month ago
@Teddybearcop48 It never hurts to try, especially if its something that you're not sure of. I always say this..whats the worst that could happen? The plant dies... no problem. Grow another one !
mhpgardener 1 month ago