You’ve Been Planting Your Tomatoes All Wrong (This Hack Will Strengthen Your Crop!)

Of all the vegetables I grow in my garden, tomatoes remain a favorite year after year. Not only are they relatively easy to grow (you have to try pretty hard to kill them, honestly), but they undoubtedly also get the most appreciation in our household. My toddlers eat them straight off the vine, and I work them into salads, sauces, and pasta dishes — I’ve even tried my hand at dehydrating them to use throughout the winter. 

Over the years, I’ve pretty much perfected my tomato growing strategy by learning which varietals are easiest to grow and narrowing in on the spot in my lawn where they seem to thrive the best. That said, there’s been one hack that’s stood out from all the rest — it results in the strongest (and most fruitful) tomato plants ever. 

If there’s a single cardinal rule you follow when growing tomato plants, it’s this: Your plant will only be as strong as its stems. A floppy support system means more than just an unsightly plant; it can foster disease, cause fruit to drop prematurely, or even lead to an early death for your plant. Aside from staking and supporting your tomato plants with cages or twine, there’s one more method you can utilize to foster a strong foundation for your tomato plant. 

You’ll notice that the stems of tomato plants, particularly immature plants, have a lot going on — and that’s by nature’s design. There’s a fuzzy coating, known as trichomes, that protects the plant from outside elements and helps it respond to its environment, as well as bumps or nodules known as parenchyma cells, where the real magic happens. These cells can be utilized by the plant in many ways, like storing nutrients and water, being used for photosynthesis, and even growing roots. 

Here’s where the strategy comes into play. Before you plant your tomato plants or seedlings, pluck off all but the top two to four sets of leaves, leaving a lot of bare stem you can plant deep into the soil. Tomato plants perform their best with a strong, intricate root system, and burying the stem deep into the soil — even if the seedling has already grown several inches in its starter pot — can help cultivate that system.

By doing this, those parenchyma cells will develop into an even stronger root system for the plant and essentially create an underground scaffolding that will encourage thick stem growth and even more fruiting. Trust me — you’ll be shocked at the difference this makes for your harvest this summer!