March is Mater Time! Tomatoes, That Is
March is the time to plant tomatoes outdoors because the threat of freeze is generally over by mid-March. Some choose to plant in February or early March, but be prepared to cover them when a freeze is forecast.
Preparation and Planting
Like most vegetables, tomatoes like a rich, well-drained soil in a location that gets a full day of sun. To prepare your soil follow these basics:- If you have clay or poor soil, create a raised bed from untreated lumber or edging bricks and filling with a quality soil amended with compost.
- If you have prepared beds, amend by adding a good balanced fertilizer and two inches compost and then mixing both into existing soil.
- Dig a hole for each plant. The trick here is to plant the tomato deeply. Tomato plants can create roots all along the stems and a good root system will give you a healthier plant and more tomatoes! So remove the leaves from the bottom third of the plant and dig the hole deep enough to cover the bottom third.
- Sprinkle a little cotton seed meal and Epsom salt in the bottom of the hole to get them off to a great start.
- Insert plant, back fill the hole and pat soil firmly around plant.
- Water in and add a water soluble fertilizer at ½ strength.
- Mulch with a natural mulch such as hay, pine needles, or crushed leaves.
- If planting more than one, plant two feet apart.
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