Tomatoes 2025

[Decoy1]

In my case @Decoy1 I'm not really after vigor so much as I am speed, especially in years like this where we had such cold temperatures until June. Growing outdoors, if I have any set backs like an early fall or a late start to summer (and heaven forbid if those two happen in the same year) I want the plants to get moving toward making tomatoes asap. I'm one of those tomato growers too that ripens all on the vine, never off. That said though, given my 'lazy' cages where I do no work on the plants, if more vigor equals more tomatoes I'm open to that as well.

Understood. Just to pursue this to the bitter end (!), have you observed that planting deeper, in whatever way, encourages speed? Is there an argument for thinking that the plant might put its energies into forming new roots rather than producing flowers and fruit? On the assumption that a trigger for fruit production is reproductive stress, then making the plant too comfortable and secure might work against fruit production?

The above is just a tentative thought. But I know that my spares, often just overlooked in a tiny pot, produce small fruit quite early.

 

[R2elk]

have you observed that planting deeper, in whatever way, encourages speed?

My experience is that tomato roots go no deeper than 8". The deeper the hole the cooler the surrounding soil temperature causing a slowing of growth while they grow new roots higher up in the warmer soil areas.

Planting before the soil temperature is 60°F also slows growth.