Laying plants on their side?

DutchOverflow · November 9, 2016

I've seen and heard of laying your tomato plants on their side and growing them up and was wondering if this is to shorten the height or if it helps produce more fruit? I tried searching for it here but cant seem to locate a thread on this and I know its out there, can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance

Cole_Robbie · November 9, 2016

It helps leggy seedlings not get broken by the wind. It also can make the plant grow more roots, which does help with yield.

Gardeneer · November 9, 2016

From what I know it is done when you have over grown lanky seedling that are too tall and skinny. I, myself, if have tall seedlings Up to 12-14 inches, just plant them deeper vertically. Most of my tomatoes grown in ground would have to root balls, one the original and the other near the surface. So I don't see an advantage to planting side way (also called trenching )

AlittleSalt · November 9, 2016

I agree with planting leggy tomato plants this way. The first time I grew tomatoes from seed, I let a few of them get almost 2 foot tall while still in solo cups. I planted them sideways and they grew and produced just fine.

oakley · November 10, 2016

Google 'trenching tomatoes', or 'planting tomatoes deep' or any other key wording and also use the 'image' search. Many discussions and reasons...waiting for good weather to plant, cold soil deep. etc. Waiting tomato seedlings can get tall and leggy, ... the stems will produce more roots all along the stem planted deep up to the top 3 inches.

In a northern climate, planting deep straight down will hit very cold soil so trenching or a modified trench at an angle will grow in warmer soil. Lots of methods depending on your garden and soil temp when planting out.

If i dig straight down 18 inches i may hit a rocky clay planting hole that will be very cold and even worse a hole that will gather spring rain storms and not drain properly...rotting any root mass with wet feet. I do not trench shallow like some do, but with a raised bed system i plant an angled trench into the center of the bed.

Over the years of planting, successes/failures, and experience, we all have methods that work for our climate and soil. Not many plant and trellis like i do but it has worked for me. Try a few methods using those folk in your area/climate with experience, and find a method that works for you.

I have full sun and high winds often. Lots of storms and weather shifts in the early Spring from hot to very cold again...

MissS · November 10, 2016

I "trench" plant all of my tomatoes now after trying the deep planting method and just planting the root ball as normal. The trenching gives my plants a much larger root mass, which I believe gives me a stronger plant. The deep method does not give the plants more roots and those deep roots stay cooler which seems to lessen my fruit production. It seems that those planted deeply have to spend more time developing a root mass closer to the surface in order to please them. The normally planted plants are fine, but I still like the larger root mass.

DutchOverflow · November 10, 2016

thanks for all the replies I don't think this method would work well in Texas haha to hot near the top of the soil level.

Worth1 · November 10, 2016

They all work fine in Texas most of my plants have shallow roots anyway.
Most plants dont get nutrients from deep roots they get them from shallow roots close to the surface.
If a person is going to plant deep they need to make sure the soil temperature is warm enough or they will just sit there and shiver.
You cant compare plants in a container with plants in the ground.

**carolyn137** · November 10, 2016

Please see this thread which is also in General Discussion right now,with much more in formation,and inputs from others,including myself, of why and when and how to set out plants horizontally.

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=43056

Carolyn

Gerardo · November 10, 2016

This topic has been discussed a couple of times.

Here's a few more:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=36662
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=14918

I started doing it in my containers as per Marvin Meissner's "Growing Giant Tomatoes", they do produce bigger rootballs and are healthier plants.

November 9, 2016	#1
DutchOverflow Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Texas Posts: 35	Laying plants on their side? I've seen and heard of laying your tomato plants on their side and growing them up and was wondering if this is to shorten the height or if it helps produce more fruit? I tried searching for it here but cant seem to locate a thread on this and I know its out there, can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance

November 9, 2016	#3
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	From what I know it is done when you have over grown lanky seedling that are too tall and skinny. I, myself, if have tall seedlings Up to 12-14 inches, just plant them deeper vertically. Most of my tomatoes grown in ground would have to root balls, one the original and the other near the surface. So I don't see an advantage to planting side way (also called trenching ) __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

November 10, 2016	#6
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	I "trench" plant all of my tomatoes now after trying the deep planting method and just planting the root ball as normal. The trenching gives my plants a much larger root mass, which I believe gives me a stronger plant. The deep method does not give the plants more roots and those deep roots stay cooler which seems to lessen my fruit production. It seems that those planted deeply have to spend more time developing a root mass closer to the surface in order to please them. The normally planted plants are fine, but I still like the larger root mass. __________________ ~ Patti ~

November 10, 2016	#9
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Please see this thread which is also in General Discussion right now,with much more in formation,and inputs from others,including myself, of why and when and how to set out plants horizontally. http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=43056 Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

November 9, 2016	#2
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	It helps leggy seedlings not get broken by the wind. It also can make the plant grow more roots, which does help with yield.

November 9, 2016	#4
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I agree with planting leggy tomato plants this way. The first time I grew tomatoes from seed, I let a few of them get almost 2 foot tall while still in solo cups. I planted them sideways and they grew and produced just fine.

November 10, 2016	#5
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	Google 'trenching tomatoes', or 'planting tomatoes deep' or any other key wording and also use the 'image' search. Many discussions and reasons...waiting for good weather to plant, cold soil deep. etc. Waiting tomato seedlings can get tall and leggy, ... the stems will produce more roots all along the stem planted deep up to the top 3 inches. In a northern climate, planting deep straight down will hit very cold soil so trenching or a modified trench at an angle will grow in warmer soil. Lots of methods depending on your garden and soil temp when planting out. If i dig straight down 18 inches i may hit a rocky clay planting hole that will be very cold and even worse a hole that will gather spring rain storms and not drain properly...rotting any root mass with wet feet. I do not trench shallow like some do, but with a raised bed system i plant an angled trench into the center of the bed. Over the years of planting, successes/failures, and experience, we all have methods that work for our climate and soil. Not many plant and trellis like i do but it has worked for me. Try a few methods using those folk in your area/climate with experience, and find a method that works for you. I have full sun and high winds often. Lots of storms and weather shifts in the early Spring from hot to very cold again...

November 10, 2016	#8
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	They all work fine in Texas most of my plants have shallow roots anyway. Most plants dont get nutrients from deep roots they get them from shallow roots close to the surface. If a person is going to plant deep they need to make sure the soil temperature is warm enough or they will just sit there and shiver. You cant compare plants in a container with plants in the ground.

November 10, 2016	#10
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,598	This topic has been discussed a couple of times. Here's a few more: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=36662 http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=14918 I started doing it in my containers as per Marvin Meissner's "Growing Giant Tomatoes", they do produce bigger rootballs and are healthier plants.