How I plant Tomatoes

My favorite way to spend Mother’s Day is planting tomatoes. With fish scraps and egg shells collected and stored in the freezer, these secret ingredients are ready to add when planting my tomatoes. If you follow me on Instagram, you already saw the fish head yesterday. Yuck!

The fish scraps came from the grocery store when I bought an entire tuna and asked them for the scraps in a separate package. Remember that if you’re paying for the whole fish, the fish scraps are yours so you may as well put them to good use. Fish broth is an option but planting fish scraps and egg shells in the garden to get tasty tomatoes is even better! You can also ask the seafood department for fish scraps. Most are happy to share.

How I plant Tomatoes

I usually wait until Mother’s Day because stores have plenty of plants to choose from and there’s no threat of frost in the weather. My plants don’t get covered with a tarp or babied. It’s all business in my garden – and I’m too lazy.

Dig a hole about 18″ to 24″ (2 feet) deep. (The depth of your hole depends on how tall your starts are to begin with. Taller starts need deeper holes than smaller/shorter starts.)

In bottom of hole, place cut up fish and egg shells. Here are more uses for egg shells in garden.

Remove tomato plant from starter container.

Loosen any bound roots. You can use your fingers or a fork to do this.

Remove lower branches of tomato plants. Make sure to get a clean-cut – use scissors if you must.

Place plants in hole so that all branches of tomato plant are above ground.

Add dirt around tomato plant and press down firmly around base of plant.

That’s it! Water with fish emulsion (an organic fertilizer) and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Don’t let your backyard chickens help. They’ll eat your little tomato plants – even if they promise not to.

Here’s what those little plants grew into last year…

They eventually tipped over completely! This year, I’m trying out a new way of staking my tomatoes….I’ll keep you posted whether it worked or not. Until then – Happy Mother’s Day to all those mothers out there and especially mine! I hope you’re spending the day how you’d like.

 What’s your secret tomato planting strategy? How do you like to spend Mother’s Day?

Go Gingham related links:

How to stake tomato plants – a very stylishly frugal method!
Three easy herbs to grow – you won’t be able to kill these, I promise!
How to build a raised vegetable bed
Growing vegetables in small spaces – I call it “sky gardening”
Composting tips – add richness to your soil with scraps from the kitchen
5 spots to start a garden – even in small yards like mine