Spinoff on plastic or peat pots

[SFM in KY]

I got several tomato plants (in peat pots) that were ready for transplant but I don't trust the weather yet so transplanted them into 1 gallon milk jugs with the top cut off.

Almost ready to transplant into garden and have a question. Should I remove the entire plastic jug when transplanting or can I just cut the bottom off, leaving a plastic 'ring" around the middle when I transplant it into the garden?

[Callieslamb]

I'd remove it all. If there is any of the peat pot left, make sure it is all buried or it will act lime a wick and dry out the soil around the roots. I usually just tear it lift to below soil level if there is anything left of it.

[SFM in KY]

Originally Posted by Callieslamb

I'd remove it all. If there is any of the peat pot left, make sure it is all buried or it will act lime a wick and dry out the soil around the roots. I usually just tear it lift to below soil level if there is anything left of it.

Original peat pot is well below the soil level. Just going to need to deal with the plastic for this transplant.

[geo in mi]

I would cut it off and then lay the stem as horizontal as possible and then cover the stem, too. That way you will get extra rooting all along the stem, for moisture and nutrient pickup.

geo

[grannygardner]

What geo in mi said.

[Paquebot]

Cut jug bottom off and plant whole works just as you have it. If jug is not full to the top, fill in with loose mulch. That will prevent soil from splashing up onto the stem and leaves.

Martin

[Belfrybat]

I'm with Martin on this one. The sides of the jug will act as a barrier against cut worms as well. I have several tomatoes that were planted in tin cans with the bottom cut out -- just planted can and all leaving an inch or so above soil level. Works just fine.

[derm]

Tomatoes are shallow rooted plants. If you leave the ring around it you will not get the full amount of growth possible.

[Paquebot]

Originally Posted by derm

Tomatoes are shallow rooted plants. If you leave the ring around it you will not get the full amount of growth possible.

Tomatoes are deep-rooted plants typically extending down to 4' or more. Much of the early lateral root system begins at about 6" deep and extends outward for several feet before turning straight down an additional 3' to 4'.

Martin

[Belfrybat]

Originally Posted by derm

Tomatoes are shallow rooted plants. If you leave the ring around it you will not get the full amount of growth possible.

Sorry, but you are wrong about that one. I plant tomato plants as deep as possible and almost always have a ring of some kind around them. Both for early frost protection and for cutworms. They send their roots deep enough to spread out under the ring. It's not unusual for me to dig the roots in the fall and find them 2' deep.

[Paquebot]

Under favorable conditions, a tomato plant may have a taproot almost 2' long in 21 days. Growth rate would be an inch per day. If that is damaged, then some lateral roots develop another similar root. Those are of prime importance for bringing up water.

Martin

[ronbre]

a lot of people make the mistake of planting their plants that are grown in peat pots in the pots, rather than tearing the pots away and throwing the pots in the compost or mulch..if a piece of the pot remains and sticks out of the soil it will wick away moisture and can kill your transplants..best to not leave them on at all.

peat has no nutrients to speak of..

[lonelyfarmgirl]

I am on the cutworm wagon. I always put rings around my broccolis and such. Seems a ring around the tomato might help also. Just make sure you pull it up in the fall.