How Far Apart Should Tomato Plants Be? A Detailed Guide to Planting Distance
Tomatoes are a vegetable much loved by people, and many rural households grow tomatoes, and they are even planted on their own balconies. So how far apart should one tomato plant be from another?
1. How far apart should one tomato plant be from another?
The planting density is 2000 to 2700 plants per mu. The planting specification is two rows per bed, with a plant spacing of 25 to 40 cm and a row spacing of 40 to 50 cm. For double-stem pruning, fertile plots of land, and vigorously growing varieties, planting can be appropriately sparser, with a plant spacing of 30 to 40 cm; for single-stem pruning, planting can be appropriately denser, with a plant spacing of 25 to 30 cm. In addition, winter and spring planting should be sparser, while autumn planting should be denser; fertile land can be planted sparser, while poor land should be planted denser.
2. Planting Techniques
Disease-free, robust seedlings should be selected for planting. The standard for robust seedlings is: free of pests and diseases, a well-developed root system, a large number of white lateral roots, a thick and sturdy stem, short internodes, a seedling height of 20 to 25 cm, 5 to 6 true leaves, a darker and glossy leaf color, thick and spreading leaves, and moderate spread.
Planting should preferably be done on a windless sunny afternoon or evening, and for spring planting it is best to plant at the “cold tail and warm head” just after a cold spell has passed. Before planting, first dig planting holes on the bed surface at a certain plant spacing. Planting should not be too deep, and the cotyledons should be exposed above the soil surface. After planting, water thoroughly with enough water to settle the roots immediately. If the planting period is delayed and the seedlings are old with long stems, the seedlings can be planted lying at an angle, with the top of the seedling exposed 16 to 20 cm above the bed surface and the lower stem covered with soil, keeping the soil moist to induce the growth of adventitious roots and rejuvenate the seedlings.
If tomatoes are planted on a balcony, it is best to plant only one plant per flower pot, and the diameter of the flower pot must reach 15 cm, otherwise it will be difficult to keep the tomato plant upright.