The roots will grow from a buried stem and more roots are a good thing for a plant. This is especially true for plants in the ground. Also, I raise mine from seed and usually they are a little tall and spindly so they really need the extra support from planting deep.

Probably your lack of success comes more from the small pot size. Get one at least 5 gallons but bigger is better. Good luck.

I would plant them to just above the bottom leaves. Definitely get the bigger pots as they like room.

Make sure you take the lower leaves off the plant or they can cause a rot.. sally

Normally plants are planted to the depth of the crown, or where the roots meet the stem. With tomatoes you can plant them as deep as you want as the entire stem will produce roots from the tiny hairs on the stem. In many areas they lay the plant on it's side and bury the entire thing except the top leaves and allow them to grow from there. The more roots the better the plants success. :o)

TIA, cut the lower leaves off, like Sally said, and bury 75% of the plant. Just make sure the leaves left don't touch the soil if they get wet.

What do you mean about the pots being too small? I regularly use 3.5 gallon and 5 gallon containers with great success, primarily so I don't have to make a lot of soil. The trick is to keep the soil mix cool and allow it to dry thoroughly between waterings. It will be necessary to use larger containers if you can't shield them from the sun in some manner, more problematic in the spring than in the fall. And, you must have a well draining potting mix....

Tom

you can't plant a tomato too deep, unless you bury the whole plant. lol.

I don't bury my tomatoes deep but I do lay them down in a trench and bury almost the entire stem, gently curving the top of the plant up so just the tip of the plant, so the last 2-3 sets of leaves is exposed. If you do that be careful as the stem can snap if you are not careful.

"primarily so I don't have to make a lot of soil. The trick is to keep the soil mix cool and allow it to dry thoroughly between waterings. It will be necessary to use larger containers if you can't shield them from the sun in some manner, more problematic in the spring than in the fall. And, you must have a well draining potting mix.... "

Thanks all for the info. This is exactly what I needed. Tom, I was planning on using a mixture of potting soil and compost. Would that be good? Or should I also mix the stuff I used for seedlings as well? I would think that soil/compost isn't well draining!

...I was planning on using a mixture of potting soil and compost. Would that be good?

Oh boy, you're opening up a can of worms with this one...lots of varying opinions. Personally, I don't like compost in containers because it can heat up too much if not aged enough and does retain too much water for me as it decays, but bear in mind I'm using the absolute minimal amount of soil volume. I use the pot-in-pot model so my containers don't get too much sun and stay cool, and Al's mix for a fast draining and inexpensive soil media. Don't forget the difference in Zones and microclimates, mine is relatively hot and humid since I'm right off Tampa Bay... I'm sure others will come along and share their experiences with different things.

Tom

I have tried compost in pots and the plants did OK, but the plants in a lighter mix seemed to do better. I agree with Tom that the pots with compost seemed a little too wet. If you want to use compost in your mix I would say you should make sure to include lots of fast draining materials to balance it out.

Julia, sorry I didn't post a link to Al's mix, the response above was hastily compiled from work.... Here's Al's Mix, study the theory and you'll do well.

Tom