How to Plant Tomatoes & Brussels Sprouts

Tomato seedlings quickly produce fruit.

Growing tomatoes and Brussels sprouts in a garden is a simple task, even for a beginning gardener. Both species are hardy enough that they survive even with minimal care. Plant Brussels sprouts during the cool spring months because they aren't as heat tolerant as tomatoes. While tomatoes can be planted during the early spring, they don't usually flourish until the weather warms in midsummer. While both species from can be started from seeds, both plants are easier to grow from transplanted seedlings.

Things You'll Need

• Garden trowel
• Paper bag
• All-purpose fertilizer
• Compost
• Garden tiller
• Rake
• String
• Brussels sprouts seedlings
• Garden stakes
• Garden hoe
• Watering can
• Tomato seedlings

Instructions

Preparing the Garden for Both Species

1. Take soil samples from four or five spots in the garden, using a garden trowel. Place the samples in a paper bag and take them to a local university extension office. The soil test will reveal how much fertilizer is needed for the garden soil.

2. Add an all-purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer, compost or both to the soil per recommendations of the soil test. Work the fertilizer into the ground to a depth of approximately 8 inches.

3. Till the ground a second time when the overturned soil has had a chance to dry and clumps easily break up into dust.

4. Smooth the surface of the garden with a rake, but don't compact the soil.

5. Tie a string to two stakes. Put one stake at the end of the first row and the second stake at the other end. Use the string as a marker to keep the rows of Brussels sprouts and tomatoes straight. As you finish one row, move the stakes and string the distance needed to make a pass with a garden tiller. This planning makes it easier to keep the garden weeded later in the growing season.

Planting Brussesls Sprouts

1. Dig holes 4 inches deep spaced 18 inches apart along a string line, using a garden hoe. Make the holes deep enough to cover the root ball of each of the Brussels sprout plants.

2. Set a seedling in each hole. Press soil firmly around the base of the plant to hold it in place.

3. Water around each plant, using a sprinkler can, to a depth of 3 or 4 inches below each root ball and approximately 10 to 12 inches around the plant.

Planting Tomatoes

1. Set seedlings in a protected outdoor area during the day for seven to 10 days before planting. This process hardens the plants to changing outdoor temperatures. Gradually move the plants from shade to sun as part of this process.

2. Dig holes approximately 6 inches deep along a string line. If the plants are tall, dig the holes slightly deeper. Space the holes far enough apart to allow for approximately two-thirds of the tomato plant's mature height. For example, space a tomato plant that you expect to be 3 feet tall approximately 2 feet from neighboring plants. This spacing provides room to stake or cage the tomatoes as they mature.

3. Place one seedling in each hole. Press dirt firmly around the tomato to hold it upright.

4. Water around each plant, using a sprinkler can, to a depth of 5 to 6 inches below each root ball and approximately 12 to 15 inches around the plant.

Tips & Warnings

• If the garden area has good drainage and loose soil, fertilizer may be all that's needed and worked into the soil before planting Brussels sprouts or tomatoes. Minimum tillage means less work for you, but it also retains more nutrients in the soil.

References

• VegetableGardeningOnline.com: Growing Brussel Sprouts, How to Grow Brussel Sprouts, Planting Brussel Sprouts
• TomatoGardeningGuru.com: Planting Tomatoes