Transplanting Tomato and Hot Pepper Plants.

Handle the roots gingerly and place into hole about 1" above the established root line so that more of the plant is underground than when in pots. Tomatoes and peppers will grow additional roots from the stem that is now underground. This will "anchor" the plant better and it will grow stockier. Immediately water the plants well at the soil level. It's best to do your transplants at early evening so that they are not immediately in full sunlight. Watch the transplants closely the first week. If the weather is real hot they'll need more water. If plants start to wilt slightly water them right away. Occasionally I've had to partially shade them if the weather was real hot with a temporary cardboard shelter.

"Thriving Plants" --------------- Being a 100% organic operation I prefer to give my plants a watering with fish emulsion every 2 weeks. On the alternate weeks I'll spray them with 2 tbs. of epsom salt per quart of water top give them a magnesium shot-in-the-arm. But any commercial type of plant food will work if you are not an organic gardener. I also prefer mulch to keep the soil moist. My preference is grass clippings. I apply it around the stem about 2 weeks after transplanting. You can actually make your garden maintenance free by picking up grass clippings throughout the neighborhood and spreading a 6" layer of mulch into the whole garden. If you're organic just check with the homeowner to see if he uses chemicals. Actually I seek out imperfect lawns with some weeds to be safe.

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