Transplant Depth Influences Tomato Yield and Maturity

Agriset', 'All Star', and 'Colonial' tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) transplants set to a depth of the first true leaf and 'Cobia' transplants set to a depth of the cotyledon leaves yielded more fruit at first harvest than plants set to the top of the rootball (root-shoot interface). The increase in fruit count was predominantly in the extra-large category. More red fruit at first harvest suggested that deeper planting hastens tomato maturity. The impact of planting depth diminished with successive harvests, indicating the response to be primarily a first-harvest phenomenon in tomato.