Hey garden friends! 
It’s officially warm enough, and that means one thing—tomato season is here, and I’m so excited to get planting! In this post, I’m walking you through the first big day of planting tomatoes in my garden this year, sharing tips, and varieties.
Timing the Planting: When to Start Tomatoes
While I usually wait until nighttime temperatures hit around 8°C, I decided to get a head start this year by prepping the beds thoroughly and planning to use greenhouse plastic on the colder nights (it’s dipping to 5°C next week). This way, I can protect the plants while still making progress.
Garden Prep: Compost, Fertilizer & Amendments
We kicked things off by adding fresh compost from my garden bin—my secret weapon for rich, thriving soil. Then, I mixed in:
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A general all-purpose tomato and veggie fertilizer
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Crushed oyster shells for extra calcium, I usually use Gaia Green Organics Oyster Shell Flour (great for preventing blossom-end rot)
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And my trusty grow oyas—clay vessels that keep the soil moist and encourage deep root growth.
Tomato Varieties I’m Planting This Year
This bed is all about the beefsteak-style tomatoes—big, juicy, flavorful fruits. Here’s what went into the soil:
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Orange Oxheart (a returning favorite from last year
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Bobcat Hybrid
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White Queen (a lovely low-acid, pale yellow variety)
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Margarita
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Red Pear
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Orange Russian
I’m also being very good this year and labeling everything—no more “mystery tomato” surprises at harvest! 
Companion Planting: Basil, Marigolds & More
I planted:
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Marigolds (a great pest deterrent!)
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Basil seeds (hello, caprese salads!)
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Nasturtiums and beans—both excellent companions. Beans are especially great since they naturally fix nitrogen in the soil.
Deep Planting Technique
Pro tip: I planted each tomato deep, burying much of the stem so the fuzzy hairs along it can root and create a stronger, more resilient plant. This trick is especially helpful for leggy seedlings.
From Cold Nights to Hot Days
Despite a chilly forecast for some upcoming nights, it was actually super hot today—upper 20s! Some of my leafy greens like radishes and mizuna were wilting, so it’s definitely time to lean into warm-weather crops. Bring on summer! 
Final Thoughts
That’s it for today’s planting session! I’m so happy to finally get these gorgeous tomatoes into the ground, and I can’t wait to see how they grow. Make sure to subscribe on YouTube and follow along this season—I’ll be sharing updates, harvests, and more gardening goodness soon!
I love all the amazing seeds that I have been getting from West coast seeds, a great Canadian owed company that has the cutest packaging and some of the best tomato and basil varieties that I have seen out there! Make sure you check them out and use my link!
CLICK HERE TO GET SOME WEST COAST SEEDS
I hope you are as excited as I am to get out there and plant some of these gorgeous veggies for yourself!
Thanks so much for reading and happy planting!
