The best way to plant tomato seedlings for a healthier plant and a bigger harvest

If your tomato plants have struggled to thrive and produce a decent harvest it could be because you're planting them the wrong way.

With spring here and tomato seeds being sown, now is a good time to look back on how your tomatoes went last year before you get those seedlings in the ground.

A gardener has shared a planting method for tomato seedlings that can lead to a healthier plant in the long run.

Watch the video above.

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Katelyn explained in a TikTok how to trench plant tomato seedlings instead of putting them in the ground straight up, as you do for most plants.

"A better way to plant tomatoes," she captioned the video.

"Dig a trench, lay it down sideways," she said holding the bottom half of the seedling at an angle.

"All of these hairs on this stem are going to turn into roots, so more roots equals stronger plant, stronger plant equals more tomatoes."

Instead of digging a small hole for the seedling to go into, Katelyn dug a longer but not deeper hole to make a small trench.

She then laid down the tomato so the bottom half of the seedling was in the trench with the top of the plant sticking out and then she filled the trench in with dirt.

Before Katelyn planted she cut off the bottom leaves of the tomato so the stem can focus on growing stronger roots.

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The tip was a hit with Katelyn's followers who either use it already or want to try it the next time they grow tomatoes.

"We've done this! works great," a woman said.

"Wow I will be trying this out next season," a gardener commented.

"Nice, I like it. I usually pin the bottom stem to the ground," a man wrote.

"Yes this is why I love tomatoes. Everything about it is easy," a TikToker posted.

"I just dig a deep hole snap off first leaves plant past the snapped off leaves. Deeper roots for when the top layer dries out," another said.

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Tomatoes are a great option for both beginner and experienced gardeners to grow as they tend to be one of the easier fruits and vegetables to grow at home.

They are also one of the most popular salad and sandwich items so having your own at home will save you plenty of cash at the supermarket.

They can be grown from seed or seedlings and spring is the time to do it for most of Australia.

Tomatoes can be grown in the ground if you have the space to do it but they can just as easily be grown in a pot in small courtyards and balconies.

For pots, use a potting mix designed for tomatoes and vegies to ensure it has the right mix of nutrients to get them thriving.

You will need stakes or a trellis/cage to grow tomatoes regardless of whether they are in the ground or a pot. This is so the vines can grow upwards and the fruit doesn't touch the ground where it can be nibbled by pests and is susceptible to disease.

Once the seedling has matured you can then tie the plant to the stake or trellis using cut up strips from an old cotton T-shirt, socks or stockings.

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