Two months after the fact but here's blog 1 of 2 about how I plant tomatoes in the desert

This is my method. Don't know if it's right but it is what works for me. I use three things when I plant: root stimulator, a banana peel and coffee grounds. Sounds scary doesn't it?

So first I dig a rectangular shallow trench in the dirt.

Next I fill the hole with water to which I have added root stimulator according to the package directions.


I let that water drain away entirely.

I lay the banana peel down in there toward the side of where the roots are going to go. Then I sprinkle a small handle of coffee grounds in the hole.

And then I get ready to put the tomato plant into it's fruity, caffeinated home.


Banana peels add potash and phosophorous to the soil. Coffee grounds add nitrogen. I often do not fertilize my tomatoes at all during the season but simply bury another rotten banana (or peel) and add another small handful of coffee grounds periodically. I buy packages of rotten bananas at the grocery store for around 25 cents for 7 or 8 of them. It's only my husband and I at home now and it's hard to eat enough banana for the garden.

Next time I'll show you how I actually plant.