Why I Keep My Dead Tomato Plant (Gardening Hack!)

In this quick video, I explain why this seemingly dead tomato plant is still playing an important role in my kitchen garden. Even though there are no leaves, no fruit, and definitely no chance of a zombie tomato uprising, its old stems and roots are doing a valuable job. They're helping to bind the potting mix together, acting like a natural anchor for the soil in the bucket. This is super important because it prevents the precious soil from being completely dried out by the sun or blown away by the wind, especially if your pots are in an exposed spot. My plan? I'll only remove this old soldier when I have a brand new plant or sapling ready to take its place. That way, I can minimize soil disturbance. When the time comes, I'll gently remove the old plant, refresh the soil with some lovely homemade compost (full of new nutrients!), and then pop in its successor. It’s all about smart transitions in the garden and making sure our soil stays happy and healthy for the next round of yummy veggies! #plant #tomato #tomatoplants #kitchengarden Thinking of growing your own tomatoes? 🍅 Buy Seeds: Sow Right Seeds - Beefsteak Tomato Seeds for Planting - https://amzn.to/40asig0 (#ad - As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) Let's Connect! Additional Content Not Mentioned in the Video: Your Guide to Growing Delicious and Easy Leafy Greens! While my video focuses on a clever little trick for managing an old tomato plant, many of you might be wondering what to plant next, especially if you love having fresh, homegrown goodness right at your fingertips. Leafy greens are a fantastic choice! They are relatively easy to grow, many are quick to mature, and they pack a nutritional punch. Plus, there's nothing quite like snipping fresh leaves for a salad or a stir-fry straight from your own pot or garden patch. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa): The Salad Staple Details about the plant: Lettuce is a cool-season annual grown for its tender leaves, which form either a looseleaf bunch, a tight head (like iceberg), or a more upright, elongated head (like romaine). It's a garden classic for a reason! Spinach (Spinacia oleracea): The Power Green Details about the plant: A cool-season annual prized for its dark green, nutritious leaves. It can be smooth-leafed or have crinkled (savoy) leaves. Varieties: 'Bloomsdale Long Standing' (savoy), 'Tyee' (semi-savoy, bolt-resistant), 'Regiment' (smooth-leaf, good for baby leaf). Kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica): The Hardy Superfood Details about the plant: A member of the cabbage family, kale is a very hardy biennial (often grown as an annual) known for its incredibly nutritious, often curly or frilly leaves. Varieties: 'Lacinato' (Dinosaur or Tuscan kale – dark blue-green, bumpy leaves), 'Red Russian' (flat, frilly leaves with purple stems), 'Dwarf Blue Curled Vates' (very curly, compact). Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla): The Rainbow Leaf Details about the plant: A leafy green in the same family as beets, grown for its large, tender leaves and colourful, fleshy stalks (petioles). Varieties: 'Bright Lights' (stems in a rainbow of colours – red, yellow, orange, pink, white), 'Fordhook Giant' (green leaves, white stems), 'Ruby Red' (red stems and veins)., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZz7Hnx2taA