Can you bury a plant stem? If you're wondering whether you can bury a plant when transplanting, or want to know which plants you can bury stems on - let's get into it!

Burying Plant Stems

Sometimes you'll see gardeners strip the shoots off the lower portion of a plant, such as tomatoes, prior to transplanting - and then lay that stem almost horizontally and cover it completely with soil.

They might also keep the plant vertical, but bury it below soil level and backfill so that more of the stem is covered than before.

Other times, you'll hear gardeners say to always transplant certain species with an equal soil level, not backfilling any deeper than the plant was in its previous soil. The phrase "don't suffocate them" is frequently paired with this.

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So which is it, bury plant stem or not? And why would I want to partially bury any of my plant stems anyway?

tomato stem trichomes new roots dirt colorful swiss chard background
The small hair-like trichomes on this tomato stem are starting to turn into the beginnings of new roots

If this stem were buried deeper it would rapidly put out new roots up the stem to the soil level

It depends on the plant. Most plants are not very good at spontaneously growing new roots from a buried stem, however some are exceptionally well-suited to put out new roots anywhere the stem touches the soil.

In these cases, by burying some of your stem deeper when you transplant, you encourage new root growth, which may in turn facilitate a larger plant and bigger yield in the long-run.

Knowing which plants tolerate stem burial can help you produce a larger yield in the long run.

We're gonna talk about the benefits and risks of burying plant stems here, and give you a comprehensive list of plants that can and will thrive with this technique.

What Plants Can You Bury The Stem? (FULL LIST)

This is the short list, however you will find numerous additional species which are capable to throwing out additional roots on a partially-buried stem.

Still, you'll find many more which do not tolerate this kind of treatment and will "suffocate" from being buried very deep - so I only suggest this on plants which your positive will tolerate it well.



Don't risk it if you don't know, unless you're willing to lose it.

Definitely don't bury your strawberry crowns, for instance!

Why Bury a Plant Stem?

The main reason for burying plant stems deeply is to encourage new root growth. This, in turn, can help the plant grow bigger and be more productive in the long run.

Some plants do really well with having their stems buried, and actively put new roots out wherever the stem touches moist soil. These notably include the nightshade (solanacea) family and the cucurbit (cucurbitaceae) family, among others.

Some plants really do not do well having their stems buried, so it's important to learn which plants can and cannot tolerate this technique.

Still others, like leeks, are sometimes buried deep purposely as a way to blanche their stems.

sweet potato stem with new roots trying to form strawberry seedlings
The bumps on this sweet potato stem would also rapidly root if buried in moist soil or water. This is how sweet potato slips are grown.

Above all, though, remember that gardening is all about experimentation and trial-and-error! Don't be afraid to try burying any plant deep and make your own empirical observations. This is the best way to learn.

If you have a few extra plants to spare, give stem burying a try side-by-side with an unburied control. Let us all know in the comments what your results are, we'd love to hear about your experiments!

How to Bury a Plant Stem

There are two methods for burying a plant stem:

  1. Strip the Shoots

Before transplanting, strip the shoots off the lower portion of the plant's stem. Lay the stem almost horizontally and cover it completely with soil. This method encourages the plant to produce new roots from the buried stem.

  1. Bury the Stem Deeply

Bury the stem deeply and backfill the hole so that more of the stem is covered than before. This method encourages new root growth as well, but you'll need to be careful not to bury the stem too deeply.

Risks of Burying Plant Stems

Some plants really do NOT tolerate having their stems buried. Strawberries come to mind - where you make absolutely sure not bury their crowns.



If you decide to bury plant stems, ensure that you know which ones like to be buried. That, or recognize that you're heading into uncharted waters if you choose to experiment and wing it. That's the best way to learn, though!

Just know that some plants will absolutely "suffocate" from being buried too deep. This'll stunt growth at best, or kill the plant at worst. Refer to the list above if you're looking to avoid that sitch.

Specifics for Commonly-Buried Species

Can You Bury Cucumber Stems?

You absolutely can and should bury cucumber stems when transplanting. Cucumber stems will quickly put out new roots wherever the stem is buried.

A stronger root system means more productive cucumbers with better yields, so bury your cucumber stems deep when transplanting like you might with tomatoes. Help push them to grow a robust root system early, for better health and production later in the season.

Can You Bury Potato Stems?

A common technique for growing potatoes is known as 'mounding', whereby soil is piled up around the potato stem as it grows taller.

By constantly burying potato stems deeper and deeper in these mounds, you encourage more root development up the stem.

Because potatoes set their tubers on the ends of the roots, it's easy to see how increased root development leads to increased potato harvests. That makes potatoes one of the best candidates for burying stems!

Can You Bury Squash Stems?

Can You Bury Watermelon Stems?

Can You Bury Zucchini Stems?

Can You Bury Marigold Stems?

Can You Bury Eggplant Stems?

Can You Bury Pepper Stems?

Can You Bury Okra Stems?

Can You Bury Tomato Stems?

Can You Bury Broccoli Stems?

Can You Bury Bean Stems?

Can You Bury Basil Stems?


Have any plants I've missed on my list? I would love to hear about your experience burying plants deeper when transplanting and whether you found this to increase yield or whether you found it not to perform any better.