I have searched this subject and just have not found the specific answers I am looking for. I am sorry that this may be/is a cronic repeat offender. I have never had a good crop of tomatoes. They hate me, so this year I thought I would start my own seeds. Then I am the mommy and hopefully my plants will thrive. That said:

1. My babies are in their mini greenhouse and ready to come out. The roots are in "jiffy-7 pellets" and I am putting them into 3" pots to get them out of the dome and start getting ready for "mothers day-ish" ground transplanting. Do I put them all the way down in the pot or just cover the "pellet pod"? Do I back fill with potting soil or could I use the dirt out of my/their garden bed?

2. After hardening off, how deep can I plant them? I have heard that you can take a 12" tall plant and dig a hole to china leaving just the top couple of sets of leaves. I might go to the first set (not the baby 1st leaves) of leaves. Do you cut/tear them off or leave them?

3. Do tomatoes like moist soil? Or do they thrive better if the soil is allowed to dry then get watered? I live near Denver CO, and we suffer from lack of rain and scorching hot sun most of the time. The rest of the time it is too cold for anything.

4. I chose "bush beefsteak" to try due to it's short maturity time and determinate style. Should I still use a cage, or will the plants support all the fruit they make? I just don't want to get a 2' tall plant then realize that it needs support.

5. My last question, I hope. Are there any suggestions for tomato plants that thrive in my area?

Again I appologize for some repeat questions, but the answers I found were slightly vague or with a different premise. Thank you for all your help. Hurry up mothers day!!!