Last year I planted cuttings in the ground with no irrigation.  I didn't get tremendous growth but I did get leaves from those cuttings and roots.  Ones that didn't root I replaced with cuttings I rooted in pots outside pretty immediately after noticing which cuttings didn't make it.  This year I want to play it safe and root cuttings before transferring to the ground.  This year I have heavily mulched and will have the option to irrigate at times.  Though we get lots of rain most of the time and irrigation is not really necessary with the heavy mulching that I do.  My question is after I have roots on my cuttings, how soon can I get them in the ground?

IMHO, I think when the tomatoes are ready to be planted, you should be safe with the weather.  I would also use a stake to keep them steady during storms.

Thanks a lot for your response JoAnn!  How often do you water your newly rooted plants?

When I rooted cuttings a few years ago I waited till they were wilting a bit - I was so worried about over watering and gnats!  That was inside, in pots.  I haven't put a cutting I rooted in the ground - yet;)

In the ground, would depend on how well the soil drains, for a rooted cutting, with good soil I would say every 2-3 days with no rain.  Of course, if you see it wilting the day after you water - you will have to water.

When a one gallon pot is close to being root bound its ready.

Hi,
Where are the roots generated ?
a too small of a pot ? moss ? perlite ? Hard to plant without damaging them ...
A 2liters / .5gal pot ? If so I wait for the roots to hold the whole dirt, and then I plant it in the dirt (unless I want to mess with it in a pot, and the tree stays in the pot :) longer )

This time of the year with normal cuttings, I simply put them in the dirt and water to keep the dirt a bit humid - not drowning them, not desiccating them .
I did it last year with 4 found cuttings (owner threw trimmings to the public walkway ) and they turned into small trees. Now I'm hoping to see fruits from them ... that's the problem with unknown cutting ... you never know what you'll get ... But they were damn cheap ...
Every now and then, I laugh and scream at those trees ... DON'T YOU BE BTs !!!! As I already have one big BT (store bought ).

Figpig would you plant in spring of fall?

Alanameria when is the latest in the year you plant?

[QUOTE=tennesseefig]Figpig would you plant in spring of fall?[/QUOTE] spring is a good time to get started. The roots will get really established for next year. It will fruut but it will fruit later then normal. Also fall is good. I plant from spring well into fall. Fall plants will fruit the next spring on time but spring planting gives you alot more time for root development.