How to Grow Tomatoes from Seeds

Repotting Tomato Seedlings
Image by Chiot’s Run via Flickr

Growing tomatoes from seeds is not only easy, but  it is a joy to see the young seedlings rise through the soil.  Children especially love seeing this development so growing your tomatoes from seeds would be a wonderful involvement with them.

Using seeds to start your tomato growing is not only inexpensive but you can also use your own seeds from the previous year’s fruit and this can have the added thrill of being the creator of your own fruit this year.

Preparing the seed box.

Start this process about 8 weeks before the warm weather.  Use quality potting mix and fill a seed tray to within 1 inch of the top.  Sprinkle the seeds over the top of the tray with a good space in between each seed.  The reason for spreading the seed is that when it is time to transplant them you do not damage the fine roots in separating the plants.  Mist the soil and seeds and place the seed tray in a warm location.

Seeds like moist air so a good method is to put cling film over the top of the tray to promote moisture.   Be careful not to over water the seeds. That is why a mist spray is ideal.  Once the seedlings begin to appear, remove the cling film.

Once the seedlings are all up start acclimatizing the plants to the outdoors by taking them outside in the morning sun, then place them in the shade not in the sun during the day after a few weeks.  Then slowly they can be put in the full sun for an hour or two to harden them up.

The first and second transplant.

When the seedlings are 1 to 2 inches high they can be transplanted into small individual pots.  Lift the seedlings by the leaves and place it gently in a hole pressed into the small individual pot then gently firm the soil around it.  Avoid touching the stem at any stage because it is quite fragile still and can break easily.   Water the pot.

The pots could be kept outside now and in the sunlight.  In saying that, still take care that if it is a very hot day, they are not in the sun during the heat of the day.  Ensure that the plants all get even exposure to the sun and this may require turning the pots.

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