Tomato plants can be very expensive depending on the variety. You can save yourself a lot of money by growing your own tomato plants from seed. Growing tomatoes from seed is quite easy if the proper steps are followed. Below you will find step by step instructions on how to grow tomatoes from seed.
What You Will Need to Grow Tomatoes from Seed:
- Tomato seeds of any variety
- Sterile potting soil, preferable a finer mix
- Seed tray
- Cell tray or individual pots
- Water
- Plant labels
Step 1:
The first step in growing tomatoes from seed is to prepare your soil. Fill the seed tray with sterile potting soil 1 inch from the top. Evenly spread the soil and firm lightly. Next water well so that the soil is moist but not soggy.
Step 2:
Using clean hands, sow the tomato seeds in rows leaving 1/3 of an inch in between each seed and 1 inch in between each row. Lightly cover the seeds with ½ inch of fine potting soil. Water your planted tomato seeds lightly to moisten the new layer of soil. Be careful not to disturb the seeds with high water pressure.
Step 3:
Place the planted tomato seeds in a well lit area such as a greenhouse, sunny window or under growing lights. Tomato seeds need plenty of light to germinate and produce healthy seedlings. Continue to water daily with a fine mist to moisten the soil. Keep seeds in a temperature range from 68-74 degrees F. Try to avoid extreme heat and cold.
Step 4:
You tomato seeds should begin to sprout in 7-10 days. Some varieties make take a day or two longer. Once seeds have begun to emerge from the soil keep the moist at all times. Allow the seeds to grow to 1-2 inches and then prepare to transplant them.
Step 5:
Once your tomato seeds have grown to 1-2 inches transplant them in a cell tray or small containers. Start your transplanting by filling the cell tray (or pots) with soil. Water well and wait 5 minutes. After 5 minutes water again and allow to drain well.
Step 6:
Once your soil has been prepared for your tomato seedlings then you may begin. Using a pencil or popsicle stick, create a hole that is as deep as your seedlings. Gently lift each seedling out of the tray using a popsicle stick. If more then one seedling comes out at a time simply separate each one being careful not to damage the roots. (It is normal for a few tiny roots or root tips to break off. Just try to avoid damaging the main root as much as possible.)
Slide each tomato seedling into the hole you created. Be careful not to break the stem. Using your popsicle stick insure that all roots are in slid down into the hole. Firm the soil around each seedling, insuring the safety of the stem and that the leaves are still above the soil.
Step 7:
Once your tomato seedlings have been transplanted into the cell tray or individual pots, lightly water using a fine mist.
Once your tomato seedling have begun to show the first true set of leaves, fertilize at ¼ recommended strength (or as the package states to use for seedlings.) Continue to water as needed to keep soil must and provide plenty of sunshine.
Move them back to a sunny location and allow to grow until they are 6 inches or higher. They can then be safely planted into their permanent spot such as a garden or large container.
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