How To Grow Tomatoes


How To Grow Tomatoes From Seed

Are you frustrated with trying to find healthy tomato plants from your local supplier because all the best ones have already gone? Why not grow your tomatoes from seed?

If you start your tomatoes from seed you can take advantage of the fact that tomatoes will grow roots from any part of the stem that is underground.

When you should plant your tomato seeds

You will see on the seed packages that you should plant them 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. I like to plant my seeds 10 weeks before the last frost so that I can transplant them a couple of times before putting them in the garden so that they will grow more roots.

Where to get your tomato seeds

Purchasing seeds in packages isn't your only option. Consider saving tomato seeds from your best tomatoes for next year.

You may have heard that the seeds that you get from your supermarket aren't as reliable as those you get from a seed grower, but I've never had any problem with them.

Besides where do you think the supermarket got them from?

Planting your tomato seeds

I've had good success planting my seeds in ordinary potting soil, but if you want to be sure you can buy some starting mix to plant your seeds in.

Simply cover your seeds with ¼ inch of soil and keep them in out of the sun. Don't soak the soil but keep it damp until your seeds germinate. As soon as they start to sprout move them into a sunny location

When to transplant your tomatoes

Since I want my tomato plants to have as strong of a root system as possible I like to transplant them often. Once I think they are tall enough to cover more of the stem I will remove all but the top branches and plant them as deep as possible.

Always try to wait until they have grown their third leaf before you first transplant them.

Hardening your tomato plants off

You don't want to kill your plants by rushing them out to garden without first hardening them off.

Hardening off is the process of slowly acclimatizing them to the outdoor environment.

Start off slowly by bringing them out and placing them in the shade for an hour or so. Each day increase the time and the level of sunlight they are exposed to until you are leaving them out all day and throughout the night.

You can successfully grow tomatoes from seed without having to worry about doing everything just right. As long as they aren't exposed to frost, tomatoes are hardy plants and will do well even if the conditions are completely ideal.

Get details about how to grow tomatoes from seed here.



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