How To Grow Tomatoes From Seed
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How To Grow Tomatoes From Seed
You don't need to be a horticultural expert or have a greenhouse to grow tomatoes from seed. All you need to do is pay attention to a few small details and will have plants that will rival or exceed any that you can buy from your local supplier.
When To Plant Tomato Seeds
When you are planning when and how to grow your tomatoes keep in mind that they will grow roots from any part of the stem that is underground and utilize that information to create a strong root system.
The common advice is to start your seeds 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost, but I've found that starting them 10 weeks before can work in your favor because you can transplant them a couple of times and grow more roots.
The common advice is to start your seeds 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost, but I've found that starting them 10 weeks before can work in your favor because you can transplant them a couple of times and grow more roots.
Where To Get Tomato Seeds
You can either buy your seeds in packages or it's possible to save tomato seeds from your best tomatoes and use them the following year.
How To Plant Tomato Seeds
Starting mix is specially designed to promote germination, but I had good success using ordinary potting soil.
Put your soil in a flat or some small pots.
Cover your seeds with ¼ inch of soil, place them in a shaded location, and keep them damp until they germinate. Don't soak them, just keep them damp. As soon as they start to come out of the soil move them into the sun.
Put your soil in a flat or some small pots.
Cover your seeds with ¼ inch of soil, place them in a shaded location, and keep them damp until they germinate. Don't soak them, just keep them damp. As soon as they start to come out of the soil move them into the sun.
Transplanting Your Tomatoes
Once the seedlings get their third leaf you can transplant to their own individual pots, or if they aren't overcrowded too much you can wait until they are a bit taller so that you can remove the bottom two leaves and plant them right up to the next set of leaves.
In order to get the best root system possible I like to transplant them to bigger pots whenever I think they are tall enough. Simply remove the bottom branches and plant them right up to the remaining forage.
Once I move them to the garden I'll once again remove some bottom leaves and plant them as deep as possible.
In order to get the best root system possible I like to transplant them to bigger pots whenever I think they are tall enough. Simply remove the bottom branches and plant them right up to the remaining forage.
Once I move them to the garden I'll once again remove some bottom leaves and plant them as deep as possible.
Before You Move Your Tomato Plants To The Garden
You tomato plants may be doing great, but don't just rush out and transplant them to the garden. Although they have been getting sunlight through a window, they haven't yet been exposed the UV of full sunlight. You need to harden them off by exposing them to the outdoors, starting with just an hour or so a day in the shade and increasing the time and exposure to sunlight up until they can be left out over night.
Conclusion
You don't need to do everything perfect to grow tomatoes from seed. Tomatoes are pretty hardy and will forgive a few mistakes as long as they aren't exposed to frost.by TomatoTom
TomatoTom
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