How to Raise Tomatoes from Seed
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Harvesting seeds from an heirloom tomato
The most important part of raising tomatoes from seed is the seed itself. With thousands of varieties on the market today, it's easy to get confused. However, if you want the best flavor, the key is to hunt down some of the best specimens yourself from the local farmer's market or a gardening neighbor. Ask questions. Find out how neighboring farmers grow their tomatoes, and if they know the specific name of the variety. If you're not comfortable harvesting your own seeds, you'll at least know which variety to purchase from your local garden center when it's time to plant. In most cases, one packet of seeds will be sufficient. - 2
An assortment of peat pots
You need a small container in which to start your tomato seedlings. Clay pots are available in miniature sizes for just this purpose. However, an even easier tool is a biodegradable peat pot. These inexpensive pots not only allow you to start your seed, but will also go directly in to the ground or container, when it's time to transplant. To eliminate hassle and mess, fill a larger container with a generous amount of your potting mix, and thoroughly water it there. Mix well, with your hands or a stick. Once this batch of soil is saturated, simply scoop it into your starter pots. - 3
Planting preparation
Once containers are filled with soil, it's time to plant the seeds. Take the drinking straw, and poke a hole in the center of the soil. In the newly formed hole, place one seed and then gently cover it over with the moist soil. - 4
Mini greenhouse
To increase your chances of success, you can make mini-greenhouses. Take two toothpicks or skewers, and place one on each side of the seed, inside the pot. Gently cover it with some plastic wrap to form a small tent. Tuck the excess wrap beneath the peat pot to form an enclosure and place it on a tray or in a shallow box. A warm, sunny place (anywhere by a window) is preferable for ideal growth. Once you've got the location, set the pots down and leave them alone! In as little as 2 to 5 days, you will see a sprout. - 5
Once your starter plants have at least two sets of leaves, it's time to transplant. In containers, make certain there is a hole in the bottom for drainage. Add some rocks or broken pottery to bottom of container, and then fill to about 1 to 2 inches below top rim with high quality potting mix. Moisten soil and stir, adding more soil as needed to maintain described depth. Smaller pots will only support 1 plant, but some of the enormous planters can support 2 to 3 plants.For each plant, dig a hole that is 1-inch deeper than the starter container. If using peat pots, you can plant the entire thing directly into the hole. If using clay pots, simply take a butter knife, run around the edges to loosen, and with two fingers around base of plant, turn it upside down and gently remove from pot. With plant pointing up, insert into prepared hole. Once you have plant set, pack soil in to fill gaps, and around the base of the plant. Now is the time to add your stake or tomato cage, as well. If you wait until the plant is established, you risk damaging the root system. For stakes, place 2 to 3 inches from the plant. For cages, simply center over the plant, and insert into soil. - 6
For planting directly in ground, assuming you already have a garden area prepared, dig a hole 1-inch deeper than peat pot. Fill hole with water and let it soak into soil. Add plant (as instructed in Step 5), pack in soil and water generously. If planting more than one, place starters about 2 to 3 feet apart. Any closer, and the plants will tangle as they grow larger, becoming more difficult to care for. Tomato cages are ideal for outdoor gardens, as they will provide more support during inclement weather. Tomatoes also allow for easier access as the plants near harvest time, and will not damage the plant. - 7
To grow and maintain your new tomato plants, you'll need very little besides sunlight and water. When watering, make sure to saturate the ground around the plant thoroughly, and water the ground at least 6 inches out from around the edge of the plant. You won't need to water each day, as tomato plants are hardy, and sometimes even do better with less water. There are many varieties of plant and tomato-specific fertilizers on the market. Give your plants a boost every 1 to 2 weeks, if you feel the need.
