Tips On How To Grow Tomatoes from Seed

Generally, the time to start your seeds is about 6- 8 weeks before the last expected spring frost date in your area, planting the seedlings outdoors about 2 weeks after that date. Another way to figure is to plan on setting out sturdy seedlings in the garden when night temperatures stay in the mid-50 degree range both day and night. Count back and sow seeds 6 to 8 weeks before that date normally arrives. If you do not feel confident about timing, consult an experienced gardening friend, or ask at a good garden center or seek the advice of your local Master Gardener program .

Indoors
January to April is the time to start off Greenhouse varieties. They can be staggered so that they can be cropped at different times. Also, late plants may be used to replace early ones which may be too tall for the greenhouse later in the year.

Outdoors
For outdoor tomatoes the plants need to be started off early to ensure them sufficient time to flower, develop fruits and ripen them. Late January to early February is my favourite time to start off outdoor varieties. I get earlier tomatoes and the fact that some plants may be a bit leggy to start with does not really do any harm. In fact, it means that the first truss of the plant is higher off the ground and the fruit does not touch the soil. Also I can plant that much deeper to get the roots down further in the ground.

If the ground is watered well before and after transplanting there should be no difficulty in planting out tomatoes even with fruit on. I have done this with plants which grew exceptionally well during the spring.

Sowing seeds for plants to give indoors and outdoor crops

Start by filling a seed tray or flower pot with John Innes No. 1 potting compost or an equal parts mixture of peat and sharp sand. Sow the seeds one inch (13 mm) apart in rows spaced one inch apart. Spread a thin layer of compost over the seeds and firm down. Cover the tray or pot with a propagator top or sheet of cardboard to retain a moist atmosphere for germination. Place it in a temperature of at least 18 degrees C. on a sunny window ledge in a warm room, in an airing cupboard, or, best of all, on a heated propagating tray. Especially if the seed tray is in a heated propagator, check that they compost does not dry out.