today we're going to talk about how to grow tomato seeds step by step there's nothing like harvest
time and picking your own vine ripened tomatoes as you gather them up to taste them for the
first time seedlings of tomatoes will grow fast germination typically takes 5-10 days if given
optimal growing conditions you will know the seeds have germinated as soon as you see the
small little green plant emerging from the soil medium the rate of germination for a particular
packet of tomato seeds can depend on the source and the age of the seed step one is preparation
this is the time to pick out your favorite varieties of tomato plants you want to germinate
it's an exciting time to prepare your vision of the final product also gathering of supplies
like soil pots labeling supplies and maybe a spray bottle beforehand is important you can
purchase plastic or biodegradable trays that are specifically intended for growing tomato seeds
also if you plan on reusing pots from the previous year zero toll hc fungicide is a good alternative
to chlorine bleach that link is down below this video finding a growing medium that is sterile is
most important the final destination garden soil is important too but seed starting is best when
starting indoors with a good sterile potting mix this will ensure the seedlings get off the best
start they can have there will be many challenges ahead for your tomatoes and it's critical to help
boost their health before transplanting takes place your tomato selection can be challenging
because there's so many tomato options make sure you look at the back of the seed packets and it
will tell you whether a particular variety of what it's meant for tomatoes are grown specifically to
fill a certain food need whether it's for garden fresh salad mixes or tomato slices to go on your
summer grilled hamburgers or especially tomatoes for each occasion step two choose a place to sell
your tomato seeds whether this is a greenhouse or a basement the place you start your seeds
doesn't have to be the place you grow them tomato seeds don't need any light to germinate however
they will need warm temperatures at 75 degrees fahrenheit or 24 degrees celsius this is the
prime temperature for tomato seed germination a heat mat can help keep the soil at the right
temperature for germination having one is useful to gardeners in cold and rainy climates where
they can't rely on the sun to keep their young plants at the right temperature as soon as you
see sprouts you want to get them into the light whether it's under grow lights south facing window
in your kitchen or natural light in a greenhouse you want to do this as soon as possible so the
seedlings do not get long and leggy and start to bend over when starting your seeds it's best to
start in smaller trays or pots and transplant to a bigger pot later the reasoning behind this is the
excess soil may encourage rot step number three planting your tomato seeds now that you have a
place to grow your tomato seeds it's time to plant them two things that we want to be aware of is
air and water during this process to start your tomato seeds add a few seeds to each container
here you see a starter tree that we will grow different varieties of tomatoes in plant tomato
seeds at a quarter inch depth simply press the seats together into the soil by indenting the soil
at that depth then slightly cover the soil filling in the indentation of the potting tray early on
water collection trays are a great way to hydrate from the bottom rather than watering over the top
where the seeds can be washed away if you do not have a base for this then a spray bottle works to
gently soften the blow for your freshly planted seeds very helpful in the germination success now
for containers whatever type of container you use to start your seedlings make sure it provides good
drainage if your tomatoes roots stay too wet and more susceptible to diseases such as dampening off
step number four will talk about post tomato seed germination and caring for your tomato seedlings
now that your seedlings are growing you will need to care for your young tomatoes every day
water once or twice a day with your spray bottle when the surface of the soil is dry
when the seedlings are bigger and require more water switch to a small watering can or teapot
ventilate the germination location so it does not get too hot interior temperatures over 95
degrees fahrenheit will stunt the growth you can expose your young tomatoes to the breeze of a
gentle fan or gently brush your hands over their leaves a few times a day the purpose of this is
to stimulate wind and help strengthen their stem if the majority of your seeds germinate you will
end with five or more seedlings growing in each cell of your tray and you may need to thin them
the safest way to do this to avoid disrupting the roots of your remaining plant is to use a pair of
scissors to snip the stems of the rejects snip just above the soil line once your baby tomatoes
have at least two or three sets of true leaves they can be transplanted into larger nursery pots
repotting to harden off will give your tomatoes more room for root growth tomatoes are one of
the few plants that do well if their stems are buried deeply into the soil they can introduce
rot and other plants but if you sink part of your tomato stem into the soil and bury it the
hairs of the stem will turn into adventurous roots give your plants a 7 to 14 day transition period
you want to start the hardening off process in a shaded sheltered location gradually increase sun
exposure and time outside protect the plants from wind the first week water plants less frequently
during the hardening off period but do not let them dry out or wilt only begin hardening off when
outdoor daytime temperatures are above 50 degrees fahrenheit do not fertilize right before or during
this period step 5 transplant your tomato ceilings into the ground first determine the average last
frost date of your area then check the 10-day forecast one last time so there is no danger
of frost anymore frost and freezing temperatures will cause your tomatoes to perish tomatoes need
soil temperatures to 60 degrees fahrenheit or higher for growth your soil isn't that warm yet
hold off to transplanting them until it is you can check the soil temperature with a soil thermometer
keep in mind that this is not the same thing as the ambient air temperature when you're ready to
transplant water your plants well before the big transition into the outdoor soil
dig a hole a little larger than the pot in which you are transplanting from add worm
castings or compost to the soil if you use the biodegradable pot don't remove the transplant
the pot will go into the ground just make sure the rim of the pot isn't sticking up above the ground
today