Planting tomatoes from seeds is an easy way to become familiar with general plant care.
By Mattheus Leslie, Farmpark Interpreter
Tomato plants are essential garden plants that most people have had some experience growing. After all, the difference in taste from store-bought tomatoes to homegrown and fresh off the vine is too great to ignore. Many people are content to purchase their plants from growers, grocery stores and farmer’s markets, but there’s nothing quite like making the effort to start the seeds from scratch. Starting your own tomato seeds is a great way to learn general plant care, try different tomato varieties and to connect with your inner farmer.
When planting tomato seeds, the first step is to choose which variety to plant. Starting tomatoes from seed will allow you to choose from a great variety including heirloom varieties not often seen in stores. Heirlooms are older cultivars and are a great way to get a taste of the past, but modern varieties may taste better to modern palates. The great thing is that there are varieties to fit everyone’s tastes.
Since Lake County typically has a cool spring, its better to start seeds inside than in the garden. Starting seeds indoors allows for a longer growing season, which means tomatoes not only bear fruit earlier, but they harvest longer before the frost sets in the autumn. When starting plants inside, use potting soil. Garden soil may carry disease that may damage seedlings. Do not add any fertilizer at this time.
Seeds can be planted in anything from planting cells, to small pots to egg cartons, so long as there are holes for excess water to drain out. Seeds and seedlings will rot if the soil is too wet, so drainage is important. Seeds should be sown about six weeks before the last frost. Giving seedlings time to grow allows for the tomato plants to be hardier when the time comes to transplant them.
Fill your container up to a quarter inch below the top. Plant two to three seeds in each container, then fill the rest of the pot up with soil. Water the soil until it’s moist, then place it either on a windowsill that receives lots of sunlight or under a grow light. Tomato seeds will sprout faster at warmer temperatures, typically 70° F and hotter. Covering the container with clear plastic, like Saran Wrap or a sandwich bag, will create a mini-greenhouse effect, allowing the soil to heat.
Check the container every day and keep the soil moist, but never soggy. Once seeds sprout, remove any plastic covers so that the sprouts have room to grow. Be sure to continue watering as before. Eventually, the plants will need to be thinned, usually after three to four weeks. Taller plants with stronger stems should be encouraged to grow while smaller weaker plants should be cut back or gently weeded out. Fertilizer can be added at this point.
Once the final frost has come and gone, the tomato plants should be strong and hardy enough to be moved outside, either to a pot or into the garden. In Lake County, Mother’s Day is usually a good marker for when to move plants outside. Be mindful of the weather though, in case a cold snap comes through. Tomatoes are a native to tropical Central America and will die if the temperature dips below 32° F. Fortunately, it’s easy to provide cover; just cut a milk jug in half and use it as cover for each plant. When the weather improves, remove the cover and allow the plant to grow as normal. Provide support for tomato vines as needed.
Planting tomatoes from seeds is an easy way to become familiar with general plant care and introduce more tomato varieties into the kitchen. Plants generally do better with moderate watering, space for growing, sunlight and heat. By growing tomatoes from seeds, gardeners learn how to work with nature and get in touch with their inner farmer.