The Spruce / Kara Riley
There are typicallytomato plantsfor sale at local garden centers.
But you’re free to alsogrow tomatoesfrom seed.
To get around that, tomato seeds are often started indoors.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Add some water, and work it through the soil.
Keep adding water until the mix stays compressed in your hand but is not dripping wet.
It should break apart when you poke it with your finger.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Then, fill your containers with potting soil.
Gently firm the soil, so it’s about an inch from the top.
Plant the Tomato Seeds
Make a 1/4-inch furrow in the potting mix.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Gently pat down the mix, so the seeds make good contact with the soil.
you could spray the surface with water if it doesnt feel moist.
At this point, place your containers somewhere warm.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Check them daily to verify the soil is moistbut not wetand watch for germination.
Tomato seed germination typically occurs in about five to 10 days.
Rotate the plants if they seem to be leaning in one direction.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Once your tomato seedlings have true leaves, it’s time to start feeding them.
Tomato stems grow sturdier if they are tossed about by the wind.
Fill the new pots with moist potting mix just as you did when you started the seeds.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
If more than one seed germinated in the same container, you will need tothin the seedlings.
Either gently jiggle entangled roots apart, or simply snip off unwanted seedlings at soil level.
This ensures that you won’t damage the seedling you want to keep.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Plant each tomato seedling in its new pot a little deeper than it was in its original container.
Then, firm the soil gently around the seedling.
If you cant dig deep enough, you might always plant them sideways in a furrow.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
The top of the plant will find the sun and grow upright in a few days.
When to Plant Tomato Seeds Indoors
Tomato seeds usually germinate within 10 days.
Your plants should be several inches tall at this point with some branching.
After this transition period, they should be ready to live in your garden.
Then, give them a gooddrench of water, and be patient.
They should start flowering when the days heat up.
Finally, it’s easy to get carried away with planting tomato seeds.
But note that a family of four can easily feast throughout the summer on just six plants.
The time from planting to harvesting depends on thetype of tomato.
On average, it can take around 60 to 100 days from planting to get harvestable tomatoes.
Soaking seeds generally can help to speed up thegermination process.
However, for tomato seeds it is not essential.
Growing Tomatoes in Home Garden.University of Minnesota Extension
