Growing Tomatoes From Seeds – A Beginners Guide
Surprisingly, very few people are growing tomatoes from seeds these days. Garden supply stores actually offer just about any variety you can think of in seed form though. These seeds can be grown to produce fruits that are every bit as tasty as the ones that grow from transplanted varieties.
You will want to begin by choosing a good place to begin the growing process. Places like window sills or even a balcony are some of the best places for this. You will have to get some planting trays as well and spread your seeds around the trays. In order for the seeds to germinate they will need warm conditions and a lot of sunlight. If you experience problems with the soil drying out quickly you can remedy the problem by covering the top of the trays with plastic wrap.
In about 8 weeks or so your seeds should have grown into small plants a few inches tall. At this time you can transplant them into bigger containers and separate them if you want to. Be very careful during the transplanting process because the plants will be very delicate and can break easily.
Fill your chosen containers with soil then dig out a hole big enough for the plant. After you have placed the plant in the hole you can fill in around it with some more soil and lightly press it in around the roots. After this the seedlings need to be kept in sunlight some more and given adequate amounts of water so they can thrive.
Once your seedling has reach around 6 inches or so you can transplant it again to an even bigger container. It is at this time you can place the plant outdoors if you would like. The outside exposure to the sunlight at this stage will harden the seeds of the plant.
If your plant has sprouted some leaves and is getting plenty of sunshine and warm weather it will grow a few inches more. After this growth occurs you can do one last transplant to a bigger containers. During the final transplant stage be sure to bury the plant with only about 4 or 5 leaves above ground. This will help the plant to strengthen it’s roots and as a result it will yield healthier fruits.
Strong and healthy tomato plants can hold up a heavy yield of tomatoes but weak plants can break from too much weight. Once a tomato has hit the ground it will begin to rot. Provide your plants with plenty of warm sunlight and all the water they need for them to be healthy. During transplanting be very careful not to damage any of the plants as well.
The ability to grow healthy tomato plants that produce a lot of beautiful fruit is an easy way to get your family eating healthier. Homegrown tomatoes do not have all the chemicals that are found on commercial grown varieties. The addition of not having to buy tomatoes are the grocery stores also helps to lower your grocery spending as well.
Make sure you check out Mike’s latest free report: 22 Tomato Plant Problems Solved
