Planting The Seeds Brings Joy When Growing Tomatoes
Planting seeds and nuturing tomato plants from them is not particularly demanding and is also very satisfying. With so many tomato varieties to select from, it is both effortless and enjoyable finding seed packets and experimenting with them.
We start by planting and growing the tomato seeds indoors for about six to eight weeks. This would normally be done in the early spring before transferring them to the outside garden.
The seeds should be scattered thinly over potting compost placed in a planting tray. The seeds can also be planted in a pot that can be placed in the sunlight. The tomato seeds prefer warm conditions so it’s best to keep your planting tray in a warm area or on a windowsill. A greenhouse is an ideal environment for this.
To keep the seeds from drying out, a widespread trick is to place a layer of cling film over the planting tray. Once the seedlings begin to appear, the cling film must be removed. Moist soil is preferred by tomato plants but you must ensure they are not over watered.
Tomato plants also love being in sunlight. If you are growing your seedlings in a tray on a windowsill, make sure that you turn the tray every day or two, to ensure that all of the plants gain access to the light, allowing them to grow evenly. If the seedlings and plants do not receive enough light whilst indoors, they may become bent as they strain for the light or grow thin and leggy.
Once the seedlings have grown to a height of about 3-5cm (1-2 inches), they can be transplanted to their individual pots, whilst ensuring the roots are not damaged. Lift the seedlings by the leaves and not by the stem to avoid damage to them.
Create a hole in the soil big enough for the seedling’s roots and place the seedling in it. Back fill the hole with compost and immediately water the seedling. Lightly press the compost around the roots ensuring that the roots have good contact with the surrounding soil.
Ensure the seedlings are kept in good sunlight and are turned often to help with even growth. When the seedlings have reached a height of roughly 20cm (8 inches) tall, they should be transplanted again into larger containers or pots.
Before relocating the seedlings into the outdoor garden, they need to be left outside in the sun for a few hours each day to harden them off. This will help with a smooth acclimatisation to the outdoor temperatures.
The seedlings should have grown about half a dozen leaves or so by the time the weather is warm enough for them to be transplanted outside. Bury the seedlings in the soil ensuring that only the top four leaves are visible above the surface.
Bury the stems deep in the ground to ensure that the plant develops a sturdy root system, assisted by the fact that tomato plants grow roots all along it’s stem. A stronger plant will develop, better able to carry the weight of the fruit and so avoiding rotting fruit from ground contact. The stronger and healthier the plant, the better the output.
Tom Brown is a longstanding tomato grower and loves to share his knowledge with others. To receive more useful information on growing tomatoes, visit his website and sign up for his free mini-course or, for a more detailed guide to growing tomatoes, be sure to look at Tom’s fantastic e-book Guide to Growing Big Red Juicy Tomatoes.
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