Thereβs nothing quite as perfect as a ripe tomato β that distinctive fresh, green smell of a sun-warmed fruit that bursts inΒ the mouth. It speaks of the summerβs heat like nothing else in the garden β but it does require starting tomatoes indoors.
There are months and months to go before we can enjoy that next fresh tomato, but the planning has to start soon to make it happen. By starting tomatoes indoors, they'll have a head start on growth, which brings maturity forward, producing fruits earlier in the season.
While tomato plants may be available at the garden store in the springtime, growingΒ them from seedΒ provides choice for unique characteristics, flavours, colours, and heritage.
Tomatoes are divided into two rough categories. Bush tomatoesΒ produce fruit around the same timeΒ onΒ relatively compact plants, while vine tomatoes bear fruit over a longer time on taller plants. Thereβs plenty of diversity within these categories as well. Tomatoes vary in colour, size, shape, flavour, and time of ripening. The delightful thing about growingΒ tomatoes from seedΒ is the potential to experiment over time and look for favourites.
First, consider the ultimate goal ofΒ growing tomatoes. This will helpΒ narrow down the diverse choices that are available.Β If season-long snacking is the aim,Β cherry tomatoes that vine, like Sweet Million,Β might be a good choice. They areΒ petite, but superΒ productive throughout the summer. If growing for canning, look for paste tomatoes or firm canning tomatoes. Bush varieties like SupremoΒ or Manitoba produce abundant fruit at one time, so theyβre ideal for a single summer canning session.
Think about growing conditions as well. Tomatoes want a warm, bright place to grow, and itβs best to situate themΒ near to the house for easy watering.Β Bonny BestΒ andΒ Early CascadeΒ are sturdy varieties that will stand up to cooler weather.Β To prevent certain issues that can occur on tomato plants later in summer,Β go for early season producers like Early GirlΒ or Oregon Spring.
Once the variety has been selected, itβs time to set up a place whereΒ the seedlings can grow.Β To speed up germination and to insure that the seeds all germinate at once, it's a good idea to useΒ a seedlingΒ heat mat.Β The "bottom heat" provided by such a mat can hasten germination byΒ one to two weeks.
The best time to sow tomato seeds is mid-March to early April. By the time the weather begins to warm in June and July,Β the plants should be large and tough enough to withstand the weather in the great outdoors. When the time is right, sow tomato seeds in pots in a high qualityΒ seed starting mix.Β Dampen the soil so that itβs moist but not squishy to the touch, and sow two or three seeds Β½ to 1cm deep. Keep tomatoΒ seedlingsΒ brightly lit byΒ a grow light or in a very bright window. This will keep the young plants tougher and more compact.
What about transplanting the seedlings out into the garden?Β This isΒ all about temperature. Early tomatoes can be planted outside when nighttime temperatures rise above 7Β°C (45Β°F), while all other tomatoes prefer minimum nighttime temperatures of 10Β°C (50Β°F) or higher. Err on the side of caution, as tomatoes are tropical plants that really dislike the cold.
When the weather has warmed up, transition tomato seedling into the outdoors by hardening them off, getting them used to the sun, wind, and weather. Place the seedlings in a sheltered place outdoors for a few hours every day, gradually increasing this over the course of about ten days. After a week, begin to leave them outdoors at night, unless the nighttime temperatures are still questionable.
When itβs time to move the seedlings into the soil, itβs important to give them a solid foundation. Tomatoes are notorious water hogs, and aΒ deep root system will help them soak up enough water to get through hot summer days.
Tomato plants develop so-called adventitious roots around the base of their stems. WhenΒ they are transplanted intoΒ to the garden,Β they can be sunk down so the soil touchesΒ the first set of true leaves.
Transplant time is also the first and best opportunity to give tomato plants a good feed. We like to dig a handful of balanced organic fertilizer into the soil at the bottom of each planting hole. Some gardeners like to incorporate worm castings as well, which seems to reduce transplant shock.
Is this your first year to try growing tomatoes from seed? Check out our Complete Indoor Growing Kit.