Park Seed Garden Journal

I get emails nearly every day looking for vegetable seed starting tips, especially regarding tomatoes.  Gardeners want all the benefits of starting tomato plants from seed, but they worry about the difficulties of getting the plants started and caring for them until it's time to put them in the ground.  They look online for tips, and the whole process seems a bit overwhelming.  The fact is, though, that it's remarkably easy if you use the right tools.

Once you've chosen your tomato seeds, the next step is to figure out when to get them started.  It is best to start your plants indoors during late winter.  You could sow your seeds directly outdoors once the growing season comes (after night-time temperatures are remaining above 55 degrees), but that will mean weaker plants and a much shorter production season (and thus, fewer delicious home-grown tomatoes).  To figure out when to start your tomato seeds indoors, you need to figure out when the anticipated last frost date for your area is.  The best way to figure this out is to contact a local extension office, garden club, University, or Agriculture Department.  Once you've figured out the last frost date, count back five to seven weeks, and that's your start date (if you're starting later than that, that's OK, but you'll have a shorter season).

Once you've got your tomato seeds and you know when you'll be sowing them, you need to get your seed starting mix.  You could use soil for this, but I strongly recommend using sterile starting mix.  This will protect your tomato seedlings from competition, disease, and pests that will almost inevitably be in non-sterile soil.  Another option is to invest in a seed starting kit.  Starter kits that have individual cells for each tomato plant and a built-in watering system are the easiest way to start seeds of most types.  If you go that route, follow the instructions that come with your kit. 

To minimize work later, you may want to start your seeds in individual containers.  This way you don't have to go through the trouble of splitting the plants later on.  Mix your starter mix with warm water until it is moist all the way through, but not soggy or wet.  This may take a while to mix, because your starter mix should be very dry out of the bag.  Then sow your seeds and cover lightly with about a
quarter inch of moist starter mix.  Then put your seeds somewhere where they will stay relatively warm.  Temperatures between seventy and eighty degrees (F) are optimal, though if it's a bit cooler, your tomato seeds should still germinate, though it could take a good bit longer.  If you don't have a good warm spot (like on top of a refrigerator), a seed starting heat mat can be an inexpensive way to keep your seeds warm.  Keep in mind that it is warmth and moisture that trigger germination for tomato seeds, so be sure to keep your starting mix warm and moist.  I've found that, if you're not using a seed starting kit that controls watering from below, misting very thoroughly with a spray bottle can keep your tomato seeds sufficiently moist without disturbing them with flows of water.

If you keep your seeds warm and moist, and you're using quality seeds from a reputable source, your tomato plants should start to sprout after between five and ten days, and it will be time to move your seedlings into the light.