Growing Tomatoes From Seeds – Now The Temperatures Are Rising

Growing Tomatoes from Seeds – It is Spring and time to start planting

This is a good way to get the tomatoes that you want rather than the ones that are available at the garden centres. They don’t often have a wide range and with over 7000 to choose from you should be able to find one which you prefer. You can purchase seeds from many different outlets – online, garden centres, some Do it yourself stores and mail order. Frequently the mail order ones are small plug plants which are usually very high-quality although I have to say for me there is just something about watching that first sprout poke its way out of the compost which I find sadly very fulfilling.

Growing Tomatoes from Seed

If this is your first time at growing tomatoes from seeds it doesn’t have to be an expensive venture. Seedlings can be grown in any little pot or container which has decent drainage holes. Yoghurt pots are very good and usually readily available. If you want to take this up as a hobby it is worth buying seed trays and a propagator, though, if you are just developing a couple of plants to have in a grow bag on your terrace, balcony or in your hanging basket, plastic bags with an elastic band around the top of the pot can be just as good as a propagator.

It is always a decent idea to cultivate a few additional seeds than you expect to plant just in case you have one of those mishaps that befall us all like knocking plants over or having some small bug consume them. If you have extra plants, you can always give them to associates or neighbours and spread the word.

Sow the seeds indoors if possible for quicker germination and keep them in a really light area, like your conservatory or windowsill so they do not get too leggy looking for the light.

The perfect temperature wants to be eighteen to twenty degrees centigrade (65-70ºF) and if you are able to use a propagator that will be a plus. This acts as a mini green house for your plants. The base of a fizzy drinks bottle of the right size can be cut and placed over the pot can give the same effect. Once the seedling appears and has cast off its seed pod, the plants need to have air circulating or the seedling may rot. Consequently, the top wants to be taken off the propagator.

To summarise:

* The seeds will grow between, 8-12 days depending on the temperature. It is sensible to water new seedlings in the tray so that they are not knocked over with watering

* If you like trying something from the heritage variety of tomatoes, you can link up with “The Heritage Seed Library” here in the UK or “The Seed Savers Exchange” in the US both of which have seed swap registers. If you wish to save seeds from the Heritage tomatoes for the following year or to share you can:

* Carefully scoop out the seeds from your chosen tomato

* Put onto a plate taking care to separate them

* Let them to dry out naturally

* Put in a paper envelope with details of the tomato and any special growing instructions

* Store in a cool place either in the fridge or the freezer – I put them in the freezer in freezer bags. The zip up ones are good.

If you want to know more about how to plant tomatoes then check out http://www.howtoplanttomatoes.com/

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