If you are starting your own tomato plants instead of buying them, it is possible to get a jump start on the season. Before a tomato plant can grow, the seeds have to germinate. By sprouting the seeds first and then planting them, you are helping to speed up the process.
Soak Tomato Seeds
Place the tomato seeds in a bowl of tepid water. Leave them to soak for a period of about two hours. During that time, the seeds soak up the water needed to awaken them and think it is time to sprout.
Prepare The Cell Packs
While the seeds are soaking, take that time to fill the cell packs with potting soil. Even though potting soil is sold at most garden supply stores, many gardeners prefer to mix their own. An easy recipe for mixing your own is to combine equal amounts of compost, peat moss and perlite. Fill as many cells packs as you have seeds to plant.
Sow the Tomato Seeds
Remove a seed from the water. Place one seed in the middle of each cell. Push the seed so it is a 1/4 inch below the surface. Your finger or a pencil works well for this. Cover the seeds with the soil and firm the soil gently with your finger.
Grow in a Warm Area
Place the cell packs in a container filled with water. Allow the cell packs to soak until you visibly see moisture on top of the soil. Remove them from the water and place a piece of clear plastic over the top. Set the cell packs in a tray without drainage holes for easier carrying. The tray will also contain any excess water from the soil each time you need to apply moisture. Set the tray on a heat mat set to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Not everyone owns a heat mat, so an alternative spot would be on top of a refrigerator.
Check the soil each day to make sure it is moist. Mist the soil whenever it starts to dry out. It takes 3 days or longer before the seeds break ground. When the tomatoes have sprouted, remove the clear plastic cover.
Move to a Bright Area
The seedlings need light to grow, so place them in a bright window, or under grow lights. If using grow lights, the distance between the top leaves and the light should be about 4 inches. If you have them too close, it will burn the leaves. Always check the soil to make sure it is evenly moist, but do not water so much that the soil is soggy. Overly wet soil can cause the tomato to rot.
Harden the Seedlings Outdoors
When the tomatoes are 6 inches tall and all danger of frost is past, harden them outdoors over the course of a week before planting them in your prepared garden. Take the plants outside for one hour and gradually increase time outdoors by one hour each day. Place the cell packs in a protected area, not in direct sunlight.
Transplant them into the prepared garden. Choose an area that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight each day.
Source:
“Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening”; J.I.Rodale; 1999
“Kitchen Harvest: Growing Organic Fruit, Vegetables & Herbs in Containers”; Susan Berry; 2007