How to Grow Tomatoes from Seeds

ethod 1

Choosing Your Method

1. 
   1
   Buy seeds from a reputable source. You can buy seeds online at seed exchange sites, from your local nursery, or from other gardeners.  
2. 

   2

   Dry your own seeds from a ripe tomato. You can actually squeeze the seeds from a ripe tomato and grow seedlings from them. Refer to section two, "Fermenting Your Own Seeds," below for instructions on how to prepare wet seeds for planting.
3. 
   3
   Choose a variety. There are over one thousand different varieties of tomato plants available. They can mostly be classified into three categories that can help you decide which variety to plant in your garden.

   • Heirloom or Hybrid: Heirlooms are tomatoes that have been genetically reproduced for several generations without any cross-breeding. Essentially, they're pure-bred tomatoes. Hybrid tomatoes are a cross between two varieties.
   • Determinate or Indeterminate: This method of classification describes the length of time for which a plant produces fruit. Determinate plants produce for a few weeks, while indeterminate plants produce fruit throughout an entire growing season until climate conditions become too cold.
   • Shape: Tomatoes are also classified into four categories of shape: globe, beefsteak, paste, and cherry. Globe is the most popular shape, beefsteak is the largest, paste tomatoes are used to make sauces, and cherry tomatoes are small, bite-sized tomatoes often used in salads

   

   1

   Choose tomatoes from a healthy plant. Make sure your tomatoes are from a plant that was grown from an heirloom or open pollinated seed. If you choose tomatoes from a hybrid, or a plant with chemically-treated seeds, the results may not be as impressive.
     
4. 
   
   2
   Cut your tomatoes in half and scoop out the insides into a plastic container. You will want a container with a loose-fitting lid as the tomato pulp and seeds will be sitting in the container for a few days. A layer of mold will develop on the seeds. This process can destroy many seed-borne diseases that could affect the next generation of plants.
5. 
   3
   Label your container. If you are fermenting several different types of seeds, be sure to label the container with the correct variety to avoid any mix-ups. Set the lid on top of the container but do not seal it to allow oxygen to reach the pulp
6. 
   4
   Set the pulp in a warm place out of direct sunlight. The fermenting process isn't pretty, or pleasant to the nose, so set the container out of the way somewhere to avoid contact with the mixture.
7. 
   6
   Harvest the seeds. Wearing gloves, scoop off the moldy layer. The seeds will have sunken to the bottom of the container.
8. 
   7
   Pour water into the container to dilute the mixture. Let the seeds settle at the bottom and continue to pour off the unwanted parts of the solution. Be careful not to throw away the seeds.  
9. 
   8
   Catch the seeds with a strainer and rinse them thoroughly.
10. 
    9
    Spread the seeds over a non-stick surface and allow them to dry for several days. A glass or ceramic flat dish, baking sheet, a piece of plywood or a window screen all work well. It can be very difficult to remove dried seeds from paper or cloth. When they are dry, you can package them in a sealed plastic bag until you are ready to plant them. Be sure to label the variety of seeds on the package.
11. 
    10
    Store the seeds in a cool, dark place. You can also place them in an airtight container in your refrigerator to simulate a winter climate. Do not place the seeds in the freezer, doing so will damage them

12. thod 3

    Planting Your Seeds

    1. 
       1
       Start tomato plants from seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost. To prepare your tomato plants to be transferred outdoors, start your seedlings indoors while it is still cold outside. Cool temperatures in early spring can stunt growth or even kill young seedlings. Start your seedlings indoors to improve your production chances.
    2. 2
       Purchase plastic peat pots or similar small pots for growing seedlings. You can find these pots at your local nursery or garden supply store.
       
       
    3. 
       3
       Fill your peat pot with the soil mix of your choice. For example, one mix could be made using 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 coarse vermiculite, and 1/3 compost.
    4. 
       4
       Sow 2 to 3 seeds 1/4-inch deep in soil in each pot. Cover with soil and pat down lightly.
    5. 
       5
       Store the containers in room of 70 to 80 °F (21 to 27 °C) until germination occurs. When the seeds germinate, move them into full sun or under grow lights.
    6. 
       6
       Mist the seeds daily for the first 7 to 10 days. When you start to see sprouts, you can water less frequently. More plants are killed by too much water (that rots the roots) than too little water so water sparingly after the plants sprout.
    7. 
       7
       Check your pots every day. Once the plants peek out of the soil, they will grow pretty fast read morehttp://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Tomatoes-from-Seeds
13.   

Related Posts:

Tweet