How Far Apart Do I Plant Tomato Seeds?

The most popular vegetable crop for home gardeners is tomatoes. Just as tomato plants need water, light and nutrients to grow healthy and produce, they also need the right amount of space.

Tomato plants require space to promote high yields.

Significance

Plants planted too closely together compete for nutrients, water and space, which can reduce yield significantly. According to the University of Missouri Extension, crowded plants have less air circulation and are more vulnerable to disease outbreaks.

Considerations

The type of tomato plant you are growing will determine how much space the plant needs to grow. Some small varieties of cherry or grape tomatoes will grow well in a hanging basket; while indeterminate varieties, which continue to grow throughout the growing season, can reach heights of 10 feet and require a lot of space.

Spacing

The University of Illinois Extension recommends spacing dwarf tomato plants one foot apart, and staked plants at least 15 inches to 24 inches apart. Plants in ground beds or trained on trellises should be spaced two feet to three feet apart. Indeterminate varieties should be spaced four feet to six feet apart.

Sowing

When sowing tomato seeds directly into the ground, three or four seeds can be placed in each mound to ensure germination. Once seedlings are two to three weeks old, they can be thinned by snipping away all but the healthiest plant in each mound at the soil line.

Containers

When growing tomato plants in pots, the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at the Ohio State University Extension recommends a container at least 12 inches in width or diameter and 12 inches deep for each individual tomato plant.

References

• Growing Home Garden Tomatoes
• Watch Your Garden Grow: Tomatoes
• Growing Cucumbers, Peppers, Squash And Tomatoes In Containers