Can You Grow Heirloom Tomatoes From Seeds Saved From the Previous Year?

Heirloom tomatoes have a different appearance and richer taste than regular tomatoes.

Not only can you grow heirloom tomatoes from saved seeds, you have to. Heirloom tomatoes are tomato varieties that have been passed down through generations by saving the seeds from mature plants to cultivate the next season. Unlike modern hybrids, heirloom seeds produce plants that have the same traits as the parent plants.

Starting Heirloom Seeds

Plant the heirloom seeds about 1/2 inch deep in a miniature peat pot full of sterile seed-starting mix. Seeds should be started six to eight weeks before the last frost.

Seed Care

Keep the pots moist, and place a plastic bag over the pots to retain humidity. Seeds sprout best when the soil remains between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Germination

As soon as sprouts appear, remove the plastic bag, and move the pots to a sunny windowsill. When the third set of leaves appears, move the heirloom tomato plant into a 4-inch pot, being careful not to damage the roots.

Moving Outside

Move the pots to an outdoor location and cover with a plastic milk jug to retain heat and moisture when they are large enough to transplant. After a few days, transplant each plant into healthy, organic soil, and water them. Keep the soil slightly moist.

References

• Gardening With the Helpful Gardener: Tomatoes - Growing Tomatoes
• Victory Seeds: Growing Tomatoes From Seeds