How to Grow Tomato Transplants
Growing tomato transplants assures an inexpensive supply of high quality transplants when they are needed. For home gardens transplants can be purchased in the spring, but may not be available at other times for growing indoors or in the greenhouse through the winter. Starting transplants early in a cold frame or greenhouse allows a head start on the tomato season. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Small pots or flats
- Seed starter mix or potting soil
- Tomato seeds
- Water
- Heating pad (optional)
- Greenhouse, cold frame or sunny window
- Grow lights (optional)
Instructions
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Plant tomato seeds in small pots or flats filled with a sterile seed starter mix or potting soil. Plant two or three seeds in a small pot approximately 1/4-inch deep or broadcast seed in rows 3 inches apart in a flat.
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2
Water the seeds and keep the soil mix moist until the seeds germinate. The soil needs to be kept at above 75 degrees F for seeds to germinate. The flat or pots can be placed on a heating pad if necessary to keep the soil warm. Seeds germinate in four to six days.
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Place the seedlings in a sunny location or under grow lights. Thin the plants, keeping the healthiest plant in each pot once the first set of true leaves appear. In a flat, thin to 2 inches apart.
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4
Water the tomato seedlings as needed. Grow the tomato plants until approximately 8 to 10 inches tall, when they will be ready for transplanting.
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5
Harden off tomato transplants before planting. Move the plants outdoors two to three hours the first day, increasing exposure daily for four to five days until they are ready to transplant.
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6
Transplant the tomatoes outdoors when the soil temperature is above 60 degrees F and the danger of frost has passed.
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Tips & Warnings
Start more tomato transplants than needed---tomato germination rates can vary widely depending on seed quality, variety and growing temperature. Several seeds planted in each pot increase the number of usable transplants, but some pots may not have any seeds that germinate.
