How to Grow Commercial Tomato Transplants
Tomatoes are nearly always started in a greenhouse because it shortens the time to harvest by at least two to three weeks. Greenhouse seeding also makes it easier to regulate seed depth and spacing, encourage germination and control weeds. Because tomato growers often do not have the facilities or labor to produce their own transplants, they rely on other growers for the seedlings they need. Tomato transplant production is not difficult, but it is a highly specialized task. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Greenhouse
- Irrigation system
- Planting trays or flats
- Potting mix
- Tomato seed
- Fertilizer
Instructions
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Secure contracts with tomato growers so you can plan for the type and amount of seed to plant. Start tomato seeds six to seven weeks before the grower wants the tomato plant seedlings delivered.
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Order tomato seed from a seed supplier. Use seed count and the germination rate provided to determine how much seed to purchase. For example, if you want to produce 5,000 seedlings using seed with a 90 percent germination rate, order 5556 seed (5000 divided by 0.9).
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If planting trays have been previously used, sterilize them with a 10-percent solution of commercial bleach and then rinse the trays thoroughly so no bleach residue remains.
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Purchase a peat moss-based, fine-textured growing media formulated for starting seedlings. Fill the trays with it.
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Sow seeds 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep in the trays. If you choose to use an automated seeder, then you need to cover the seed, which is simply placed on top, with a layer of vermiculite.
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Wrap the trays in plastic pallet wrap or place them in a germination room for 48 to 72 hours. Keep the temperature at 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Seedlings should poke through in five to six days.
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After seedlings emerge, fertilize them with water-soluble fertilizer once a week at a rate of 150 to 200 parts per million.
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Water tomato seedlings regularly. Keep temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night for optimal growth.
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