How to Start Tomato Seeds Indoors With a Fan

A fan helps tomatoes grow better indoors.

If you live in colder climates, it is a good idea to start your own tomato seeds indoors about six to eight weeks before the last frost. If you want the sweetest and earliest tomatoes on your block, starting them indoors is necessary. When you plant the tomatoes outdoors, it can be a shock and set them back. Use a fan to duplicate some of the weather conditions the tomato plants may encounter outdoors.

Things You'll Need

• 6-cell packs
• Potting soil
• Tray
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Plastic
• Grow lights

Instructions

1. Fill one or several six-cell packs with germinating potting soil. Sow one or two seeds per cell. If you sow two seeds per cell, cut out one of the weaker tomato plant so there is only one plant per cell.

2. Cover the seeds with 1/4 inch potting soil. Tamp the soil lightly over the top of the seeds so they have good contact with the soil.

3. Water the soil thoroughly but gently. A spray bottle works great to water the top. Place the packs in a tray and add water to the bottom of the tray. This will ensure that the soil becomes wet and the seeds will germinate. Do not keep water in the bottom of the tray or the soil will stay soggy, causing the seeds to rot.

4. Cover the seedling packs with plastic. Place in a warm spot that stays about 70 degrees Fahrenheit so the seeds germinate. Watch the soil so it does not dry out.

5. Place the tray of seedlings under grow lights when the seeds sprout. Tomato plants need about 14 to 16 hours of light per day to grow. If they do not get enough light, they will grow spindly or leggy.

6. Turn the fan on low, but do not have the wind blowing right on the plants. The fan's wind should move the air gently around the tomato plants. This air movement will help stimulate the stems so they grow thicker and stronger. A fan also will help cool the temperature if it becomes too hot from the grow lights. Allow the fan to run from 5 to 10 minutes, twice a day.

7. Set the plants outdoors for an hour or two to harden them off and further prepare them for transplanting outdoors. When the danger of frost has passed, transplant them into the garden or in big containers.

References

• Growing Tomatoes: Starting Tomato Seeds
• The Gardener's Network: How to Grow Tomatoes