How to Start Tomato Seeds Inside

Home grown tomatos are a summer treat.

A juicy red tomato fresh from the garden is a fabulous summer treat. Start tomato seedlings inside eight weeks before the final spring frost date for your growing zone. A wide choice of traditional and heirloom tomato varieties are available from local nurseries and seed companies. Watching the seedlings emerge is fun for all. Starting tomato seeds inside is a great learning project for young children, who will be amazed at the growth rate of the tiny plants.

Things You'll Need

• Potting soil
• Bowl
• Plant seedling tray
• Tomato seeds
• Spoon
• Plastic wrap
• Scissors
• Fluorescent light
• Timer

Instructions

1. Place the potting soil in the bowl and add water until the soil is the consistency of a wrung-out sponge. Fill the plant seedling tray cells with the soil.

2. Sprinkle three tomato seeds in each seedling tray cell. Use the backside of the spoon to gently press the seeds into the soil.

3. Add 1/4 inch additional potting soil and press with the back of the spoon.

4. Place plastic wrap over the seedling tray. Remove the plastic when germination occurs in several days. Keep the soil moist, but not over-wet.

5. Thin the planting cells. Cut off two of the three seedlings in each planting cell with the scissors, leaving the strongest.

6. Position a fluorescent light with a timer 2 inches above the seedlings to provide 16 hours of light each day for six to eight weeks.

7. Harden the plants. Before transferring the tomato plants to a garden, harden them to the outdoors. Beginning with one hour outside, increase the time outdoors by an additional hour each day for a week.

References

• Food Gardening Guide :: National Gardening Association