Few gardeners can envision a proper summer vegetable garden without tomatoes. With their abundant green foliage and ripe red fruits tomatoes are as much of a visual delight as they are a culinary delight! Fortunately, they are also easy to grow and thanks to the vast variety of tomato types, there is a perfect plant for everyone regardless of your space constraints.
Many people mistakenly believe that tomato plants are near impossible to start from seed and that the only way to have tomatoes in their garden is to purchase potted plants from their local plant nursery. While buying already growing plants has its benefits, starting tomatoes from seed really isn’t as difficult as you may have been led to believe. By starting your own seeds you open the door to a much greater number of plant types, as well as the ability to start your seeds in exactly the manner you wish them to be grown (1000% organically for example).
To begin, you need to select the absolute best seeds possible. Buy seeds from a reputable seed catalog or local grower. Avoid seeds that show signs of damage or deformity, or those that have already germinated. Seeds should be nearly perfect for best results.
Since there are so many varieties of tomatoes, pay close attention to the plant description before you purchase it! There are three main varieties of tomatoes: cherry tomatoes, determinates, and indeterminates. Cherry tomatoes are small, bunching tomatoes that are prefect for salads or snacks. They are extremely easy to grow, and are the most tolerant of the tomato types. They are also excellent for container gardening.
Determinates are often called bush tomatoes because they remain small and bushy. They are generally early crop tomatoes making them ideal for spring gardens. Because of their smaller, bushy size they rarely need staking or caging and make excellent plants for container gardens. Indeterminates are later crop vine tomatoes that will grow and grow until they are pruned back. They require staking or caging.
Once you have your seeds, you need a place for them to grow. Any manner of pot or planter can be used, however, keep in mind that your seedlings will eventually need to be transferred into a garden (or bigger pot if you are container gardening) so ease of removal from the pot you start them in is important. Your growing place will also need to be compatible with where the plants will reside. A narrow planter is excellent for a windowsill; commercial seed starter flats are practical for growers who utilize grow lights. It is also important that any container you choose for your tomato plants provides good drainage.
Seeds and containers can’t get much done without a good soil, and a good growing medium is critical to starting tomato seeds. Tomatoes are a bit picky about the type of soil they grow in. Like most vegetables they like a slightly acid soil. If you have rich garden soil available it is perfectly acceptable to use your own soil. It should be free of rocks and debris. However, composted soil should not be used, and compost should not be added to your garden soil. Most compost contains seeds from other plants that will cause your tomato seedlings to have to compete for space and nutrients resulting in poor growth, and even a complete lack of germination and growth all together. If you are purchasing potting soil, you will need to add nutrients to it. Tomato seedlings need a great deal of nutrients to get going. Adding a fertilizer specifically designed for tomatoes or manure is an excellent way to get your seeds the nutrients they need. In addition, adding crushed egg shells, bone meal or a commercial calcium additive to your potting soil will help prevent a major cause of tomato plant death; blossom end rot. Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium in soil and results in blossoms falling off of the plants, which of course means no tomatoes!
Now that you have all your supplies, plant your seeds to the depth specified by the package, water, and wait for them to germinate! Seedlings should emerge within a week or a bit more, and will grow very quickly! Young plants should be transplanted into the garden or a large container when they are about 6 inches tall. If your seedlings are going into the garden, begin the process of acclimating them to the environment about a week before transplanting if possible. This process of ‘hardening off’ the seedlings will reduce the shock of transplanting and result in less plant loss.
Once your plant is in its final destination, a sturdy cage or stake should be placed next to it to provide the tomato vine with support as it grows. Which method to use is a matter of preference. Commercially available cages are extremely easy to use, and don’t require that the plant be tied as it grows as is necessary when using a stake.
Tomato plants are sun loving, and relish full sun. At least six hours a day of full sun is required for tomatoes to produce good fruits. They also benefit vastly from being side dressed with a good fertilizer of either manure or a commercially available product designed for tomatoes. The plants should be kept evenly moist throughout the growing season. With a little care and planning you can have a wonderful variety of tomatoes through the growing season in your region.
