With a little practice, you can expect great results growing tomatoes from seed. Tomato seedlings that enjoy stress-free lives with no serious setbacks quickly adapt to garden life, and few things are more rewarding that harvesting sun ripened tomatoes from plants you started as tiny seeds.
How long does it take to grow tomatoes from seed?
Tomatoes take 60 days to more than 100 days to harvest, depending on the variety (see more about varieties below). Due to their relatively long growing season requirements (and late planting date), most gardeners plant small “starter plants” or transplants instead of seeds after the weather has warmed up in spring.
Are tomatoes difficult to grow from seed?
Growing tomatoes from seed isn’t hard, but there are a few things to be aware of. As with all things agrarian, timing, genetics and environment have to be in alignment to reap the rewards of your efforts.
How many seeds do you need to start a tomato plant?
Plant Your Tomato Seeds
Place 2 or 3 seeds in each container or cell, and use a seed starter mix such as Miracle-Gro® Seed Starting Potting Mix to encourage fast root growth. Fill your containers with the potting mix and then add water until it’s the consistency of a wrung-out sponge.
What month do you plant tomatoes?
Tomatoes run on warmth; plant in late spring and early summer except in zone 10, where they are a fall and winter crop. For a head start on growing, plant starter plants instead of seeds.
How many tomatoes do you get from one plant?
On average, a tomato plant can yield 10 to 30 pounds of tomatoes. Depending on the size of the tomatoes, this can be roughly 20 to 90 tomatoes from a single plant. When grown in a square foot garden, each tomato plant can typically yield up to 20 pounds, depending on environmental factors.
How often do I water tomato seeds?
5. Tomatoes Need Warmth and Light. Tomato seeds kept at warm room temperature and sprayed with water twice daily should sprout within a week. As soon as the seedlings break the surface, move them to bright light.
How many tomato seeds are in one hole?
How many tomato seeds should I plant per hole? It’s ideal to plant two seeds per hole, the extra seed will work as an insurance when the other seeds fails to sprout.
Should I soak tomato seeds before planting?
ANSWER: Soaking your tomato seeds before planting, or letting them sprout on a damp paper towel, can help increase the rate of successful germination, resulting in more healthy plants that make it to your garden.
When should you start tomato seeds indoors?
The best way to get a head start on growing tomatoes is to start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last spring frost date in your region. Whether you’re growing cherry tomatoes or hot peppers, visit your local garden center to pick up supplies and seeds.
Can I grow tomatoes indoors?
Find the Perfect Place: Tomatoes won’t effectively grow indoors unless the conditions are like those of an outdoor garden. The plants need a good eight hours of sunlight per day and a surrounding temperature of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Consider a spot on a window sill or near a screen door.
Do tomatoes grow better in pots or in the ground?
Tomato plants perform best in soil that is loose, rich, and drains well, which means they translate easily to container gardens—especially more compact determinate tomatoes, or bush varieties. Indeterminate tomato varieties that grow larger have more extensive root systems and do better planted directly in the ground.
How long does it take for tomato seeds to produce fruit?
between 60 to 100 days
In general, a tomato’s growing season from seed to maturity and harvest is anywhere between 60 to 100 days. This is a big part of why tomato plants are typically bought as seedlings from nurseries, as they’ve already grown a bit and are ready to be planted straight in the garden.
Can I plant tomatoes in March?
It’s finally March! March is the perfect time to get those tomato and pepper seeds started indoors so they can be ready for an early spring planting! Also now is a great time to start planting cool weather vegetables that can withstand those last frost days of March and April.
What is the secret to growing tomatoes?
Tomato plants love the sun, so you’ll get the best results by growing them somewhere with as much direct sunlight as possible. While tomato plants can survive on 6 hours of direct sun per day, they’ll be happiest with 7–8 hours.
Is coffee grounds good for your tomato plants?
Coffee grounds contain around 2% nitrogen as well as varying amounts of phosphorus and potassium which are all very important for the growth of tomato plants. By mixing some coffee grounds into the soil below your tomato plants you’re introducing these nutrients that the plants need to thrive.
What is the average lifespan of a tomato plant?
A tomato plant typically lives for one growing season (6-8 months) when grown outdoors, but when nurtured in ideal or controlled growing conditions indoors, tomato plants can survive between 2-5 years. Propagating healthy cuttings may also extend its life indefinitely.
Do tomato plants regrow every year?
As a general rule, tomato plants do not grow back every year since they cannot withstand frost. In areas that don’t experience frost, tomato plants can live and produce fruit for up to 2 years.
How many tomato plants do I need for a family of 4?
Number of Plants Per Person
Though the fruit are small, plant one to four plants per person, advises Harvest to Table. This equals to four to 16 plants for a family of four. Slicing tomatoes are used fresh and should be grown in the same numbers as cherry tomato plants.
Should I water tomatoes every day?
So, how often should you water tomato plants? Tomato plants need to be watered daily or every other day unless you have had recent rain. The plants need 1-1.5 inches of water per week, but container-grown tomato plants need to be watered twice per day.
What’s the easiest vegetable to grow?
10 Easiest Vegetables to Grow Yourself
- Lettuce. We’ve never known a garden that cannot grow lettuce.
- Green Beans. Beans grow even in fairly poor soils, because they fix the nitrogen as they go!
- Peas.
- Radishes.
- Carrots.
- Cucumbers.
- Kale.
- Swiss Chard.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.