How to grow tomatoes from seed
This is the second in a series on growing and preserving tomatoes.
Seed catalogs are brimming with varieties of tomatoes, many more than you’ll find as seedlings this spring at local nurseries and garden centers. Growing tomatoes from seed requires a bit more work but with minimal investment, you’ll have healthy seedlings ready to transplant on Memorial Day.
For starters, you will need a warm location for seed germination and a bright spot for the seedlings. You’ll also need water, soluble fertilizer, containers, a tray with a cover and labels. A sterile, lightweight potting mix is optimal for seed starting and decreases the incidence of disease. Do not use garden soil to start tomatoes.
Containers should be about 2 inches deep and have adequate drainage. Repurposed yogurt cups or take-out containers will work as long as you make holes in the bottom for drainage. Reduce the chance of disease by sterilizing the containers. Soak them for 10 minutes in a bleach solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water and allow to dry thoroughly.
Cell packs are the way I usually go. They come in many sizes and fit well in seed trays that come with raised, clear plastic lids. Being frugal, I often reuse cell packs from year to year, sterilizing them after use. Peat pots and expandable peat pellets are also a good investment since they allow direct planting of seedlings into the garden.
Seed packets contain critical information, including when to start the seeds indoors and when to transplant outdoors. In Allegheny County, tomatoes should be seeded 5-8 weeks before transplanting — early to mid-April to allow for planting on Memorial Day. If started too early, seedlings become weak and leggy.
Also note the recommended depth of planting (¼ inch for tomatoes), temperature for germination (75-85 degrees) and the days to germination (7-10 days). Seed packets detail days to harvest, the time between planting outdoors and your first ripe tomato, as well as suggested spacing in the garden. Most tomatoes require 2-3 feet depending on cultivar and staking method. All tomatoes require full sun, at least six hours a day.
Before planting seeds, damp-