Do you want to grow tomato plants from the ground? By using healthy, ripe tomatoes (which you probably have in your fruit bowl), you can grow tomatoes in your own garden. Study the process below to learn how to grow tomatoes from seed, whether you choose to buy packaged tomato seeds or collect them yourself.
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Method 1 of 5: Choose Your Way
Step 1. Buy seeds from a trusted source
You can buy tomato seeds online from seed trading sites, local nurseries, or fellow growers.
Step 2. Take your own seeds from ripe tomatoes
You can squeeze the seeds out of ripe tomatoes and use them to grow tomatoes. See section two "Preparing Your Own Seeds," for further instructions on how to prepare wet seeds for planting.
Step 3. Choose a tomato variety
There are more than a thousand for you to choose from. They can be divided into three broad sections, which can help you decide which varieties you want to grow in your garden.
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Heirloom or Hybrid:
Heirlooms are tomatoes that have been genetically reproduced for generations without interbreeding. In essence, these tomatoes are pure tomatoes. Hybrid tomatoes are a cross between two varieties.
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Determinate or Indeterminate (Sure or Uncertain):
This classification method talks about the time span of a plant when it produces fruit. Determinate plants will bear fruit for several weeks, meanwhile, indeterminate plants will produce fruit throughout the fruiting season until the climate turns too cold.
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Shapes:
Tomatoes can also be classified into four types of shapes: globes, beefsteak, pasta, and cherries. Globe is the most popular shape, beefsteak is the largest, pasta is used to make tomato sauce, and cherry tomatoes are small tomatoes that are often used in salads.
Method 2 of 5: Preparing Your Own Seeds
Step 1. Choose tomatoes from healthy plants
Make sure your tomatoes are plant products that were bred on lineage or pollinated seeds. If you choose hybrid tomatoes, or those developed from manipulated seeds, the results will not be very good.
Step 2. Cut the tomatoes in half and scoop the contents into a plastic container
Use a container with a loose lid as you will be placing the tomato pieces and seeds in this container for several days. A layer of fungus will grow on the seeds. This process destroys seed diseases that can affect the next generation of plants.
Step 3. Label your container
If you're fermenting different types of beans, make sure you've labeled the container with the correct variety so you don't get mixed up. Put the lid on the top of the container but don't stick it, let the oxygen into it.
Step 4. Place the container in a dry place exposed to sunlight
This fermentation process is unsightly and smelly, so place the container where you don't travel often to avoid contact with it.
Step 5. Stir the contents of the container daily until a layer of mildew forms on the surface of the tomatoes
Usually, the fungus will form after 2-3 days. Make sure you harvest the tomato seeds right after the mold has formed to prevent the seeds from growing in the container.
Step 6. Harvest the seeds
Wear gloves, remove the mildew layer. The tomato seeds will fall to the bottom of the container.
Step 7. Pour water into the container to dilute the contents
Allow the tomato seeds to settle to the bottom of the container and continue to remove unwanted parts. Be careful not to let the seeds get carried away by the water.
Step 8. Catch the seeds with a sieve and rinse thoroughly
Step 9. Spread the seeds on a non-stick surface and dry for a few days
You can use glass or ceramic plates, cake trays, plywood, or window panes. Tomato seeds will be very difficult to remove if you use paper or cloth. Once the tomato seeds are dry, you can pack them in a sealed plastic bag until you are ready to plant them. Make sure you label each bag a variety.
Step 10. Store tomato seeds in a cool dark place
You can also place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator to simulate a winter climate. Do not place the tomatoes in the freezer or you will spoil them.
Method 3 of 5: Planting Your Seeds
Step 1. Start growing indoors for 6 to 8 weeks before you take them out
To prepare your tomato plants to survive outdoors, plant them indoors while it is still cold outside. If you plant them outside right away, the cold temperatures in early spring can stunt growth or even kill tomato seedlings. Start indoors to increase your production opportunities.
Step 2. Buy peat plastic pots or other similar small pots for growing tomato seedlings
You can buy them from your local seed or gardening supply store.
Step 3. Fill your pot with your desired soil mixture
For example, a mixture might use 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 coarse vermiculite, and 1/3 compost.
Step 4. Spread 2 to 3 seeds 0.625 cm deep in each pot
Bury with soil slowly.
Step 5. Keep the container indoors at a temperature of 21.1 to 26.6 degrees Celsius until the germination process begins
When this happens, move the seeds to sunlight or a UV lamp.
Step 6. Moisten the seeds daily for the first 7 to 10 days
Once you start seeing buds, you can water them less frequently. Most plants die from getting too much water (and rotting the roots) rather than water shortages, so reduce the frequency of watering once you see shoots.
Step 7. Check your pot daily
Once the plant is out of the ground, it will grow rapidly.
Method 4 of 5: Moving Your Plants
Step 1. See if your plant has grown to at least 15.2 cm tall
When there's no risk of the plant freezing and it's tall enough, you can move it outdoors.
Step 2. Train your plants
About a week before you take it out, you should adjust the plant to get used to the outdoor temperature. Bring the plant into the sun gradually, starting by placing the plant in an area that is still sufficiently protected from the sun, and add a little drying time each day.
Step 3. Prepare your garden area
It is recommended that you use soil that is well watered and has an adequate amount of organic juice.
- Consider mixing peat moss with soil. This is done to increase soil irrigation. Although peat moss can absorb and hold 10 to 20 times its dry load in water, it is considered dangerous for the environment and expensive. There are several environmental costs associated with the peat moss market, including the fuel required to dig waterways, rake and drain the peat, and transport it over long distances.
- However, if you still want to use peat moss, remove up to half of the soil and mix the soil in an equal ratio to peat moss. Put the mixture back into the planting area.
- If you are concerned about the effects peat soil might have, consider building a raised garden using wood. Make a raised garden box from two 2.5 x 20.3 cm cedar planks, which are commonly sold in 2.4 m lengths. Cedar is a good choice as a garden mat because it will not rot as it ages.
Step 4. Check the pH of the soil
Tomatoes will grow best when planted in soil with a pH between 6 and 7.
- Your local agriculture extension office should have pH testing forms, equipment, and instructions. Once you've made adjustments to your soil, check the pH again.
- If the pH is below 6, add dolomite lime to increase it.
- If the pH level is above 7, mix granular sulfur to lower it.
Step 5. Dig a hole about 0.6 m deep
This hole should be deep enough so that you can plant your shoots and only the top 1/4 of the plant will stick out from the soil surface. Place a spoonful of organic matter such as compost into the bottom of the hole. Compost will fertilize your tomatoes, and keep them from being too surprised that they are in a new location.
Step 6. Be careful about pulling the plant out of its pot and replanting it in the ground
Do not mess with the plant roots while you are doing this transplanting process. Make sure you plant the plant deep enough so that the soil touches the new set of leaves when you bury it. Gently pat the planting area.
Step 7. Fertilize the soil using fish pellets, chicken manure, or a mixture of low nitrogen phosphorus organic fertilizer with water
You must repeat the fertilization process every year.
Step 8. Use supports
This will ensure the plant has a place to support it as it grows and will make it easier for you to pick the fruit. Be careful not to damage the roots when planting the support.
Method 5 of 5: Growing Your Plants
Step 1. Feed and water frequently
Water at the base of the plant to avoid mold on the leaves. Sprinkle your plants with liquid seaweed and compost weekly to increase fruit production.
Step 2. Remove parasites from your plants
If you want your plants to grow healthier and produce more fruit, remove the parasites with your finger as they appear. Parasite here means small stems that grow from the main stem of the plant. Leave some of the rest around the top of the plant to prevent sun damage.
Step 3. Harvest the fruit
Fruit will appear about 60 days after transplanting. Check the plants daily after they start to ripen for the best taste. Twist the fruit and avoid pulling the branches.
Tips
- Some seeds take a long time to dry completely. Dry for a few weeks (or longer for larger grains) if needed.
- Beefsteak tomatoes are especially popular for slicing and stuffing into sandwiches. Italian tomatoes or pasta are used in cooking, canned products, and juices. Cherry tomatoes are often used to make salads.
- A ceiling fan is a good way to increase air circulation when you're growing your buds indoors.
- Plant tomatoes and water one to three times a week.
Warning
- Diseases like fusarium and verticillium that cause plant wilting are common, but you can prevent them by planting resistant cultivars, rotating plants, and keeping your garden clean.
- Never expose your seeds to direct sunlight if the temperature is over 29 degrees Celsius (even at this temperature, dark seeds can be damaged, as they will become much hotter than light seeds).
- Pests may attack your tomatoes, some of which are earthworms, whiteflies, and nematodes.
