Growing plants in the garden is a great way to save money and produce healthy vegetables for your kitchen. If you are a tomato lover and want to start using tomatoes from your own garden in your cooking, try growing tomatoes from seed. The steps are quite simple, and it will be a lot of fun for you while producing lots of delicious-tasting tomatoes.
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Method 1 of 4: Getting the Best Tomato Seeds
Step 1. Learn the area where you live
Like any other plant, tomatoes need ideal environmental conditions to grow vigorously and produce delicious fruit. Some types of tomatoes must be grown where they come from and will not grow well elsewhere or in other parts of the world. Do some research on the type of tomato that is right for your environment and location by contacting your local agriculture office. There may be a unique hybrid tomato variety that can grow perfectly in your local soil and climate that you may not have heard of or thought of before.
Step 2. Choose a type of tomato
There are many varieties of tomatoes, each with a unique color, size, and taste. Tomatoes can range in size from the size of a grape to the size of a baseball, and can come in a variety of colors, except for blue. The type of food you will make, the taste of the tomato you need, and the way you want it to grow can all be considerations that you should think about when choosing the type of tomato to be planted.
- There are two types of growth in tomato plants: determinate and indeterminate. The determinate type grows upright and bears fruit quickly, but its life cycle is short. The indeterminate species grow vines and are like vines, and can keep producing fruit for a longer period of time.
- "Red globe" or "beefsteak" tomatoes are the traditional variety, and are often eaten whole or sliced, for example for sandwiches. Plum or roma tomatoes are used for cooking, canned tomatoes, and in tomato sauce. Cherry or grape tomatoes have lots of seeds and fruit juices, and are often used whole or sliced in salads and pastas.
- The color of the tomatoes can affect the taste. For a classic tomato flavor, opt for large, red tomatoes. Tomatoes that are purple or brown in taste are richer and warmer, while tomatoes that are yellow and orange are sweeter in taste. Green tomatoes are perfect for savory dishes.
Step 3. Choose the appropriate type of seed
Tomatoes can be grown from dried seeds that are sold in packs, fresh seeds obtained from chopped tomatoes, or seed seedlings that can be obtained from gardening stores. Both dried and fresh seeds require the most effort to grow, but the results can be the most promising. Planting tomato seed seedlings is the easiest way to do it.
Step 4. Know when to start planting
Planting tomatoes should be done at the right time every year to get the best results. Since tomatoes are plants that need a lot of sunlight, they will grow vigorously in the summer or dry season. Begin planting tomatoes at least two weeks into the end of the rainy season, or in a four-season country, two weeks after the end of the last frost or when the nighttime temperature is no lower than 10 degrees Celsius and daytime temperatures are no more than 32 degrees Celsius.
- If you are sowing seeds indoors, start 6-8 weeks before the time you plan to transplant them into the ground.
- If needed, you can purchase a soil thermometer to check if the soil temperature in your garden is ideal for growing tomatoes. Soil that is around 32 degrees Celsius is ideal for growing, but it certainly won't work without good weather; therefore try it first to make sure your land is suitable.
- The farmer's almanac is a very useful tool for determining the best planting time. You can view a farmer's almanac online or purchase one that's appropriate for your area.
Method 2 of 4: Drying Seeds From Fresh Tomatoes
Step 1. Choose a good tomato
Seeds from a tomato will usually produce fruit that is almost identical to the original fruit. If you happen to get a very tasty or very fresh tomato and want to grow it later, cut it up and save the seeds.
- Make sure that the tomatoes you choose are healthy; seeds from unhealthy tomatoes will produce equally unhealthy fruit.
- Wait until the tomatoes are fully ripe before you cut them for storage.
Step 2. Cut the tomatoes
Use a sharp knife to cut the tomato in half along its center line (parallel to the stem). Do this with a cutting board or bowl so you can easily accommodate the seeds and juice for storage.
Step 3. Remove the inside with a spoon
Use a spoon to remove all the seeds, juice, and flesh of the tomato. Put everything in a small bowl or cup.
Step 4. Let the tomato seeds soak in the tomato juice
Tomato seeds must go through a fermentation process before drying, and you can do this by placing them in the sun soaked in their own tomato juice. Cover the container with the seeds and flesh of the tomato with plastic. Make a few holes in the plastic layer so that the air in the container can flow.
There is no need to add water to the seeds and flesh of tomatoes
Step 5. Put it in the sun
Currently the seeds need time to ferment. Place the sealed container in a warm place, preferably on the edge of a window that gets a lot of sunlight. Put it there for two or three days.
Step 6. Rinse the seeds
After a few days, you will notice that the water and pulp have formed a precipitate that floats on top of the water, and the seeds have sunk to the bottom of the container. When this has happened, remove any sediment at the top, then pour the seeds along with the water into a colander. Rinse with warm water, and make sure all the seeds are completely clean.
Step 7. Sterilize the tomato seeds
This will help kill any disease and bacteria that may be growing while helping to strengthen the plant so that it can produce more fruit when grown outside. Soak tomato seeds in a mixture of 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of apple cider vinegar and/or bleach and 1 liter of water for 15 minutes.
You can also sterilize store-bought tomato seeds to make sure they are free of disease and bacteria
Step 8. Dry the seeds
After rinsing, slightly shake the filter to remove as much water as possible. After that put all the seeds on a tray that has been lined with a coffee filter or parchment paper. Place it somewhere where the tray will not be bumped or exposed to direct sunlight, with a temperature of about 21 degrees Celsius. Use your finger to slide the seeds around once a day, to prevent them from sticking to each other or sticking to the backing paper.
Step 9. Check the tomato seeds
When all the seeds are completely dry to the touch and not sticking together, they are ready to use. Be careful not to end drying too early, because if the seeds are still damp, they can be exposed to mold, mildew and bacteria that can damage.
Step 10. Save the seeds
Once you are done drying them, store the seeds in a paper envelope until you are ready to use them. Do not store them in plastic bags or containers, as they do not have adequate ventilation and tend to grow bacteria and mildew on stored seeds.
Be sure to label the tomato variety and year of storage after the seeds have dried
Method 3 of 4: Start Sowing Seeds Indoors
Step 1. Start preparing the ingredients
Get a planting tray from a gardening store and fill it with sterile growing media. For best results, use a planting medium that according to the description is made specifically to start sowing.
Step 2. Plant the seeds
Make rows in the planting medium to put the seeds. Each seed should be planted 5 cm from the other seeds. Cover each seed with a small amount of planting medium soil that is made tapered upwards, then water it with a little water.
If you plan to plant more than one type of seed, plant each type in the same row, and mark each row. Once the seeds start to germinate, it can be very difficult to tell the difference between the types
Step 3. Warm the seeds
In order to germinate, seeds need a source of light and heat. Place the planting tray in a sunny window or use a heating lamp/fluorescent lamp mounted a few inches above it. Each seed needs at least 6-8 hours of light and heat each day to start germinating.
You can also place a heating pad under the seedling tray to warm the soil and speed up germination
Step 4. Keep the seeds growing
Water the planting tray daily, and make sure each seed gets enough light and heat. Keep it where the temperature won't drop below 21 degrees Celsius on the coldest days. When the seeds have germinated and have started to form true leaves, they are ready to be transplanted. The seeds will begin to develop prospective leaves at one week of age, but they will not have true leaves until at least one month after germination.
Step 5. Remove the seeds
Move and put each plant seed into a separate container that has enough room for it to grow large. Use a garden fork to scoop out the soil under the plant seeds, and gently lift it from the planting tray using your fingertips.
Step 6. Replant the plant seeds
Place each seed in a one-liter container filled with soil. Replanted seedlings will still need about 8 hours of light and heat each day, in addition to regular watering.
Step 7. Accustom the plant to outdoor conditions
Two months later, your tomato seedlings should be of ripe age and look like mature plants, only small. Before you can transplant these plants into the garden, they must first be familiarized with the outdoor weather conditions. Start by putting it outside for 2-3 hours when the sun is shining, then bring it back into the room. Continue this process by giving them more time outside each day, and by the end of the week they can be left outside all day.
Step 8. Prepare the plants for planting in the garden
When your tomato plants are ready to be moved into the garden, prepare them in advance before you plant them. Plants that are more than 15 cm tall should be pruned. Use garden shears to trim the lower branches around the plant. If your plant is less than 15 cm tall, it is ready to be planted without any preparation.
You can also cut the shortest stems on small plants. That way, you can plant them deeper to strengthen their root system
Method 4 of 4: Planting in the Garden
Step 1. Choose the right place
Finding the right location in your garden or yard to grow tomatoes is an important step of the entire growing process. Tomatoes are plants that need a lot of sunlight, which is 6-8 hours a day. If possible, choose a location with good drainage, as standing water will cause your tomato plant to produce less vigorous fruit, as well as a less firm taste.
Step 2. Prepare the soil conditions
Create the best soil conditions for growing tomatoes. Test the acidity (pH) of the soil to determine whether it is necessary to add additives to the soil. Tomato plants require a pH of 6 to 6.8. Apply compost and fertilizer to add nutrients to the soil, as well as break up large lumps of soil. The soil for growing tomatoes should be well mixed and not lumpy to a depth of 15-20 cm.
If you are planning to plant tomatoes well in advance, several months before you start planting, add compost and adjust the soil pH accordingly. This will give the compost and other materials time to absorb properly into the soil
Step 3. Make a hole for planting
Spacing the holes according to how you will handle the plant later. If you plan to provide cages or posts for your tomato plants, leave a gap of 60-90 cm between the holes. If you want the tomato plant to propagate above the ground, allow a wider distance of 1.2 meters between the holes. Dig a hole with a depth of 20 cm so that all the root clumps and the base of the plant can be embedded.
Step 4. Add nutrients
Sprinkle the bottom of each hole with a tablespoon of Epsom salt to increase magnesium levels, which aids healthy plant growth. At this point, you can also sprinkle in a little more compost.
Step 5. Plant your tomatoes
Transfer each tomato plant from its container into the hole you made. Press the container to release the soil and root clumps, then gently remove the plant by placing it upside down in your hand. Insert each plant into a hole in the soil, pressing firmly so that there are no air bubbles. Backfill with soil to slightly below the first row of branches.
Step 6. Install the cage
If you are planning to install cages on your tomato plants, install them now. Make cages from woven iron commonly used to make casts, or from other materials that are square and wide apart. Do not tie plant stems to cages before your plants flower.
Step 7. Water your plants
Keep your plants healthy by watering them daily, but don't let them stagnate. Tomato plants that receive more than a tablespoon or two of water daily will produce fruit that tastes juicy and watery. If you don't have time to do it yourself on a regular basis, consider installing a sprinkler or dropper system for your garden.
If you don't have time to water your plants every day, try installing an automatic sprinkler or hose in your garden
Step 8. Take care of your tomato plants
As plants grow, keep them healthy by pruning them regularly and harvesting the fruit they produce. Use pruning shears to cut small branches that appear from the main branch branches, as well as branches that are hidden or at any time covered by shadows.
Step 9. Harvest your tomatoes
When the tomatoes start popping up, get ready to harvest! Pick tomatoes when they are fully ripe each day. However, tomatoes can also be picked early and left to ripen indoors in the sun if you wish to anticipate bad weather or you have too many fruits to harvest. Enjoy your tomatoes fresh. You can also can or freeze them whole so they can be enjoyed and used in the future.
Tips
- Tomatoes are easy to grow and raise, but are very fragile, so be careful not to break or bend the stems, or drop the leaves. This can cause tomato plants to die.
- Plant 20% more seeds than you expect to bear fruit. This will increase the chances of a healthy number of plants and produce delicious tomatoes.
