Grow rich, flavourful tomatoes from seed — far superior to store-bought transplants. Starting indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date gives them a head start and lets you choose heirloom varieties you can save year after year.
Method
- Fill seed trays with a light seed-starting mix — not garden soil, which compacts too much.
- Place 2–3 seeds per cell about ¼ inch deep and cover lightly.
- Water gently from the bottom by setting the tray in a shallow dish of water.
- Place in a warm spot (70–80°F). Seeds need warmth, not light, to germinate.
- Once sprouts appear (5–10 days), move immediately to your brightest window or under grow lights 14–16 hrs/day.
- When seedlings have 2 sets of true leaves, thin to 1 per cell by snipping — never pulling.
- Begin hardening off 1–2 weeks before transplant: start with 1 hour outside in shade, gradually increasing.
- Transplant after last frost when nighttime temps stay above 50°F. Plant deep — tomatoes root along buried stems.
Tips & Notes
- Save seeds from your best fruits each year. Rinse seeds, ferment in water 3 days, rinse again and dry flat on a plate.
- Epsom salt (1 tbsp per gallon) watered in at planting helps with magnesium uptake.
- Never work with tomato plants when they are wet — you spread disease.
#seeds#tomatoes#heirloom#vegetables#indoor starting
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