Are you completely green when it comes to growing your own tomato plants and would you like to learn how to get tomato seeds to germinate? Then you've come to the right place! In this article, you'll get an insight into how the process from how to germinate tomatoes to tomatoes on the table will unfold. The guide will take you step-by-step from the different materials you'll need to the final result of your tomato pre-germination.
The guide will take you through 5 different steps on how to best pre-sprout your tomatoes and how to get the best results from your plants. Throughout the guide, tips and tricks will be explained on how to germinate tomatoes, get the best results and lovely tomatoes.
Step 1: Gather your materials
Before you embark on the task of pre-germinating your tomato plants, it's important to remember some of the essential materials you'll need to get started growing your seeds, not all of them are necessary, but they are things that can help you get the best results.
- Tomato seeds: The choice of variety has a big impact on how long your tomato plants need to grow, as both temperature and lighting have an impact on your tomatoes
- Pots or seed trays: The difference between the two ways you can use to base your tomato plants is explained, as there will be disadvantages and advantages of using either small pots or seed trays, in a seed tray it is easier to get an even growth on all your plants when there are several plants, whereas it is easier to control each individual plant in the small pots, in the end it is important to find out the needs.
- Seed soilIn most cases, normal garden soil is suitable for tomatoes, but it is possible to use any type of soil, there will also be more environmentally friendly alternatives such as coconut soil that can be used.
- Plastic film or plastic lid: It can help the growth of your plants as it will create a mini greenhouse which will ensure that the temperature will be more controllable and your plants will have the opportunity to stay moist
- Stickers: Labels are great for remembering which tomato varieties you grow
- Artificial light: One grow lights lamp is a good alternative to the sun's energy as there is not always access to direct sunlight on a windowsill during germination, which is also important for the seed to grow under the right conditions.
Step 2: Pre-germination of the tomato seeds
Tomato plants are quite simple to grow from seed and require pre-germination in the earlier cold months to get the maximum yield from your seeds and by starting in the earlier months there will be a greater chance of finishing when the frost disappears, when you will be able to carefully move the plants to either the greenhouse or outdoors.
The time of sowing varies depending on whether the tomatoes will later grow in a greenhouse or outdoors. Typically, it takes between 7 to 10 weeks from sowing until the plants are ready to move outside, with the pre-germination period usually starting in March or April to allow the seeds to grow with the right amount of soil.
Once the seeds have finally been sown, it is important to maintain the right conditions so that the seeds get the right amount of watering and that they are healthy with plenty of light and the right temperature.
Step 3: Use the optimal combination of light and temperature for your tomatoes
To create the best conditions for pre-germinating tomatoes, it's important that you focus on the importance of light, temperature and humidity, all of these factors are things that your little plants need to ensure you can grow tomatoes in the right conditions, until planting it's important that you try to follow these tips as much as possible to ensure that your tomatoes don't become oblong and lanky.
During the process of germination your little tomato plants need different things, it all depends on how you do the different steps, the first step would be to cover your pots with a plastic film or a plastic lid as both forms retain moisture so your soil and the plant don't dry out, whether it's in the pot or in the seed tray.
Place them where they can stand still, a popular location that is often used is the windowsill, but it is not always possible to control when there is sunlight or enough heat, therefore we advise the use of a grow lightIt is quite important that the plant lives under a constant temperature of 20-25 degrees, they don't need light to germinate, but when the first sprouts appear, give them plenty of light as it can make a huge difference if the tomatoes have had enough light and enough heat
Step 4: Keep an eye on your tomato plants
Keep an eye on your seeds and remove the plastic film or plastic lid as soon as they start to germinate as it would be a shame if the tomatoes don't develop as expected below this level, so it's important to get started with soil maintenance, always make sure your tomato seeds live in the right conditions
Make sure the soil is moist but not wet, it's important that there are holes in the bottom so the water can drain out and the roots don't rot, use an atomiser to keep the soil moist if necessary. And turn the pots or trays regularly so the sprouts get even exposure to light. Once the sprouts have developed a set of true leaves, you can start thinning them out so that there is only one strong plant per pot or hole in the tray.
Step 5: Plant out your sprouts
Once your tomato plants have grown large enough, you can see and assess whether they should be removed from your mini greenhouse or whether they should remain, when the risk of frost is no longer present, it's time to plant them out in the garden or in larger pots, usually in May and June, the frost will be gone and it will be possible to plant your sprouts outdoors.
Often choose a sunny spot with plenty of healthy soil where you can ensure your tomato plants have the opportunity to take root and make sure they grow larger in diameter and get that beautiful surface.
Another alternative is in a greenhouse where you have the opportunity to ensure that your tomato plants are in an organic environment, where there doesn't need to be as much good contact with your tomato plants as it will be more compact and controllable compared to if they have been sown outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Plant tomato seeds in small pots or seed trays with moist soil. Cover them lightly with soil and keep them at a stable temperature of around 18-25 C. Provide good lighting and keep the soil moist.
Yes, most tomato seeds can be pre-germinated, but germination success can vary depending on seed age and storage conditions, so it's important to choose the right tomato seeds based on the tomato you want
Tomatoes take an average of 5-10 days to germinate, depending on which tomato seed you have sown and whether the plant lives in the right growing conditions.
If you're propagating tomatoes, it's actually recommended that you start indoors to ensure that your plants don't get out in the frost and die.
To give the seeds time to germinate and develop, start pre-germination indoors about 5-8 weeks before the last expected frost.
For example, if the last expected frost is around mid-May, start pre-germinating tomatoes in March.
Tomatoes need a fertiliser that is rich in potassium and phosphorus, with moderate nitrogen. Phosphorus content is important for the plant's root development and to get more fruit development, improve flavour and colour, potassium becomes crucial. Too much nitrogen can promote leaf growth at the expense of fruit formation. To make it easy for yourself, there are special fertilisers for tomatoes.
To ensure good and regular growth with rich and delicious fruit, fertilise about once a week. And reduce it gradually when the tomatoes start to ripen as it can affect their flavour.
To get the best growing conditions for your tomato plants, pinch off unnecessary leaves and branches (side shoots) from the tomato plant, so the main stem can focus on producing larger and tastier tomatoes. This is detrimental to tomato production as the tomatoes use too much energy on the new shoots, so preferably cut them off when they are small
Ending:
Now you've had a thorough introduction to "How to pre-sprout tomatoes: Step by step guide", you're well equipped to start growing your own tomatoes. Follow these steps, be patient, and remember that starting early in the season by pre-germinating tomatoes indoors can give you an advantage and strong healthy plants for planting out when the frost is gone. With proper care and a place to enjoy the sun, you can look forward to enjoying juicy and tasty tomatoes later in the season.
Good luck to you.
Read more about tomatoes at Wikipedia here
