Gardening is a rewarding way to save money and grow fresh, healthy produce for your kitchen. If you love tomatoes and would like to use those from your own garden, try growing them from seeds. The process is simple and completing it will make you feel fulfilled, as well as offer you some good and tasty fruit.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Getting the Best Tomatoes
Step 1. Get to know your area
Tomatoes, like any plant, require ideal environmental conditions to grow strong and produce tasty fruit. Some species are native to some areas and will not grow as well in other climates or other parts of the world. Do your research to find the best tomatoes for your environment and location. There may be some unique hybrids, which you have never heard of and which you never thought about planting, that can grow perfectly in your soil and climate.
Step 2. Choose a tomato variety
There are many, each with its own color, flavor and size. Tomatoes range from small, grape-sized fruits to fruits as large as a baseball, and they come in all colors except blue. You will need to consider your cooking style, the flavor you want to achieve and the type of plant growth when choosing your tomato variety.
- There are two types of growth for tomato plants: determined and indeterminate. Determined plants grow upward and bear fruit quickly, but for a short time. Indeterminate plants are more like bushes and vines, and bear fruit for a longer season.
- Red tomatoes or beefsteak are the traditional ones and are often eaten raw or sliced in sandwiches. The San Marzano or Roma varieties are used for cooking and to prepare sauces or canned. Small cherry tomatoes are rich in seeds and juice and are used whole or half in salads and pasta.
- Color can change their flavor. For a classic flavor, choose large red tomatoes. Purple or brown tomatoes have a very rich flavor, while yellow and orange ones are sweeter. Green tomatoes are great for cooking flavorful dishes.
Step 3. Choose the seeds you prefer
Tomatoes can be grown from dried packaged seeds, fresh seeds from a tomato, or sprouts available in local nurseries. Fresh, dried seeds take longer to grow but can give you a more rewarding experience. Planting sprouts is the easiest way to grow tomatoes.
Step 4. Know when to plant
You will need to do this at a specific time of the year for best results. Tomatoes are sun-loving plants, so they grow best in late spring and summer. Plant your tomatoes at least two weeks after the last frost, or when night temperatures don't drop below 10 ° C and daytime temperatures stay below 32 ° C.
- If you have decided to germinate seeds indoors, start 6-8 weeks before your planned transplant date.
- If you want, you can purchase a soil thermometer to check it and decide the best time to plant. A soil with a temperature close to 10 ° C is ideal for planting, but this may not occur in conjunction with a mild climate; measure your garden temperature to be sure.
- A farmer's almanac is a useful tool for finding the right time to plant. You can search for one online or purchase the specific version for your area.
Part 2 of 4: Drying the Seeds from Fresh Fruits
Step 1. Choose your tomatoes
The seeds of a tomato will produce fruits that are almost identical to the original one. If you have tasted a very good tomato that you want to grow, cut it and save the seeds.
- Make sure the fruit you choose is healthy; a diseased tomato will not produce healthy fruit.
- Wait until the fruit is fully ripe before cutting it to collect the seeds.
Step 2. Cut the fruit in half
Use a sharp knife to cut the tomato in half through the stem. Do this on a cutting board or over a bowl to collect the seeds and juicy center of the fruit for storage.
Step 3. Remove the tomato pulp
Use a spoon to remove all the small seeds, juices and tender, fleshy pulp inside the tomato. Store all of this in a small bowl or cup.
Step 4. Let the seeds rest in their own liquids
The seeds must go through the fermentation process before being dried, which happens while they remain in their liquid. Cover the container where you put the seeds along with the pulp with a piece of plastic wrap. Make a few holes in the film so that air can circulate.
Do not add water
Step 5. Stir the seeds twice a day
Now the seeds will need time to ferment. Place the covered bowl in a warm place, perhaps on a sunny window sill. Leave the seeds there for two to three days and be sure to open the container to mix them with a stick twice a day.
Step 6. Rinse the seeds
After several days, you will notice that the juices and pulp of the fruit have created a patina over the water, while the seeds have settled to the bottom of the bowl. When this happens, remove any residue floating on the surface and then pour the seeds and water into a sieve. Rinse with warm water, making sure the seeds are completely clean.
Step 7. Sterilize the seeds
Sterilizing them will help eliminate any diseases or bacteria that may develop and help the plant become more robust and produce more fruit when transplanted outdoors. Soak the seeds in a mixture of 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of apple cider vinegar and about 1 liter of water for 15 minutes.
You can also use this process with prepackaged seeds to make sure they are free from disease and bacteria
Step 8. Dry the seeds
After rinsing, shake the seeds in the sieve to remove as much water as possible. Then, put them in a container lined with coffee filters or wax paper. Place them where they won't be moved or exposed, with a temperature around 15 ° C. Use your fingers to move the seeds once a day to keep them from sticking to each other or to the paper.
Step 9. Check the seeds
When the seeds are completely dry when you touch them and they don't stick to each other, they are ready to use. Be careful not to use the seeds too soon though, as if they are slightly damp they will be more exposed to mold, fungus and bacteria, which will ruin them.
Step 10. Store your seeds
When they are dry, store the seeds in a paper bag until they are ready to use. Avoid storing seeds in plastic bags or containers, as they do not offer good ventilation and will increase the chances of bacteria and mold developing.
Make sure you label the seeds properly, variety and year of production, as soon as they dry out
Part 3 of 4: Sprouting Seeds Indoor
Step 1. Prepare your pots
Obtain pots for planting tomatoes from a nursery and fill them with sterile soil. Use specific soil to germinate the seeds for best results.
Step 2. Plant the seeds
Create trenches in the ground to store the seeds. Each seed should be planted within five centimeters of the closest one. Lightly cover each seed you planted with soil and continue watering gently.
If you are planting more than one variety of seeds, plant each type in a different row and leave an indication on the rows. When the plants begin to sprout it will be very difficult to recognize them otherwise
Step 3. Heat your seeds
In order to germinate, seeds need light and heat. Place them on a large south-facing window or use an incandescent or fluorescent lamp placed a few inches above the plants. Seeds require at least 6-8 hours of light and heat per day to germinate.
You could place a heating mat under the pots to warm the potting soil, which will increase the germination rate
Step 4. Care for the seeds
Water the pots daily, making sure they get enough light and heat. Keep them in a place where the temperature never drops below 15 ° C. When the seeds have sprouted and produced real leaves, they will be ready to be transplanted. The seeds will produce small leaves after about a week, but will not give life to true leaves for at least a month after germination.
Step 5. Transplant the seeds
Transplant each sprout into its own pot to give it the space it needs to fully grow. Use a fork to scoop the soil under each sprout, and gently pull them out of the pot using your fingers.
Step 6. Transplant the shoots
Place each sprout in its one-liter container of soil. Single plants will still need around 8 hours of heat and sunlight each day, as well as watering daily.
Step 7. Harden your plants
After about two months, your tomato sprouts should have reached maturity and look like fully formed small plants. Before you can move them in the garden, however, you will have to temper them, that is, get them used to the outside climate. Start by exposing the plants to sunlight outdoors for 2-3 hours, and then bring them back indoors. Continue this process by increasing the time outdoors each day, until you leave them outdoors for a full day after a week.
Step 8. Prepare your plants for transplanting
When your plants have been tempered and are ready to be planted outdoors, prepare them for introduction into the garden. Plants that exceed 15 cm in height will need to be pruned. Use shears to cut the lower branches around the plant. If your plants are smaller, they are ready and need no further preparation.
However, you may want to cut the lower branches on small plants, which allows for deeper development and a more robust root system
Part 4 of 4: Planting Tomatoes in the Garden
Step 1. Choose the right spot
Finding the best place in the garden to plant tomatoes is an important step. Tomatoes are sunlight-loving plants that require direct sunlight exposure for 6-8 hours a day. If possible, look for areas with good drainage, as the accumulation of water will weaken the flavor of your tomatoes and result in less resistant fruit.
Step 2. Prepare the ground
Create the best soil conditions to encourage tomato growth. Measure the pH of the soil to see if you should add additives; tomatoes enjoy a pH between 6 and 6.8. Add compost and fertilizers to make the soil more nutritious, and break up larger clods. The soil should be well blended and loosened to a depth of 15-20 cm.
If you know that you will be planting tomatoes a few months in advance, add some compost and adjust the pH level in the months before transplanting. In this way all the substances will have time to be absorbed into the soil
Step 3. Dig the holes
Space the plants according to your growing preferences; if you are going to use cages or stakes to tie the plants, you can dig each hole 60-90cm from the other. If you prefer to grow your plants naturally, you should space them 120 cm apart. Dig holes about 20 cm deep to bury the entire root group and the underside of the stem.
Step 4. Add more nutrients
Sprinkle a tablespoon of Espom salts at the bottom of each hole to increase the soil's magnesium levels for healthier plants. You can also use compost if you wish.
Step 5. Plant the tomatoes
Transplant each tomato from its pot to the hole you dug. Squeeze the pot to loosen the soil and roots and gently lift the plant upside down on your hand. Bury each plant in the soil, pressing firmly to remove air bubbles. Cover the plant up to the stem just below the first row of branches.
Step 6. Place the cages
If you want to use cages to hold tomatoes, place them right now. Create them with wire to spread concrete, or a similarly sized grid. Avoid tying plants to the cage or stakes until flowering.
Step 7. Water the plants
Keep plants healthy by watering them every day. Don't drown them though; tomatoes that get more than a tablespoon or two of water a day will have a watery taste. If you don't have time to water your plants every day, consider installing a sprinkler or drip irrigation system in your garden.
If you don't have time to water daily, consider installing a proper sprinkler system
Step 8. Care for your tomato plants
As your plants grow, keep them healthy by pruning them regularly and reaping the rewards. Use pruning shears to cut the suckers (small branches that arise from a main intersection) and branches that are hidden or that always remain in the shade.
Step 9. Collect the tomatoes
When the fruits are born, it's time to harvest! Harvest tomatoes when fully ripe - often every day. You will be able to pick the unripe fruit and ripen them indoors in the sunlight if you foresee bad weather or if you have too many fruit on the plant. Eat fresh tomatoes, keep them canned, or freeze them whole for future use.
Advice
- Tomatoes are easy to grow, but they are very fragile, so when moving them, be very careful not to bend or break the stem, and do not accidentally tear off the leaves. You would risk killing the plant.
- Plant 20% more seeds than the number of plants you want to get. This way you will be able to get enough healthy plants and tasty tomatoes.
