Question by 4sanity: Can you plant a tomato seed far enough apart and not thin seedlings?
I was just wondering if I could plant them far enough apart to avoid thining them. I would like to make every seed count. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Best answer:
Answer by Docar
Yes but the problem is such a large number of seeds do not germinate that you have a lot of bald spots and waste a lot of space
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^ Jump to Top ^The following sowing and transplanting methods are available to the amateur gardener who wants to grow tomatoes outside without the use of a greenhouse.
Tomato seeds can be sowed directly into a seed bed. However, this is by far the riskiest method in temperate climates. It is only suitable for those areas which have a last frost date in MARCH. In all other areas, the soil is unlikely to be warm enough at a time which will allow the tomato plant to develop and fruit. The soil temperature must be at least 15C (60F) at the time of sowing and during germination. It is possible to utilize a cloche or cold frame. This will warm the soil prior to planting and protect the plants in their early stages.
Using a trowel, dig a shallow drill 2.5cm deep (1in) deep in the prepared bed. Place two seeds every nine inches in the drill and cover the seeds to a depth of 2.5cm (1in). Water well if the conditions are at all dry.
The seedlings should emerge in about 10 days. When they are 5cm (2in) tall, thin to one plant every 45 to 60cm (18 to24in).
Sowing tomato seeds indoors is one of the commonest methods and produces good results. Sow each seed (two if you have a surplus) in a 7.5cm (3in) pot, lightly covering them with potting compost. Ensure the compost is moist but not waterlogged. Place them in a warm (up to 27C or 80F) draught free place – the seedlings should emerge in 7 to 10 days time.
Immediately this happens, move the plants to a light position (a light windowsill is ideal), but out of direct sunlight to avoid burning the leaves. Where more than one seed has been sown per pot, thin out the least healthy seedling as soon as they are large enough to handle. When the roots start to come through the base of the pot (about 4 weeks after sowing), transfer the plants to larger 12.5cm (5in) pots. The plants will be large enough to transplant outside about 7 weeks after sowing the seed.
Sowing tomato seeds outdoors in pots is similar to sowing the seed indoors in pots with the exception that the pots are stored outside whilst the seed germinates. The advantage over indoor sowing is that space is not a limiting factor to the amount of plants to be raised.
Timing and position of the plants are the key factors to success. Keep the pots in the warmest part of the garden (against a house wall is ideal) to hasten germination and subsequent growth. The use of cloches will assist greatly in retaining heat. Timing is the most difficult aspect of this method – keeping the plants under cloches and or against a house wall will raise the temperature and permit earlier growing, but it is not an exact science. The basic rules of no frost and a minimum soil temperature of 15C (60F) must be achieved.
One combination which can work well is to sow the seeds inside (where they do not have to be in a light position) and the transfer them outside when the seedlings emerge.
Just before transplanting the tomato plants to their final position drive a strong stake into the ground 5cm (2in) from the planting position. The stake should be at least 30cm (1ft) deep in the ground and 1.2m (4ft) above ground level – the further into the ground the better the support.
Where tomato seedlings have been started in pots, they should be transplanted into their final positions when they are about 15cm (6in) high. Two to three weeks prior to this, the plants should be hardened off.
For each plant, dig a hole (45cm / 18in apart) in the bed to the same depth as the pot and water if conditions are at all dry. Ease the plant out of the pot, keeping the root ball undisturbed as far as possible. Place it in the hole and fill around the plant with soil. The soil should be a little higher than it was in the pot.
Loosely tie the plant’s stem to the support stake using soft garden twine – allow some slack for future growth.
If you would like to learn more about growing your own tomatoes from seed please visit How To Grow Tomatoes or Growing Your Own Tomatoes for further information.
Article from articlesbase.com
Now That’s What I Call A Tomato! Guide To Growing Amazing Tomatoes
Commission Increased to 60%! Our guide to growing tomatoes was written by a Certified Master Gardener, so you know it’s high value with almost 0 return rate. Plus, the sales page was written by one of the best copywriters in the business!
Now That’s What I Call A Tomato! Guide To Growing Amazing Tomatoes
Growing Fresh Tomatoes
Insights on the successful growing of fresh tomatoes including preparation of soil, planting, caring for plants and treating diseases
Growing Fresh Tomatoes
Growing your own tomatoes can be a very worthwhile and fulfilling experience. For anyone interested in growing tomatoes, it is important to know that tomatoes can be grown in two ways. You can plant seeds and let them germinate, after which you transplant them or you can buy seedlings that have already germinated.
These seedlings can be gotten from a local nursery.
Tomatoes come in very many different varieties and so make sure you get seeds for the particular variety you desire. Many horticultural shops stock these seeds, so it is easy to identify the type you want as it is clearly marked on the packaging.
After identifying your desired seeds, you can take any receptacle, say a tray, and drill holes beneath it for drainage. Put a mixture of compost and nutrient rich soil after which you water the mixture.
When the mixture is ready, you can now plant the seeds inside.
The ideal place for putting the tray would be at the window sill where the germinating seeds would be exposed to sunlight that is critical for their development. The seeds shall stay indoors for a period of between six to eight weeks.
In order to maximize the likelihood of the seeds germinating well, place a sheet of Seran wrap or nylon film like the one for used wrapping food, and cover the tray. This will aid in the retention of moisture that is vital for the growth of the seeds.
After the seedlings start sprouting leaves, you may now take off the Seran wrap or nylon film.
At this stage continue watering the seedlings, taking extra care not to overwater them.
The next stage is the transplanting of the seedlings. Due diligence should be observed at this time since the plants are still very tender and can easily be damaged. When uprooting the seedlings, you should hold them by the leaves and not the stem.
At this point dig a hole big enough to accommodate the seedling up to the two bottommost leaves and fill the hole with compost. Gently tap the compost so that it fills in completely around the plant.
Whether you want to grow a hanging garden, or plant you tomatoes in an outdoor garden, the steps are the same. If you plant the tomatoes indoors in pots, just make sure you rotate the pots so that sunlight is adequately provided to the whole plant.
For seedlings that have been planted in small pots once they grow to about eight inches, you have to move them to bigger well drained containers. By this point the plants have hardened, whereby they have been slowly acclimatized to the outdoor conditions, by exposing them to the open air for a few hours each day.
After the plants have developed strong roots and appear sturdier you can now transplant them in the outdoor garden or you can continue growing them in containers if space is lacking. Either way I wish you a bountiful harvest of fresh, juicy, home grown, organic tomatoes.
Thomas Taylor is a Tomato growing enthusiast, and enjoys helping others get started in this amazing hobby by sharing information about Growing tomatoes seeds
His newest book,”The Expert Guide On Growing Tasty, Tantalizing Tomatoes”teaches Tomato growers everything they need to know about planting and nurturing their tomato garden. http://www.tantalizingtomatoes.com
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^ Jump to Top ^Tomato plant can be grown anywhere in the world and is thus well known as the plant in every home garden. It has been estimated that almost 90 percent of the vegetable gardeners have this crop in their garden. This is because the tomato plant requires very little attention from the gardener during the time of growth. The important elements needed for perfect growth is enough sunlight, a little patience and adequate water.
Tomato is considered to be a summer crop. Select the tomato variety from the wide variety which is easily available. Always check with your neighbors, nursery professionals and other online sources to find the most dependable and disease resistant variety of tomatoes.
The soil is to be prepared well before starting off with the tomato growing process. It should be mixed well with compost and well rotten manure if you are using sandy soil. Super phosphates are recognized to be the best nourishment for appropriate growth. Another balanced fertilizer would be 6:3:2 which should be mixed well with the soil before the process. It is considered as the perfect alternative in case of any short supply of manure.
It is highly advisable to sow the seeds as early as possible because tomatoes take more than four months to start with the bearing process. In places where winters are cold, make sure to sow the seed in seed boxes which are sheltered during the later winter season. In frost-free place, start out with the sowing process during the late autumn or summer season. Within six weeks, the seedlings attain the height of 15centimeters and can be easily transplanted before the passing of frost. Always be very particular in the transplantation process to choose only the strongest seedlings. They should be planted during the coolest climate in the afternoon. Sprinkler can be used and spraying should be done early in the morning much the sun rises up. It is highly recommended to dust the crops with fungicides so as to prevent the formation of any kind of diseases. Appropriate fertilizers should be used to stimulate the growth of the plants. Day long sun is what the tomato plant requires for healthy growth and perfect yield. For vertical growth, always ensure to plant the crops in cages or stakes.
The fruits shall be hand picked when the color changes to red. It can be then ripened by placing on any sunny windowsill so as to prevent them from being eaten by any bird or rotting on the vine. The taste of these fruits are enhanced if they are ripened in the vine, therefore a perfect balance is to be maintained between the taste as well as the ripening process.
For more articles on growing tomatoes and growing peppers, please check out our homepage at Home Gardening.
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^ Jump to Top ^Question per person * ~ !*~: Can I plant tomato seeds live a tomato you buy at the store> I do not want to spend money on tomato seeds store.So I wondered what you can do without buying tomato seeds.If need to dry before the plant is or anything else just tell me please! Best answer:
Reply by Renpo
The seeds have to ferment in tomatoes for a while before planting. That would leave the rot of tomato and then collect the seeds. I would see this if you are trying to grow because I am not sure of the time, etcEcha a look at this website. Sounds like the answer to your question is no. Most tomatoes will store híbridos.http: / / www.wikihow.com / Grow-Tomatoes-from-Seeds
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^ Jump to Top ^Question by Eddie the K: When is the best time to start tomato plants from seed to be ready for spring planting? (New York)?
Best answer:
Answer by techguy
Six to eight weeks before you want to plant, which is generally (depending on your microclimate) when your temperatures are consistently above 32 degrees. See Rutgers (NJ) fact sheet below. You can make it earlier if you use row covers… Planting time would be approximately March/April (see wunderground link below), so that would mean you should start your seeds 6-8 weeks before then.
Add your own answer in the comments!
^ Jump to Top ^Tomatoes are one of the most popular and most easy vegetables to grow at home and now is the time to consider saving tomato seed ready for next year’s growing season. Saving your own tomato seeds is a great way to save money – and as it’s easy to do, there’s no reason not to!
Which Tomato Seeds to Save
Save seeds from open-pollinated, not hybrid, tomatoes. Hybrid tomatoes tend not to breed true so it is wise to save tomato seeds from heirloom plants.
Save tomato seeds from tomatoes that are ripe, but not over-ripe. Over-ripe tomato seeds may be rotting or on their way to germination already.
Save tomato seeds from the best looking, best tasting plants as the seeds are most likely to produce plants with these same qualities.
It is OK to save seeds from tomato plants which have had blight.
How To Save the Tomato Seeds
To save tomato seeds, you will need:
Plastic container
Paper towels/paper plates
Select a good, ripe tomato fruit
Slice down the equator of the tomato
Squeeze out the tomato seeds into a container
Add a few inches of water into your container over the tomato seeds
Label the container with the tomato seed variety and when you extracted the seed
Leave the container to sit for a few days. You may see white mould on the top of the water – this is fine. It is a sign that the gel that sits around the seeds is breaking down.
After a few days, pour the water away
Rinse the seeds gently and remove and seeds that float
Gently dislodge any gel which is still sticking to the tomato seeds
Place the remaining seeds onto a paper plate or paper towels
Allow to dry in a dark place for a few days
Once dried, keep in an envelope, airtight container or small bag. Ensure you label the container with the variety of tomato seed saved and when you saved them. Store in a cool place.
Saved tomato seed should be usable for germination for up to 10 ten years or more.
If you aren’t too green fingered or aren’t confident enough to save your own tomato seed this year, you can buy tomato seeds at very reasonable prices.
CheckoutSpy.co.uk is a leading price comparison website All the latest discounts, deals, reviews & news. Compare prices on your favourite products and stores.
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More Planting Tomato Seed Articles
^ Jump to Top ^For most of us who grow tomatoes or other vegetables we invariably start by purchasing our seedlings directly from the local nursery. Whilst this is a good way to get started there eventually comes a time when you will want to start growing directly from seed.
The Difficulties Of Growing From Seed
Whilst growing tomatoes all the way from seed is a relatively simple procedure once you are used to it, for the beginner it can be quite a challenge. There are a number of things that can go wrong and some of them are not obvious, after all the seeds are hidden from view.
Here is a quick list of the things that you need to watch for…
Don’t plant your seeds too deep – you are trying to plant them not bury them.
Don’t over-water the new seedlings – similarly you want a moist soil not a swimming pool.
Use peat pots from the start – don’t sprinkle seeds across trays then re-pot when they are small. The chances of damaging frail seedlings is high when you handle them.
Don’t buy your seeds from ‘cheap and dodgy’ – the packets are cheap enough as it is. Get your supply from a recognised supplier.
Make sure your soil is warm – if you don’t the seeds simply won’t germinate. Tomatoes hate cold.
Give them sunlight – this is effectively the number one rule for all tomato gardening. Tomatoes need their sun… lots of it.
Use a good potting mixture – the soil from your garden is not what you will grow your seedlings in.
If you follow the above guide and make sure that you get each point right then you should have a number of little seedlings growing in no time.
When it comes to transplanting them there are a few other things that you need to be aware of…
Make sure that your soil is ready for them: Soil preparation is an art and one that you need to master. Poor soil is deadly for your chances of a successful tomato season.
Harden them up: Before it is time to transplant your seedlings you need to acclimatise them.
Make sure the frosts are over: Frosts kill tomatoes… ’nuff said.
Plant the peat pot: Don’t bother trying to remove the little seedling from the peat pot, there is no need. Just drop it in.
Give them enough space: If you crowd the root system of your plants then you will have stunted growth and/or a shortened cycle.
So there you go… all you need to grow healthy tomato plants from seed.
One final word of warning… try not to over complicate matters. The things that I have listed above are pretty much all that can go wrong. Get them right first and you will have a happy growing experience the vast majority of the time.
Still having trouble growing tomatoes from seeds? You need to visit http://www.growingbettertomatoes.com for helpful tips and information on planting and caring for a thriving tomato garden.
Just want to learn more about growing tomatoes from seed? Click Here.
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Tomato Growing Made Easy, Even in Cold Northern Climates in New Book
Brisbane, Australia (PRWEB) April 21, 2008
Just in time to plan summer vegetable gardens, a fantastic resource for tomato-growing fanatics hits the stands (and the e-book market.) “How to Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes”, by Annette Welsford and Lucia Grimmer, details every aspect of tomato growing in a friendly, easy to read format. It’s backed by years of technical research and reveals the techniques used by professional growers.
This tomato-growing handbook is jam-packed full of useful advice, history and plant facts that will help gardeners in even the chilliest of locations.
Included in the book are:
Comprehensive lists of tomato varieties, complete with pictures
Pictorial aids for diagnosing nutritional, disease and pest problems on tomato plants
Detail on when and how much to water and how to build an irrigation system
The pros and cons of 11 different staking methods
Growing methods for traditional and organic vegetable growing
Resources for buying seeds and further information
Conversion charts for measurements
The book derives its user friendly, yet informational tone from the combined talents of authors Welsford and Grimmer. Grimmer is a plant pathologist who travels the world studying and teaching plant nutrition and disease control to professional growers. She contributes the wide breadth of scientific knowledge. (You can listen to Celebrity Gardening Presenter Jayne Edmanson interview Grimmer on growing tips on National Radio Interview on Growing Tomatoes.)
Welsford ensures that Grimmer’s scientific knowledge is easily digestible for the average tomato grower. Each understands the importance of a book that is comprehensive in coverage, but useful in a practical way. Delightful touches to the book include its many pictorial glossaries–one of the best resources available to help diagnose tomato plant problems. The book is also chock-full of tomato history and lore.
For anyone who has tried to successfully grow tomatoes in an area with a serious lack of warm temperatures, “How to Grow Juicy, Tasty Tomatoes” offers a much-needed chance of reprieve and success! Providing easy-to-follow instructions for planting and harvesting tomatoes throughout the growing season, this book is one that will never sit on the book shelf. “How to Grow Juicy, Tasty Tomatoes” is a must-read for anyone who lives for fresh-from-the-garden juicy tomatoes.
The 88 page book “How to Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes” is available in e-book format for instant download to your computer or in a glossy printed format by mail order. Copies may be purchased by visiting http://www.bestjuicytomatoes.com.
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