How to Grow Tomatoes

How to Grow Tomatoes
Tomato plant

Tomatoes are heat-loving plants and are easy to grow with remarkable productivity. Tomatoes are also the most popular vegetable among backyard gardeners. The best time to grow a tomato is in spring when the weather is warming.

Things you will need to grow tomato seeds.

1. Tomato 
2. Potting Soil
3. Pot or container
4. Warm place

Start seedling indoor

  • Prepare the pot, fill it with potting mix.
Prepare the pot
  • Tomato seeds germinate quickly within 5-10 days. Seeds germinate best in warm temperatures 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit and a lot of light. There are a variety of tomatoes you can choose from, I prefer to choose globe shape tomato as it is the most popular one.

globe shape tomato
globe shape tomato
  • Cut the tomato in half.
cut into half
cut into half
  • Scoop out the pulp of the tomato in a container.
scooped pulp
scooped pulp
  • Fill the container with water and wash so that the seeds and pulp are separated, this will take 2 or 3 times changing the water. A little bit of pulp on the seeds is fine.

seeds
seeds
  • Now your seeds are ready to be planted. Fill the pot with potting mix and place the seeds on the top of the soil.

sow seeds
sow seeds
  • Cover them with a thin film of soil so that all seeds are covered by a thin layer and are not visible. Sprinkle some water on the soil whenever the top of the soil appears to dry.

cover with soil
cover with soil
  • Seeds need a sunny side preferably inside the window, as the seeds need a warmer temperature to germinate. The warmer the temperature is faster the seeds will germinate. A simple approach is to cover the pot tightly with a plastic container to make it like a greenhouse effect with warmer soil.

cover with a plastic
cover
  • It is important to keep the soil warm until germination takes place otherwise it may succumb to infection. After the sprouts have grown remove the cover and keep the soil moist and rotate the pot daily to have upright plants. As you are growing your seeds on a windowsill so the plants will lean towards sunlight so rotation of pot is needed.

The first two leaves that are seen in the plant are called seed leaves and subsequent leaves are the true leaves. Only after true leaves have grown its safe for repotting. Wait for perfect weather before transplanting as frost will not let- the plant grow. If your plant is 6 inches tall then there is no danger of frost outdoor and they are ready to be transferred outdoors.

Before transferring them outdoor you need to harden the plant by gradually taking them out in sun for some hours daily so that plants adjust well to the outdoor climate. Prepare your garden space and dig a hole of 2 feet deep and plant the seedling so that 1/4 of the plant will be out of the ground.

Tomato plants are vines and need support by a stake to grow but don’t disturb the roots, water them properly and keep your plant healthy and strong by giving proper air circulation.

Suggested Read: How to Grow Rose Plant from the Stem Cutting

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Simmi Kamboj

Simmi Kamboj is the Founder and Administrator of Ritiriwaz, your one-stop guide to Indian Culture and Tradition. She had a passion for writing about India's lifestyle, culture, tradition, travel, and is trying to cover all Indian Cultural aspects of Daily Life.