From Tomato Seeds to Seedlings in 8 Days

When we combine our love for working in the garden and Punxsutawney Phil predicting an early spring, we are inspired to give all those seed catalogues we just received in the mail a good look. After all, selecting the best varieties of canning, sauce, and ready-to-eat vine ripened tomatoes gets us all fired up for spring.

The dilemma many newbie and hobby gardeners face is deciding which is best, growing hybrid or heirloom tomato plants they really want to grow by starting seeds. On the other hand, settling for the variety sold at the local garden supply store is less work. Now, I don’t know how you feel about working in your garden. The thing I am sure of, for me, the wife, and kids, working in the garden is a great family activity we all learn, enjoy, and benefit from. Growing our own plants from seeds is a lot of fun and ensures we get what we pay for.

The most important garden gadget you will absolutely need is a good grow light for your seed germination station. Make your own, or buy the Hydrofarm JSV4 4-Foot Grow Light System from amazon.com.  

In the photo to the left is a grow light my 16-year old son and I put together in less than an hour.

For under $35, this two light seed germination station system has enough room for 96, 3-inch peat pots.

Peat Pots are easy to use, can be bought online from amazon, and best of all cheap. Simply fill each Jiffy Pot about 2/3 full of a good seed starting mix. Next, sow two of the hybrid or heirloom tomato seeds in the center of each peat pot. Then cover the seed with about a ¼-inch of the seed starting potting soil mix.

Benefits of using peat pots for starting tomato seeds includes watering and transplanting tomato plants into your raised beds, containers, and garden plots easy.

Miracle-Gro seed starting potting mix has earned the reputation of being the best, used by generations of hobby vegetable and master flower gardeners just like you and me. The Miracle-Gro soil mixture consists of peat moss and plant food specially formulated to satisfy the needs of young vegetable plants and seedlings. Gardeners enjoy the benefit of this cost and time saving seed starting mix because it eliminates the need to buy organic materials, peat moss, fertilizers, plant foods and mixes it all together in the proper proportions.

Simply fill your 3-inch Jiffy Pots 2/3 full with Miracle-Gro seed starting potting mix, plant your favorite vegetable seeds, water, and watch the magic happen.

Step 1:  Fill 3-inch peat pot 2/3 full of seed starting potting soil mix.

Step 2:  Place two tomato seeds in the center of the pot.  You may use one seed in the event you want to avoid thinning seedlings later.

Step 3:  Cover seeds with seed starter soil.  I have found it easier to use a 1/3 cup stainless steel measuring cup full of starting mix to cover the seeds. Then use the bottom of the measuring cup and gently compact the soil to ensure good soil-to-seed contact…

Parks Wopper
The Parks Whopper hybrids produce large fruit that is great for the table, sandwiches, or simply eat them fresh picked from the vine as a treat while weeding the garden...

Brandywime Pink
The Brandywine tomato dates back to 1885, this heirloom tomato is sure to please.

Sauce Tomato
Vesuvius region of Italy is famous, and the sauces and pastes it makes are renowned for their full, tangy flavor. When it's time for authentic Neapolitan cuisine, rely on Agro!

The Perfect Cherry Tomato for your Container Garden
Find a large, lovely container and grow the biggest and best crop of cherry tomatoes you've ever seen with Maskotka, a new determinate variety bred just for growing on the patio!

 Step 1:  As you fill each 3-inch Jiffy pot with the Miracle-Gro seed starting mix and plant your tomato seeds, place each peat pot neatly arranged in rows inside a shallow waterproof storage container. See picture to the left.

Step 2:  Pour 1-quart of room temperature water directly into the storage container, not the Jiffy pots individually.

Step 3:  Monitor the water level in the storage container.  As the Pete pots absorb water, the moisture will wick up the sides of the peat pots and moisten the seed starting mix, then in turn the tomato seeds. Add water as needed, the  pots and seed starting soil should be kept warm and damp, not soaking wet.

When starting tomato plants from seeds, it is extremely important to maintain the proper hours of lighting and growing temperatures. 8 hours under the grow light should be the minimum, 10 hours is better.

Another important thing to remember, the distance between your plants and the grow light bulbs should be 4-inches. In other words, when starting tomato seeds, use the width of your hand as your guide.

With your fingers together, place your pinky finger on the top of the peat pot, making sure the light bulb / lamp  just touches your pointer finger.

The proper growing temperatures range from, 70 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit  while the plant lights are on, and 60 – 65 degrees with grow lights turned off at night.

Water your seedlings daily, the outside of the peat pots and the soil inside the pots need to stay damp, not soaking wet.