8 Tips For Growing Tomato From Seeds

If you’re thinking about growing tomato seeds, you should know that there are approximately 1,000 varieties. Most of them are red, but you can also find yellow, green, purple, pink, brown, and striped.

Tomato seeds prefer warm weather as they can’t tolerate extreme hot or cold weather. In Malaysia, the best time to grow tomatoes is from March until the last week of May when the temperature ranges between 23 and 33 degrees Celsius.

Growing tomatoes can be challenging if you don’t have the right knowledge and experience. Make sure to choose the best varieties and work on the problems before they appear.

Here are some tips that can help you grow great-tasting tomatoes.

1. Choose The Right Type

There are many types of tomato seeds, so it’s crucial to select a suitable variety according to how you want to use them and your growing space.

For instance, cherry tomatoes are excellent for salads or garnish, while large tomatoes are better for making tomato pastes or sauces.  

Another factor to consider is how much space you have in your vegetable garden.

Also known as determinants, Bush tomatoes are a perfect option if you don’t have space for a tomato vine to climb. They’re the ideal choice for container gardens on patios. Additionally, they demand less work from gardeners.

Vining tomatoes, also known as indeterminates, grow in vines. They need to be polled as they continue to climb up to 150cm or more. The average size for this type of tomato seed is 180cm.

2. Prepare The Containers

Once you select the tomato seeds, it’s time to prepare the containers. We recommend dampening the potting mix before you place it in the pots. Pour water and compress the soil with your hands until it’s wet but not dripping.

When the potting soil is ready, fill the containers. Press the ground gently until it’s approximately 1cm from the top.

3. Thin The Seedlings

Since you’re growing tomatoes from seed, it’s vital to provide the seedlings room to grow. This means thinning the seedlings to leave only one healthy plant per pot. Cut the fragile seedlings to have a more robust grower. Crowded settings stop their growth, resulting in weaker plants.

Transplant tomato seeds once the first set of true leaves appears.

4. Water Properly

Tomato plants are terrific as they usually let you know if they need water as the leaves fall. It’s crucial to avoid this by watering the plants every two to three days. How much water they need revolves around how warm and humid the conditions are.

We recommend not wetting the leaves as this increases the risk of fungal diseases.

5. Tomato Seeds Require Warmth

One of the best ways for tomato seeds to spout in less than seven days is to keep them warm at room temperature and sprayed them with water two times per day.

Immediately after the seedlings break the surface, transfer them to bright light. Move them to a window that gets at least six hours of sun per day. If you don’t have a sunny window, then use a growing light. Make sure to stay vigilant to avoid seeds drying out.

6. Fertilise

Fertilize when the second set of true leaves appears. The first two leaves are called seed leaves after the true leaves appear. We recommend applying a water-soluble fertilizer at least once a week.

7. Use A Fan

The best way for tomato plants to develop strong stems is to move in the breeze. Of course, this occurs naturally outdoors, but it’s essential to give air circulation since you’re starting inside.

Turn on a fan twice a day for five to 10 minutes to create a breeze. Doing this will make a huge difference. 

8. Harden The Plants Slowly

You shouldn’t move tomato plants quickly. It’s a brilliant idea to allow plants to slowly become accustomed to outside conditions that have more wind, sunlight, and cooler nights.

We recommend moving your plants outside during the day and inside during the night. Make sure to do this for at least seven days to ensure they’re healthy and robust enough to remain out of the house.

In a Nutshell

Tomatoes are warm plants that won’t tolerate extreme weather. They’re easy to grow and surprisingly productive. It’s best to start tomato seeds in containers before planting them outside.

Follow the above tips to grow tomatoes from seeds. Once you start, a whole new world is open to you. For more information, feel free to get in touch with us.