Big, Juicy,Tasty Tomatoes!!!
Starting from Seed...
Your first 14 days

When to start the Seeds?

Start your seeds 50 days before you are ready to transplant your tomato plants outdoors.  When planting outside, the ground has to be free from any chance of frost and somewhat warmed by the spring sun. 

What is needed to start seeds?

1. Add "room temperature" water to your soil mix and let stand for 2 hours. Make sure that the soil mix is damp and not too wet. Fill containers with soil mix almost to the top. (note: supply list)
 

2. Evenly space 2 - 3 seeds on the  top of each cell, i.e. in egg carton, peat pot, cup...; use the pencil to lightly press the seeds into the mix, and, cover with a thin layer of soil @ quarter inch. With a piece of paper, press lightly over the soil surface to make it smooth and firm.

3. Now take the container, place it in a plastic shopping bag, tie the end and leave in a warm room. The bag will keep your soil mix moist to produce seedlings. Check every two or three days for mixture moisture; once you start seeing green plants... remove the bag and place the seedlings in a well lighted room, southern exposure, that is warm @ 72 degrees. Note: Make sure that only the soil stays moist ( try not to get the new seedling plants wet; also, and at this stage in the growing cycle "do not fertilize the seedlings"!)

In @ 3-7 days you will start to see the seedlings.  With a grow light (20 hours a day) and warm temps 76 degrees... in 7 days the results will amaze you.  Expect 3 inches in height.

A simple egg container can start seeds.

Supplies List

• Containers... egg carton, paper cups, milk carton "anything that you can have drainage in the bottom" or peat pots.
• Tray or dish to hold the container.
• Soil mix that has peat moss and vermiculite... don't use potting soil or regular outdoor soil... too heavy. Store purchased seed starter mix is great and safe.
• A plastic spoon, a long pencil, a small sign to I.D. the seedlings; and, a jar for water... use rain water if you can.
• A plastic shopping bag.
• A designated spot indoors for adequate sunlight. A grow light is great but it could be expensive.

A variety of tomato seeds that will produce "big" tomatoes... see the varieties of tomatoes that were featured in the 1996 Finals.