Before you grow tomatoes, you have to decide how you will go about doing things. Will you use seeds, or will you be utilizing a harder method… growing tomatoes from tomatoes? The latter might seem more convenient, especially if you already have tomatoes in the refrigerator. However, if your tomatoes were grown from commercial farming procedures (over organic ones), they are probably hybridized. This means that their seeds are probably sterile. For this reason, if you want to start growing tomatoes from other tomatoes, consider starting things off the old-fashioned way… using seeds to jumpstart the process. Then once they start sprouting tomatoes, you will have the power to grow new sets of plants.
To grow tomatoes from seeds, you must first think about when you will start planting. You should do this 6 to 8 weeks before it starts getting cold in your area. If the temperatures go below the mid-50s, you might have trouble growing your plants. For the growing itself, there are many containers you can use. The cheapest are the plastic ones that you find at most garden shops. They are not fancy, but they are very easy to use for beginners. However, they are not miracle-workers, so if the soil within the container is not sterile, your plants may encounter disease. With that said, stick to “soilless” mediums as they do the same thing without exposing your plants to harmful organisms.
After you have prepared your trays, you are ready to plant your seeds. With a pencil, punch one hole into the soil. Drop 2 or 3 seeds into this hole. Only one seed is needed for germination, but the more you put down, the greater your chances of success. Just do not surpass 2 or 3 seeds, as the area may not be big enough to accommodate the growth. In any case, after you have laid your seeds, apply a thin layer of top soil then water the area. The soil should be moistened but not over-watered and soaked. Repeat this procedure with every cup in the tray. Now you need to put your seedlings into a warm area, somewhere around 70 degrees. If the area fits that requirement, place the seeds near a window sill. Make sure the window receives enough light, as sunlight is especially vital during the beginning stages of a tomato plant’s life. For watering, do as you did before… moisten the soil, but do not soak it. And only water when the soil appears dry.