Probably you know that tomato is a fruit and it does not stop any one of us from planting one in our vegetable garden. It is nutritious and contains lycopene that is a very effective cancer-fighting antioxidant. And the best part is — it is one of the easiest to grow in your home garden. However, if you do not plant your tomatoes at the right time, you will either get a sick plant or no fruits at all. Now, you surely do not want that, do you? These tips will help you with picking the best time for planting tomato seeds.
If you have decided to go with seeds instead of seedlings, you need to start them about 6-8 weeks before the last anticipated frost. This means in January if you live in a desert region and February if you live in the mild-winter areas. Remember, tomato plants need a consistent temperature of at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit to grow.
When you start your seeds this early, it will give your seeds the time to germinate and be ready for planting in the soil when the temperature reaches the required warmth level. If your seedlings are ready to be planted and the outdoor temperature is still too cold, you will end up with a plant in a cool soil that just refuses to bloom.
Now what you need to decide is whether you want to grow determinate or indeterminate tomatoes. The determinate variety grows on vines to a certain length and then stops growing. So, they are more compact and bushy. On the other hand, the indeterminate variety has long vines that keep spreading out and these are the ones you need to stake.
If you have a small garden or are planning on using containers, you will want to go with the determinate variety. These tomatoes will ripen early and will be able to provide you with fruits in the early part of the season. Their fruits also mature all at the same time.
But if you do decide to go for the indeterminate variety, you should know that these will produce fruits later in the season. And the best part of this variety is that it will keep producing new shoots and fruits throughout the growing season.
Depending on where you live, there are varieties that mature at different times of the season. There are some that mature early, some during the mid-season, and some mature later in the season. If you include these different varieties, you can rest assured that you will have fresh tomatoes at your disposal throughout the tomato growing season.
Temperature is a very important consideration while planting tomato seeds. The right temperature to germinate seeds is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit and by the time it is ready to be planted in your garden, the outdoor temperature should be around 50 degrees. However, the night temperature is also an important consideration. The overnight temperature has to be above 55 degrees for the plant to set fruits.
Consider all the above factors if you wish to begin your tomatoes from seeds. Remember, the temperature is the key factor here. So, begin your seeds early enough so they are ready for planting when the temperature is right. And if you choose your varieties carefully, you can get fresh fruits right off the vine throughout the season.
Jimmy Casperson is a tomato growing enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on planting tomato seeds visit Growing Tomatoes Secrets
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