Starting tomato from seed

Last year was my first year growing tomatoes and I purchased them as plants. This year I want to start from seed indoors. How soon before last frost should I start these? Any tips on getting them off to a good start? I've read that red mulch around the plants when first transplanted out helps to keep the soil warm around them. Thanx!

Howdy, Brenda...

Normally it is recommended to start your tomato seeds 6-8 weeks before your last frost. I prefer starting most of mine at 6 weeks as that gets them to a good size but yet not "overly large". An exception would be the cherry type tomatoes and those you can hold off on and start at around 4-5 weeks because once germinated they tend to grow much faster than regular-sized 'maters.

Having your germinating soil/medium at around 70º would be an optimum temperature and, of course, moist but not soggy would be best. Once your seeds declare you can keep them at a cooler temperature, if you like. (Tomato plants actually grow best if grown at cooler temps than warmer temps when young, 60º would be good.)

As for the red mulch, that was created mainly for commercial growers and tends to come into play not necessarily for holding in moisture/reducing weeds but also due to the red spectrum of light contributing to increased growth and production of fruit. In a home garden you most likely won't see a big enough difference in production to justify the extra expense of the red plastic. If it were me I'd use a more organic approach for mulch (straw, leaves, grass clippings, etc) as this will not only help conserve moisture but will also break down and contribute to the health and tilth of your soil. It'll also make for some mighty happy earthworms and the good bacteria that you want to see in your soil. "Feed the soil and the soil feeds the plants."

Hope this is helpful!
Wishing you a great garden this coming season!

Shoe

Well said Shoe!

Perfect, Shoe! I'll skip the added expense of the red mulch and go with straw which is what I remember my grandma using. I am starting some cherry tomatoes so will hold off on those a bit longer.

One other quick question if I may...... fertilizing? I think I've read maters like magnesium and that epsom salts are good to add around the plant. Any truth to that?

Oh and just thought of one other.....last frost dates are such estimates and we all know late frosts hit. Is there a set temperature range at which I can safely transplant my new babies? Say, like 60* nighttime temps or something like that? Or is that too cool?

Thx again! Can't wait to make some salsa this year with all my bounty!

Howdy, chickenrancher, nice to see ya!

Brenda, yes, Epsom's Salts adds adds magnesium (magnesium sulphate) and although it is not necessarily a "fertilizer" it is no doubt needed for the utilization of N, P, K. Usually there is a decent amount in most soils already but if you care to add some then go ahead but do so sparingly. Too much will inhibit calcium uptake, although that is very rare as you'd really have to over-do it.) Keep in mind though that if you use dolomitic limestone (to sweeten your soil/raise the pH) you most likely won't have to add magnesium so, again, save your moola. (I'm a miser, ya know!) *grin

Regarding temperatures, you should feel safe planting your seedlings out in a soil temperature of 60 or 65º if your plants are hardened off good. I recommend that you let your soil warm up by breaking it up (till it, fork it over, plow it, etc) letting the sun warm it for a period of time, a couple days at least but preferably a good week of sunshine will do you justice, regardless of the air temp (unless it is freezing but then you wouldn't want to set your plants out then anyway!).
The best soil temps for good active growing would be from 70-80º so keep that in mind. That also means learning when to add your mulch, i.e, don't lay your mulch down too early or you'll be blocking the sun's warmth to the soil (and tomatoes, like many of us, hate cold feet). Let the ground and air temps warm up and stabilize, then add your mulch at that time.

Happy Gardening in All the Gardens of Life!
Shoe

Thank you so much, Shoe for the sound and down-to-earth (tee hee hee) advice. I should be off to a great start with all your tips.

Brenda

Take pics! And share! :>)

Shoe

I am interested in finding tomato seed called "Better Girl". I am told that these tomatoes
do well in northern CA, I live close to the coast. Any info ?
Thanks ,
pennie33

Caution, Brenda, starting seedlings is habit forming. AKA, "How did I wind up with so many tomato plants"?

Well, let's see. Gotta have these varieties for sure, and want to try that one as a novelty, and DG folks say these two are extra good, and I oughta have a yellow chrery tomato too, and I know 100 % won't germinate, and some plants may die before maturing and I'll need a replacement, , , , , Guess I better seed five or six of each.

Whoa!! Three bearing plants yield more than my wife and I can eat . How is it that I suddenly have 31 tomato seedlings to find a place for?

LOL!

Frank

Frank,

Your caution to Brend is too late for me. I've already "gone over." I listened to the tomato devotees on Dave's and now I have about 84 seedlings of tomatoes! I only have fourteen different cultivars, but I wanted to be sure to have at least two producing plants of everything, so I plan to plant 3 or 4 of each type. Of course, that means that I need to have half a dozen seedlings of each cultivar, in case I lose one during a transplant or have a spare if there is an early frost. The real problem is that I'm the only one in my household that likes to eat tomatoes. I REALLY like them though and I have family and friends that will eat any excess.

David

I also have way more heirloom tomato starts than I will ever need. I don't know what to do with them. I just can't bear to part with any of them. I have never had any live before so this is pretty unexpected. I musy have been holding my mouth just right.

those are great looking sprouts--did you use a special light?

It's in one of those Aerogardens. We received one for a gift and really disliked it until I started using it for seed starting. The really amazing thing is that there are many varieties of seedlings and they are all thriving. As you can see, my peas, etc. are under a regular plant light. My alien is standing guard. :-)

That is very interesting, Aquannie and your seedlings look wonderful

Great advice, Horeshoe, I too am starting tomatoe seeds and this was good reading.

Me too Shoe. Yep the little ole flower child is gonna grow some maters! I want to do a couple of heirloom types but don't really know what I want to start with! Never know there were so many of em'.

Tina