Spring is almost here, and that means it’s time to begin thinking about our outdoor gardens. And while I am definitely more of an indoor expert, I do love to grow vegetables outdoors. Last year, I started my tomato seedlings indoors in hopes that I would have a higher plant yield before the cold weather set in. I was wildly successful, and my husband and I had more tomatoes then we knew what to do with. Because my haul last year was such a success, I am starting my seedlings indoors again and I wanted to share my method with all of you. Use my guide to learn when to start tomato seeds indoors, and how to care for them to get the best tomato haul come Summer/Fall/
When To Start Tomato Seeds
It’s generally a good idea to start tomato seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the date of the last frost in your region. Use this guide from the Farmers Almanac to determine when the first/last frost dates in your growing region occur. For example, my the last frost date for my area is around April 11th, that means I would want to start my seedlings indoors around the first week of March. For most people, February – March is usually when you should start tomato seedlings for the best possible results.
How to Start Tomato Seedlings Indoors
Once you have determined when to start tomato seeds, starting them is the second step. First determine which kinds of tomatoes you’d like to plant. Depending on where you live, you might want to take pest immunity in mind. After you’ve gathered seeds, you’ll need potting soil as well as grow trays. You’ll need a 2×2-inch section for every tomato seedling, so make sure you pick a container with plenty of room.
Plant the tomato seedlings as you would anything else, and give them a good watering. Next, place them under an indoor grow light, or in front of a sunny window. It’s important to keep in mind that the germination temperature for tomato seedlings is 70 degrees, so make sure to pick a grow location that can sustain this temperature easily. I had the most success growing mine on a table in my kitchen with a grow light a few inches above the soil surface.
How to Care for Tomato Seedlings Indoors
Once your seedlings are in the soil, caring for them is relatively easy. Keep soil temperatures between 70-75 degrees, and ensure that they get at least 6-7 hours of direct light. Because they’re new seedlings, the soil should be kept relatively moist—watered at least every other day.
If care conditions are optimal, your seedlings will sprout in 5-10 days. Keep watering your tomato seedlings until moving outdoors.
When to Move Tomato Plants Outside
It can be tricky to know when to move tomato plants outdoors for the remainder of the growing season. However, keep the 70 degree mark for seedlings in mind and your tomatoes will thrive! Move your seedlings outdoors and transplant into a larger container (or the ground itself!) as soon as temperatures are consistently 70+ degrees outside.
Tomato plants outdoors will have to be watered each day, especially as soon as the plant begins flowering and producing fruit! Expect to begin enjoying tomatoes during mid to late July, and depending on growing conditions, even into early October.
