Starting tomato plants from seed

So now you've decided which type and variety of tomatoes that you want to raise, you have the seed and you're ready to get them started.  You need to purchase a tray with a tall clear lid and some peat pots from any garden products supplier.

Don't get too anxious!  If you plant them too soon, they get spindly and fall over and need to be planted in a trench.  I live in Iowa with a last frost date around May 10th so I start my tomato plants the last of March.  Even then, they're about 18 inches tall, not counting the peat pot, when I put them in the ground.  That's about perfect for deep planting which I explain in  http://raisingbigtomatoes.blogspot.com/2012/02/deep-planting-your-tomato-plants.html

  I start my seed in 4" peat pots that I have filled with Miracle Grow potting soil.  It's very important that you use a high quality potting soil.  Some gardeners start their seed in small seedling starter trays and then transplant them into larger pots when they get bigger but I've always thought that is an unnecessary step.  The advantage of starting them in peat pots is that when you're ready to put them in the garden, you just put them, pot and all, into the hole. 

After you've filled the peat pots with good potting soil and watered each pot, your ready to plant the seed.  I use the point of a pencil to poke 2 holes about 1/4" deep into the potting soil of each pot.  I always plant 2 seeds to each pot in case one doesn't germinate but I rarely have a problem with that since I make sure to get high quality seed from a source that I trust.  I happen to order mine from Gurney's catalog.  After you've made the holes and placed a seed in each hole, I just pinch the holes shut, put the clear lid on the tray and place the tray in a sunny window (make sure your plants will get plenty of sun). 

Within a week you'll be getting tomato plant sprouts!  After they get about 1" tall, you can pinch off the extra plant (smaller of the two).  

Concerning watering, you'll notice condensation on the cover after planting and you won't need to water until sometime after they have sprouted.  Remove the cover when the plants are tall enough that they're almost touching the top of the cover. You can easily see when the soil is getting dry.  As the plants grow, they will need more and more water and soon you will need to water every day.  Don't let your plants droop from lack of water, it stresses them.  Also, you should turn the tray around 180 degrees every day so the plants get even exposure to the sunlight and aren't bent the same direction all the time. 

Finally, when the weather warms and about a week prior to planting, set them outdoors (only when the wind is calm) in the sun for an hour or two a few days to harden them to the outdoors.  You will always get some transplant shock after planting but they'll quickly come out of it as long as the weather is warm.  I fertilize with some Miracle Grow at planting time.

Sharing my experiences to help you with yours!
Tomato Rog