Tomatoes are a one of the most enjoyable vegetables to grow. It’s partly due to the fact that tomato plants are so productive and can produce pounds after pounds of tomatoes that are more than enough for your friends, family, and yourself. Not only that, no tomato fruit is ever wasted, if you know what to do with them. There are numerous ways to preserve your harvest and make them good enough to last all the way until the next growing season. Preserving yoru harvest is the topic of another article which we won’t get to here, but we will show you how to grow tomatoes successfully, even if you’re growing tomato for the first time.

Good tomato plants start with quality seedlings. If you’re starting the plants from seeds, be sure to use a professional soiless mixture like ProMixGrowing Tomato for the First Time

Tomatoes are a one of the most enjoyable vegetables to grow. It’s partly due to the fact that tomato plants are so productive and can produce pounds after pounds of tomatoes that are more than enough for your friends, family, and yourself. Not only that, no tomato fruit is ever wasted, if you know what to do with them. There are numerous ways to preserve your harvest and make them good enough to last all the way until the next growing season. Preserving your harvest is the topic of another article which we won’t get to here, but we will show you how to grow tomatoes successfully, even if you’re growing tomato for the first time.

Good tomato plants start with quality seedlings. If you’re starting the plants from seeds, be sure to use a professional soilless mixture like ProMix for the best results. Potting soil should in general be avoided, because of the harmful bacteria they may contain that will damage the seedlings. Before sowing, make sure to west the growing mixture thoroughly with warm water first. Allow it to drain, and sow the seeds 1/4″ deep. Place the container in a warm area, and wait for the little things to germinate.

Once the seedlings have germinated, immediately find a place with at least 4-6 hours of indirect sunlight for your seedlings. By indirect sunlight I mean indoors through a window, as the seedlings are not strong enough to withstand the harsh outside conditions. If you don’t find light for your plants immediately after they germinate, the poor little guys will stretch their necks out to find some source of light for photosynthesis. This will result in weak, “necky” seedlings which you may have to discard later.

Once the seedlings have grown to about 6-8″ tall, it’s time to harden them off. Gradually expose the young plants to outdoors environment until they can withstand the conditions successfully. Be sure not to skip this step, especially when you’re growing tomatoes for the first time. Skipping this step could result in slow-growing plants later, as tomato plants will revert into a survival-first stage which hinders their growth.

Once the tomato plants are properly hardened off, it’s time to transplant them into the garden. Dig a growing hole about a foot deep into wherever you’re planting, and set the tomato plants in deeply. Deep burial will give the plants a nice, sturdy root structure for their future needs.
 for the best results. Potting soil should in general be avoided, because of the harmful bacteria they may contain that will damage the seedlings. Before sowing, make sure to west the growing mixture thoroughly with warm water first. Allow it to drain, and sow the seeds 1/4″ deep. Place the container in a warm area, and wait for the little things to germinate.

Once the seedlings have germinated, immediately find a place with at least 4-6 hours of indirect sunlight for your seedlings. By indirect sunlight I mean indoors through a window, as the seedlings are not strong enough to withstand the harsh outside conditions. If you don’t find light for your plants immediately after they germinate, the poor little guys will stretch their necks out to find some source of light for photosynthesis. This will result in weak, “necky” seedlings which you may have to discard later.

Once the seedlings have grown to about 6-8″ tall, it’s time to harden them off. Gradually expose the young plants to outdoors environment until they can withstand the conditions successfully. Be sure not to skip this step, especially when you’re growing tomatoes for the first time. Skipping this step could result in slow-growing plants later, as tomato plants will revert into a survival-first stage which hinders their growth.

Once the tomato plants are properly hardened off, it’s time to transplant them into the garden. Dig a growing hole about a foot deep into wherever you’re planting, and set the tomato plants in deeply. Deep burial will give the plants a nice, sturdy root structure for their future needs.