Tomato Seed Germination

The process of tomato seed germination is easy and following certain thumb rules would help eliminate most of the associated problems. One can either buy packaged seeds for germination or those harvested in his own field. Starting at right time is the key to achieve maximum success in tomato seed germination. Storing the seeds in a cool and dry place increases the chances of seed germination. Seeds that are more than 4 years old should not be used for germination. Such seeds have very less chances to produce new growth. Understanding the seed germination process in general should prove to be useful before getting into the details of the topic of tomato seed germination.

Germinating Tomato Seeds

A common mistake done while germinating seeds, is the use of garden soil. It is possible that the soil contains viruses and fungi which affects germination process in the early stages itself. Another disadvantage of using garden soil for tomato seed germination is that, it becomes hard and compact too quickly. The tender seedlings cannot break open the hard and compact surface easily, if garden soil is used. A mixture of vermiculite, peat moss and perlite should be used for growing seeds. Such mixtures are easily available at garden centers. There are many brands of mixtures available in the market. One should avoid those with high fertilizer content. Popular brands of mixtures preferred by gardeners are the 'Jiffy Mix', 'MetroMix', 'ProMix', 'Fafard', etc.

Containers
There is no need to use special containers for germinating tomato seeds indoors. However, it is necessary to provide proper drainage for water in the pots being used. The flower pots meant for regular planting or even Styrofoam cups can be used for this purpose. If one is thinking about reusing the old containers, it is advisable to sterilize them.

Planting
The process of germinating tomato seeds requires them to be planted at a depth of 1/8th inches. To provide these seeds with enough moisture, covering with soil after sowing is recommended. Keeping the pots away from direct sunlight is important. The soil should be allowed to dry a little bit in between two watering. However, the soil has to be moist and it would be harmful for tender seedlings to grow in dry soil. Tomato seed germination is best achieved at temperatures between 70-80 °F. The process of germination slows down if the temperature decreases and vice versa. It takes only 5-10 days for seeds to germinate. The seedlings are allowed to grow in these containers for 6-8 weeks, after which they are transplanted. Moving the saplings to big containers helps promote their healthy growth.

Raising Tomato Seedlings
The seedlings of tomato attain a healthy growth if a temperature of 65 °F is maintained. This plant grows well in light and ventilation is also important for proper growth. The time at which tomato seedlings need to be transplanted is 6-8 weeks. There is one more way to check whether these plants are ready for transplantation; the development of first of the true leaves, can be marked as the time of transplanting. The practice of re-potting or transplanting helps the tomato plant to develop strong roots. Setting seedlings deep into the container reduces their height; this way the sapling is properly established in the new setting.

The process of initiating tomato seed germination requires efforts on the part of the owner; maintaining necessary conditions for plant growth is one of the important thing to consider. One has to take care of different aspects like soil drainage, sunlight and maintenance of temperature to facilitate proper germination of tomato seeds.