by Harry Burlington

Created on: September 01, 2009   Last Updated: September 03, 2009

How to grow tomatoes.

Growing tomatoes isn't as easy as it may seem. Anyone can go to their local home improvement store or nursery in early to mid planting season, which depends on the climate zone one resides in, and purchase an already 8 inch tall tomato plant. The real beauty lies in purchasing quality seeds, peat pots, a quality planting soil (Miracle Grow) and a table-top greenhouse.

Using a spoon put one or two scoops of planting soil into each peat pot and then with your finger push down about two inches into the soil. Repeat this with each peat pot and then drop two or three seeds into each pot. Tomato seeds are extremely small and it's hard to believe that such a wonderful plant comes from these small seeds!

After applying seeds to each peat pot, add about a cup of water to each peat pot and then cover the peat pots with a plastic covering to incubate. The seeds will germinate in about ten days, if the miniature greenhouse is in access of sunlight and you apply cup of water every three days. You will notice the plastic covering will develop condensation and will recycle the water already in the pots back onto the germinating tomatoes.

Once the tomatoes are two to three inches tall, very gently remove the one or two smaller tomato sprouts and replant them if you want. One plant per pot is best for results in the long run when the tomatoes are transplanted to your garden.

After thirty to forty-five days, move the plants to an environment that is transitional for them, like a garage with sunlight access or a front porch during the day and bring them back inside during the night. Once sixty days have passed, take each tomato plant and do a down transplant into their peat pot. Prune off any yellow colored leafs and taking a spoon, gently pull the plant out of the pot and replant it deeper into the peat pot. Tomatoes have hairy stems that develop into roots and this down transplanting gives the plant more nutrients.

Once it comes time to transplant to the garden, the best mixture in the world, is one-third peat moss, one-third manure, and one-third genuine top soil mixed with the natural soil. Ensure your garden is aerated and tilled for proper oxygen.

Remove the bottom portion of the peat pots, exposing the root of the tomatoes and plant them into holes that are six to eight inches deep. Ensure to build a mound around the base, so water runs away from the base of the tomato plant and prune to keep any leaves off the soil.

Continue to prune throughout the growing season, water regularly, and apply nutrients three or four times as well and you will have the best tomatoes you have ever tasted. Trust me, I grew up farming and still grow tomatoes every year that are prized in my hometown.

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