Buying and planting a packet of tomato seeds and watching it grow into a tomato plant is both surprisingly easy and enjoyable. There are an immense amount of tomato seed varieties to select from, so finding the best one to grow and enjoy is pretty easy.

To get started, the tomato seeds need to be grown indoors for a period of about 6-8 weeks. To make sure the seedlings are ready to move outdoors when the weather is right, this would usually start in early spring.

The seeds should be scattered thinly over potting compost placed in a planting tray. The seeds can also be planted in a pot that can be placed in the sunlight. The tomato seeds prefer warm conditions so it’s best to keep your planting tray in a warm area or on a windowsill. A greenhouse is an ideal environment for this.

To keep the seeds from drying out, a widespread trick is to place a layer of cling film over the planting tray. Once the seedlings begin to appear, the cling film must be removed. Moist soil is preferred by tomato plants but you must ensure they are not over watered.

Tomato plants also love being in sunlight. If you are growing your seedlings in a tray on a windowsill, make sure that you turn the tray every day or two, to ensure that all of the plants gain access to the light, allowing them to grow evenly. If the seedlings and plants do not receive enough light whilst indoors, they may become bent as they strain for the light or grow thin and leggy.

Once the seedlings have grown to a height of about 3-5cm (1-2 inches), they can be transplanted to their individual pots, whilst ensuring the roots are not damaged. Lift the seedlings by the leaves and not by the stem to avoid damage to them.

Create a hole in the soil big enough for the seedling’s roots and place the seedling in it. Back fill the hole with compost and immediately water the seedling. Lightly press the compost around the roots ensuring that the roots have good contact with the surrounding soil.

Ensure the seedlings are kept in good sunlight and are turned often to help with even growth. When the seedlings have reached a height of roughly 20cm (8 inches) tall, they should be transplanted again into larger containers or pots.

Before moving the seedlings into the outdoor garden, they need to be left outside in the sun for a few hours each day to harden them off. This will help their transition to the outside temperatures.

By the time the outside temperature is warm enough for the plants to be transferred outside, the seedling plant should have grown about six leaves. Ensure that only the topmost four leaves remain above the surface when burying the seedlings.

Bury the stems deep in the ground to ensure that the plant develops a sturdy root system, assisted by the fact that tomato plants grow roots all along it’s stem. A stronger plant will develop, better able to carry the weight of the fruit and so avoiding rotting fruit from ground contact. The stronger and healthier the plant, the better the output.

Tom Brown has many years experience as a tomato grower and loves to share his knowledge with others. For more great information on growing tomatoes, visit his website and sign up for his free e-course or, for a more detailed guide to growing tomatoes, be sure to check out Tom’s fantastic e-book Guide to Growing Big Red Juicy Tomatoes.