![]() ![]() have fan at low setting to circulate air, which will develop stronger stems.adjust lights as plants grow, and rotate plants.when seedlings have 1-2 sets of true leaves (appearing after the seed leaves), consider transplanting to 3-4” containers.water from bottom, so plants soak up water, without having pots sit in water for long periods of time.remove plastic wrap and place in south-facing window or under grow lights for 12-18 hours a day, with lights 1-2” above plants.Once the seedlings appear with the first set of leaves, called seed or cotyledon leaves: room temperature should be above 55-60º F and soil temperature around 70-80º F.place in a warm place or use a heat mat.water gently with the spray bottle until moist.label the tray or the individual plants if you have multiple types in one tray.cover lightly with the seed-starting medium and place in a tray.add 2-3 seeds per container or sow in rows ¼” deep.fill a 2” pot or other small container with drainage hole with pre-moistened seed starting medium to within ¾” of top.pots, soil blocks or other containers (clean, 2-3 inches deep).seed starting medium (sterile, soil-less, fine and lightweight texture).a south-facing window or grow lights (LED or fluorescent).A good source to calculate when to sow seeds is Johnny’s Seeds-Starting Date Calculator. A common mistake is to start seeds too early, which can result in tall, leggy, weak plants that do not transplant well. This makes March a good time to start those tomato seeds growing in the local area. In Central Virginia, the average last frost date for plant hardiness zone 7a is April 15 to 25. Just be sure to buy high-quality seed from reputable seed companies or other sources.īe sure to time your seed starting by sowing seeds five to seven weeks before the last average frost date. Catalogs and seed packets will also indicate which varieties are resistant to tomato diseases (Verticillium Wilt, Fusarium Wilt, etc.). Determinate or indeterminate tomato types provide options for harvesting over a 4-5 week period or continuing for the entire growing season. ![]() Purchasing your own seeds from catalogs, online sources, a seed savers exchange or fellow gardeners offers a wide range of fruit characteristics (beefsteak, cherry, paste, grape), as well as a choice of hybrid or heirloom tomatoes. Consult the Virginia Cooperative Extension Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide to help you plan for planting guidelines, frost dates and to estimate the number of plants needed for your garden size. To begin, plan your garden in the winter, review the seed catalogs that start arriving in January, and order seeds to arrive in time for planting indoors in your area. Tomatoes, of course, are often the first choice! Starting tomatoes from seed is more work than buying transplants, but can be a very satisfying and rewarding way to try new, unusual and tasty varieties, while saving your money. As thoughts turn to vegetable gardening in late winter and early spring, many of us want to start some vegetables indoors.
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