"Bill R" wrote in message
...
A lot of us that read and post in this newsgroup grow tomatoes and a lot of
us start our own seeds. I thought that I would start a discussion on how
you start and grow your own tomatoes.

I grow a lot of varieties that are not available as plants from the local
places that carry tomato plants. I use a couple of different methods to
start them. I like the "bio-dome houses" method that vendors like Park
Seeds sell. I also use the "peat pellets" (like the Jiffy-7) for the
larger plants. When I start seeds inside (in March) I place the planter
on "seeding heat pads". They really help in getting the seeds started
faster and result in a much higher germination rate than non heated
methods. They also help the plants grow much faster.

After the seed are up about a week they are watered with a 20-20-20 plant
food solution mixed at 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water. I generally
don't put the tomato plants out in the garden until (at least) the middle
of May. Before that I put them out on the porch during the day (in the
shade) to get them accustomed to the weather.

How do you start your tomatoes?


I buy sheets of six-packs (the kind in which nurseries sell plants). A sheet
breaks apart into six 6-packs. Under a dollar for the whole sheet. I use
Miracle-Gro potting soil. I put the 6-packs in trays, on top of gravel with
heating cables underneath. When the plants are 2-3" tall, I shut off the
bottom heat. The potting soil apparently has just enough nutrients that I
don't fertilize at all. I bring them outdoors at about the same time you do.