How to Grow Tomatoes at Home (From Seeds and Seedlings)

You’ve probably seen those amazing tomatoes at the grocery store and wondered if you could ever grow them at home. Absolutely!

This guide will help you become a backyard tomato farmer.

We’ll show you how to plant, care for, harvest, and store your tomatoes. And they’ll be just as tasty as those you buy in the store.

Varieties of Tomatoes

Among the most popular tomato varieties are beefsteak, cherry, and grape tomatoes.

• Beefsteak tomatoes are large and can be sliced for use in salads or sandwiches.
• Cherry tomatoes are small, round, and often eaten whole. These tomatoes are great for adding to salads or enjoying as a snack.
• Grape tomatoes have an oval shape and look like small grapes. These tomatoes are great for adding to soups and sauces or as a snack.

Growing Tomatoes From Seeds

You will need to buy quality tomato seeds. These can be purchased at a garden center. You can also save the seeds from fresh tomatoes.

Place 2-3 seeds in a seed starter or container and cover them with about a quarter inch of soil. Next, mist the top with water.

After that, find a sunny spot where you can place your pot.

Now, be patient. It may take up to ten days for the little seedlings to start emerging.

Planting Seedlings

If you’re looking to get a head start on your garden, this is the best option. First, you will need to purchase seedlings from a nursery or garden center.

Look for healthy tomato plant seedlings with green leaves and a sturdy stem. You can also prepare some at-home trays and sow the seeds in them.

Once you’ve chosen your plants or the homegrown seedlings are ready, it’s time to start planting.

Tomatoes thrive in sunlight, so ensure you have a spot in your garden that receives ample sunlight. Next, dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the seedling’s roots, and then fill it with soil.

Place the tiny plants gently in the hole and cover them with soil, leaving a few inches of the stems above the ground.

Additionally, water your tomatoes thoroughly to keep them well-hydrated during the growing season.

Now it is time to train them to grow in the right direction. Tomatoes thrive when they are supported by something like a cage or trellis.

Hardening Off   

Once the plants are big enough, you can begin hardening them.

This means gradually exposing them to the outdoors so they can get used to the new environment. Do this 7 to 10 days before you plant them outdoors.

Begin by taking them outside for just a few hours each day. Then, gradually increase the amount of time they spend outside.

After a few days, they should be able to stay outside all day without any issues.

Transplanting Tomatoes  

When the seedlings are about 4 inches tall, gently lift them from the soil with a trowel or your bare hands.

Then, you can transplant them into a larger container or directly into the ground. However, ensure that you bury them deep enough to leave at least two-thirds of the plant above the soil surface.

Watering  

Tomato plants require about 1 to 2 inches of water per day.

To ensure they get enough water, use a watering can or a hose to water each plant directly. If the top inch of soil feels dry, then it’s time to water your tomatoes again.

Ideally, water the plants in the morning so the sun can evaporate any excess moisture. However, if you’re unable to water them in the morning, you can water them in the evening.

Fertilizing  

Now that your garden tomatoes have started to grow, it’s important to fertilize them regularly.

Fertilizing them will help them grow large and strong, and will also ensure a plentiful harvest of delicious tomatoes.

There are numerous types of tomato fertilizers available, so it is essential to select the one that is best suited for your plants. You can find organic liquid or granular fertilizers.

Compost tea, bone meal, coffee grounds, and kelp meal are good options to start with.

Regardless of the fertilizer you use, be sure to read the directions carefully to avoid over-fertilizing.

Pruning

Pruning involves removing suckers, which are small shoots that grow between the main stems and branches. You should also remove any leaves growing below the fruit.

Pinching  

Pinching is the process of removing the middle leaves at the tips of the plant to encourage it to grow thicker and bushier.

However, be cautious not to pinch too many shoots, as this can reduce the plant’s overall production.

Staking  

To support your plants during growth, consider using stakes or poles to provide stability.

If you have many plants, this is a great option, as it will keep them straight and prevent them from falling over or touching each other.

You can also use tomato towers or cages. These structures are designed to support the plants’ weight and maintain their upright position.

These are also great options if you have limited space or if you are growing tomatoes in containers.

Regardless of the method you use, it is essential to secure or cage your plants before they become too large.

Growing in Containers

You can also plant tomatoes in containers on your porch, balcony, or patio.

Choose a container that is at least 12 inches deep and has drainage holes.

Next, fill it with a soil-based potting mix and add some organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure.

After that, you can place the tomato plant in the soil. Also, keep the soil moist with regular watering, but avoid getting the leaves wet.

Pests  

There are several common garden pests that you may encounter.

The most common one is the tomato hornworm. These caterpillars can cause significant damage to a tomato plant, consuming the leaves and even the fruit [1].

Read more about how to control tomato hornworms on tomato plants naturally.

The Colorado potato beetle is another one. These tiny, orange beetles are quick to inflict damage on tomato and potato plants.

However, there are some steps you can take if you encounter problems with any of these pests. This article explains how you can control the Colorado potato beetle naturally.

Diseases  

Although some diseases can affect tomatoes, most are preventable. Early Blight and Late Blight are the most common.

Early blight is caused by a fungus that attacks the leaves and fruit of the plant. You will notice leaf spotting and yellowing.

A fungus also causes late blight. With water-soaked lesions, the leaves will develop an irregular shape.

However, you can prevent these diseases by using home remedies and other natural methods. Learn how to naturally prevent and control tomato diseases.

Harvesting   

Once your tomatoes have reached full maturity, it is time to harvest them. To determine if your tomatoes are ripe, check their color.

The color of ripe tomatoes varies, ranging from deep red to orange, purple, green, yellow, and pink, depending on the variety. They should also smell like ripe tomatoes.

Once those signs are evident, gently grasp the fruit and remove it from the tree. You can also use pruners or garden scissors to clip off the stem at the top of the fruit.

Storing  

It’s essential to know how to store fresh tomatoes so you can enjoy them for as long as possible.

Keep them at room temperature on your counter. You can also store them in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Learn more about how to preserve tomatoes and other vegetables for the long term.

Takeaway  

No matter how you choose to enjoy them, there’s nothing like harvesting your very own homegrown tomatoes! As you can see, tomato farming is not only for experienced gardeners.

Moreover, by growing them at home, you’ll save money, and you’ll also feel good knowing how they were cultivated.

The tips above will help you get started planting tomatoes outdoors in the garden or in pots.