Step by step instructions on how to grow tomatoes from seed to seedling the fast and easy way. How to germinate seeds ready for planting.

Tomatoes need a night temperature of around 12 C (55 f) to grow well, so this is when you can plant them into the garden outside.

Before this you can start growing your tomatoes from seed, and generally around 8 weeks before the temperatures reach that magical 12 C (55 f) at night.


Daytime temperatures between 18 C to 29C (65 and 85F) are ideal for growth.

Both of these temperature can be achieved earlier by using a poly green house.

Grow tomatoes from seed Step by Step

If you want to eat the best and tastiest tomatoes then growing them from seed is a

They are easy to grow from seeds

You will need a seed raising mix.
Individual containers or divided trays
A clear covered propagation box
A mist spray bottle.

Additional equipment that will help would include a heated propagation box.

The seed raising or propagation mix need to be free draining, so avoid using garden soil if possible.

3/4 fill the containers or trays with the seed range mix and then sift a fine layer over the top.

We plant one seed in each cell or pot. You can use two to increase the germination rate if you wish, however most times we get good germination rates.

Give the soil mix a mist spray at this stage.

The seeds can be placed on the surface of the sifted mix.

Now sift a final layer of the soil mix over the seeds.

Mist spray again

The seed tray or pots need to be in a warm position,

Mist spray as need to keep the soil mix moist, however not wet and soggy.

As the seed begin to germinate, they require good light. Indoors you can use grow lights or a well lit position near a window.

If you have planted multiple seeds in each pot to sell, remove the weakest one as soon as the larger ones get to around 5 cm (2 inches) simply cut them off at the base.

The seedlings will send out two true leaves, this is the time to fertilise with a liquid seaweed fertiliser.

Once the seedlings reach a good size they can be potted up. This is usually around 4 - 6 weeks after sowing the seeds. Pop one of the seedlings out and check the root system.

Pot them up into larger pots kept in a warm sunny position until soil temperatures begin to rise. When you do this, plant them so the the stem is planted a little deeper, this will encourage extra root growth.

Once outdoor temperatures rise and the danger of frosts is over you can plant the seedlings out into the garden, or larger pots outdoors.

Again, plant the seedlings deeper, up to 1/3 to 1/2 of the stem can have its lower leaves removed and plant that 1/3 to 1/2 of the stem, below the ground. This will encourage even moor root growth.

You can use a home made tomato cage as a support. This can also be covered with plastic, to increase temperatures or to protect from late frosts.

Water and fertilise regularly and in around 8 - 10 weeks you should be ready to harvest your own tomatoes.

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