How to Grow Tomatoes from Seeds

Co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH

Last Updated: April 5, 2024 Approved

Do you want to grow a tomato plant (literally) from the ground up? Using just the healthy, ripe tomatoes you probably already have sitting in your fruit bowl, you can grow several unique tomato plants in your garden. By following some simple instructions, you can learn how to grow a tomato plant from seed, whether you choose to buy pre-packaged seeds or ferment your own.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Starting Your Seeds

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1
Buy seeds or choose seeds from a tomato. You can buy seeds online at seed exchange sites, from your local nursery, or from other gardeners. You can also buy seeds from the garden section of a department store. If you want to collect seeds from a plant, then you will need at least one tomato from that plant. Make sure the tomato is from a plant that was grown from an heirloom or open pollinated seed. If you choose tomatoes from a hybrid, or a plant with chemically-treated seeds, the results may not be as impressive. A tomato plant may be categorized by:^{[1]
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- Heirloom or Hybrid: Heirlooms are tomatoes that have been genetically reproduced for several generations without any cross-breeding. Essentially, they're pure-bred tomatoes. Hybrid tomatoes are a cross between two varieties.
- Determinate or Indeterminate: This method of classification describes the length of time for which a plant produces fruit. Determinate plants produce for a few weeks, while indeterminate plants produce fruit throughout an entire growing season until climate conditions become too cold. Indeterminate plants also grow larger and require more care in terms of pruning and staking.
- Shape: Tomatoes are also classified into four categories of shape: globe, beefsteak, paste, and cherry. Globe is the most popular shape, beefsteak is the largest, paste tomatoes are used to make sauces, and cherry tomatoes are small, bite-sized tomatoes often used in salads.
You will want a container with a loose-fitting lid as the tomato pulp and seeds will be sitting in the container for a few days. A layer of mold will develop on the seeds. This process can destroy many seed-borne diseases that could affect the next generation of plants.^{[2]
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If you are fermenting several different types of seeds, be sure to label the container with the correct variety to avoid any mix-ups. Set the lid on top of the container but do not seal it to allow oxygen to reach the pulp.
The fermenting process can look off-putting and smell unpleasant, so set the container somewhere out of the way. For example, you could place the container under a sink, or in your garage (as long as it is warm enough).
It usually takes about two to three days for the mold to form. Be sure to harvest the seeds shortly after the mold forms so that the seeds do not germinate in the container.
Wearing gloves, scoop off the moldy layer. The seeds will have sunken to the bottom of the container.^{[3]
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Let the seeds settle at the bottom and continue to pour off the unwanted parts of the solution over a strainer. Be careful not to throw away the seeds. After you have collected all of the seeds in the strainer, rinse them thoroughly with water.^{[4]
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A glass or ceramic flat dish, baking sheet, a piece of plywood or a window screen all work well. It can be very difficult to remove dried seeds from paper or cloth. When they are dry, you can package them in a sealed plastic bag until you are ready to plant them. Be sure to label the variety of seeds on the package.
You can also place them in an airtight container in your refrigerator to simulate a winter climate. Do not place the seeds in the freezer, doing so will damage them.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Planting Your Seeds

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To prepare your tomato plants to be transferred outdoors, start your seedlings indoors while it is still cold outside. Cool temperatures in early spring can stunt growth or even kill young seedlings. Start your seedlings indoors to improve your production chances.
You can find these pots at your local nursery or garden supply store.
For example, one mix could be made using 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 coarse vermiculite, and 1/3 compost. Just make sure to water it before you sow your seeds.
Cover with soil and pat down lightly.^{[5]
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When the seeds germinate, move them into full sun or under grow lights.^{[6]
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6
Mist the seeds daily for the first 7 to 10 days. When you start to see sprouts, you can water less frequently. More plants are killed by too much water (that rots the roots) than too little water so water sparingly after the plants sprout.
- You can also soak the seeds flat in water, so the roots are watered from the bottom up. Misting may not get enough water to the roots.
Once the plants peek out of the soil, they will grow pretty fast.^{[7]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Transferring Your Plants

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When there is no danger of frost outdoors and your plant meets the height requirement, they are ready to be transferred outdoors.
About a week before you plan to transfer your plants outdoors, you need to gradually adjust them to outdoor temperatures. Gradually expose the plants to the sun, starting in a partially shaded area and slowly extend the number of hours the plants stay outside each day. Start with an hour or less per day and gradually increase from there.^{[8]
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3
Prepare your garden space. You want to use well-drained soil with a good amount of organic matter present.^{[9]
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- Consider mixing peat moss into the soil to improve drainage. You can also mix in leaf mold or compost.
- To use peat moss, remove no more than half of the soil and mix the removed soil with an equal ratio of peat moss. Mix the peat moss/soil mixture back into the planting area.
4
Test the pH level of the soil. Tomatoes grow best when planted in soil with a pH between 6 and 7.
- Your local agricultural extension office should have soil testing forms, bags and instructions available. After making adjustments to the soil, test its pH level again.
- If the pH level is below 6, add dolomite lime to the soil to raise the pH level.
- If the soil pH is above 7, mix in granular sulfur to lower the pH level.
It needs to be deep enough that you can plant your seedlings and only the top 1/4 of the plant will be sticking out of the ground. Place a scoop of organic matter such as compost into the bottom of the hole. This will give your plant an extra boost, and also help keep the plant from going into shock from transplanting.^{[10]
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6
Take the plants out of their pots carefully and place them in the ground. Try not to disturb the roots during the transplanting process. Set the transplants deep enough so that the soil touches the first set of new leaves when you cover the plant with soil. Pat the planted area lightly.
- Be sure to remove all of the leaves that are at or below soil level. Tomatoes can catch diseases from their leaves making contact with the soil.
You can fertilize the plants with fishmeal, chicken manure, or a premixed low-nitrogen, or a high-phosphorus organic fertilizer. Then, water the plants thoroughly. You will need to repeat the fertilizing process each month.^{[11]
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This will give the plants a support to latch onto as they grow and makes it easier to pick the fruit from the vines. Be careful not to disturb the roots.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Growing Your Plants

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Water at the base of the plant to avoid developing mildew on the leaves. Sprinkle your plants with liquid seaweed and layer the compost directly on the soil around the plant. Do this weekly to increase fruit production.
If you want to promote better growth and a higher fruit yield, pluck the suckers off of your tomato plant using your fingers when they appear. Suckers grow in the crotch between a side stem and the main stalk. Leave a few near the top of the plant to avoid sunscald.
Fruit should appear about 60 days after transplanting. Check the plants daily once they begin to ripen to ensure peak flavor. Gently twist the fruits and avoid pulling at the vine.

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How do you successfully grow tomatoes in pots?

Monique Capanelli
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Monique Capanelli is a Plant Specialist and the Owner and Designer for Articulture Designs, an innovative design firm and boutique in Austin, Texas. With over 15 years of experience, Monique specializes in interior botanical design, living walls, event decor, and sustainable landscape design. She attended the University of Texas at Austin. Monique is a Certified Permaculture Designer. She provides plant and botanical design experiences, from small gifts to entire transformations, to shoppers as well as commercial clients including Whole Foods Market and The Four Seasons.

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Plant Specialist

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How can I control aphids on my tomato plants?

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Make a mix of water (1 cup), white vinegar (1/3 cup) and a little bit of biodegradable dish soap (1/2 teaspoon). Spray the affected areas (under the leaves normally or around the joints), repeating this for a couple of days, always after watering the plant. You can also squish by hand if you're not squeamish.

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My seeds germinate fine, but after that, they grow tall and spindly, then fall over and eventually die. What do I do to prevent this from happening?

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Your plants have become "leggy." This happens when they are getting too little light. They use their energy in growing tall, in the hope that light will be available higher. It's their last-ditch way of surviving.

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Tips

Some seeds take a long time to completely dry. Let the seeds dry for a couple of weeks (or longer for larger seeds) if necessary.

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Ceiling fans are great for improving air circulation while the seedlings are growing indoors.

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Beefsteak tomatoes are especially popular for slicing and putting on sandwiches. Italian or paste tomatoes are used for cooking, canning, and juicing. Cherry tomatoes are frequently used in salads.

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Warnings

Never put your seeds in direct sun if the temperature will rise above 85ºF (29C). (even in 85-degree Fahrenheit sun, dark colored seeds can sustain damage, as they will get hotter than lighter colored seeds.

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Pests may plague your tomatoes, including cutworms, whiteflies, and nematodes.

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Diseases such as fusarium and verticillium wilt are also common, but you can prevent these diseases by planting resistant cultivars, rotating the crops, and keeping your garden clean.^{[12]
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