Tomato seeds! Where to start? So many to choose from!
Looking over a recent garden catalog arrival, there were over 100 different named cultivars of tomato seed offered for sale. It is hard to think of any other offering that would have such a vast selection. It is no wonder that making a decision can be confusing to the gardener. Here is some basic information and some tips for starting tomatoes from seed.
There are two different types of tomatoes, determinate and indeterminate. A determinate tomato plant is generally compact and bears fruit over a short period of time. They usually only require minimum, or sometimes no staking. An indeterminate tomato is one that keeps growing after flowering and plants can get quite tall, often 5-6 feet or more, and they need to be staked. Indeterminate tomatoes will continue to set fruit until the arrival of cold weather.
When selecting the tomato seeds that you will be planting, give some thought to the kind of tomato that you like to eat. Do you like small, fruited tomatoes or do prefer a large juicy slicing type? There are many choices, just look at a seed rack! For most gardeners, one packet of tomato seeds will produce far more plants than the average gardener will use. This is a good opportunity to get together with other gardening neighbors and each planting a different cultivar and then when plants are ready to go into the garden, trading can begin!
Starting with the right potting mix is crucial and Black Gold Natural & Organic Seedling Mix is an excellent seed starting medium. Cell planting trays are available at most garden centers and are ideal for use when starting seeds. Some gardeners use yogurt containers, which also work for starting seeds, just be sure to punch some holes in the bottom for drainage, Plant 3-4 seeds in each cell-pack, using a heat matt will encourage germination. A good time frame to use is to plant seeds 6-8 weeks before the time plants would be set outside in the garden. Most cell pack trays will have a dome lid which increases humidity and help hold in heat from a heating matt. Remember, tomatoes like warm weather.
Tomatoes are easy to start from seed and doing so is a good project to also get young kids involved. This could be a learning project to learn how a seed grows into a tomato plant!
Changing the subject from tomatoes to begonias can be a stretch, but this is also the time to start begonia tubers indoors. Tuberous begonias can provide some wonderful summer color in a shady or semi-shady location, and they are excellent to use in containers.
Start with a large firm tuber. Avoid tubers that are soft to the touch. Begonias like a rich fast-draining soil and Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Mix will provide the conditions they need. Place the tuber in a pot and bring the potting mix just up to the top, not covering the tuber. Water after planting and place pot by a window for light. As it grows in the pot, it will probably need to be moved into a larger container. Begonias do not tolerate frost, so wait until all danger of frost is overs before setting them outdoors. They are easy to grow and once flowers appear, they should continue blooming all summer.
Both planting tomato seeds and tuberous begonias is a good early spring project and gets us in the mood that spring is coming. Starting your own plants can give a feeling of accomplishment and we can all use some positive vibes!
