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If you really want to experience the most satisfaction from tomato gardening, I recommend starting and growing tomato plants from seeds. If you do decide to go this route, you will be starting the seeds indoors, then transplanting your young plants outside to your garden when the weather finally allows it. Your other alternative is to purchase plantlets from the nursery and plant them directly outside. The benefit of buying plants is simply that it's less work, but you have the threat of bringing fungus and disease home with you and contaminating you garden. Another reason I like to start my own seeds, is that I get to decide from a much larger number of tomato species this way. They just don't stock that many tomato plant types at the store or nurseries.

When you have elected to grow your tomatoes from seeds, you have to figure out exactly when the right time to start them would be for your area. This is determined by researching the normal date on which your last frost occurs, count backward 6 to 8 weeks, and that's when you'll want to get your seeds started. Nighttime temps shouldn't be below 55F at the time of average last frost.

Experienced tomato gardeners will recommend lots of types of containers to start your seeds growing. My personal preference is to buy the small plastic trays that are available at your local nursery. They are a low-cost way to get going, and the process is simple too. One thing to keep in mind when growing tomato from seed, is to start in a sterile environment. Little tomato plants have a low tolerance to disease, so it's important not to expose them to anything that may prematurely end their growing cycle. It is best not to re-use your soil from last year, or recycle any from your garden. Ask your nursery professional for some soilless potting mix and you'll have much better results.

Once you've put the soilless mix into your plastic trays, they are ready for seeding. A good technique is to use the end of a pencil, and "drill" a little hole about ? inch deep into the mix. Next, sprinkle 2 or 3 tomato seeds into the hole you've punched, and cover lightly with more potting mix. Make sure you don't compact the soil down over the seeds, they need to breathe. Add just enough water to moisten the soil, preferable with a garden watering can. Make sure that you don't over saturate the soil with water as this will promote fungal growth.

The next step is to find a warm location for your seed cups to germinate. The optimal temperature is somewhere around 75F. You can place them in front of a sunny window during the day, which is especially recommended as the seed starts to germinate. During this period, it is important to make sure the soil is kept moist, but not overly so.

Soon, your small seedlings that you've been caring so much for, will be ready to move outside. After you've gotten them used to the outdoors, you'll be planting them permanently in your garden. Growing tomatoes from seeds can be a really satisfying aspect of gardening if you are committed to the extra time and care required to be successful. With just a little bit of practice and experience, you'll probably never buy another tomato plant again.

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