35 Monster Tomato Seeds, Solanum lycopersicum

Sowing tomato seeds is a relatively simple activity, but there are a few key steps to follow to ensure good germination and healthy plants. Here are the detailed steps for sowing tomato seeds:

### 1. **Seed Preparation**
- **Choosing Seeds**: If you purchased tomato seeds, make sure they are good quality and suitable for your climate. If you are using harvested tomato seeds, make sure they are thoroughly dry before storing them.
- **Soaking (optional)**: Some people recommend soaking the seeds in warm water for 12 hours before sowing, but this is not essential. This can help boost germination for some varieties.

### 2. **Prepare the substrate**
- **Choose the right potting soil**: Use a light, well-aerated, and well-drained potting soil. A special seedling potting soil is ideal, as it contains few nutrients to prevent young plants from growing too quickly before the roots are strong enough.
- **Seedling Container**: Use small pots, seed trays, or seedling trays. Make sure the container has drainage holes to prevent water from stagnating and rotting the roots.

### 3. **Sow the seeds**
- **Sowing Depth**: Sow tomato seeds at a depth of approximately **0.5 cm to 1 cm**. Tomato seeds are small, so there is no need to bury them deeply.
- **Spacing**: Avoid overcrowding the seeds. Place them about 2-3 cm apart in the same pot or tray to allow for good root development without excessive competition.
- **Lightly cover**: Lightly cover the seeds with a little potting soil, pressing gently to ensure good contact with the soil, without packing too much.

### 4. **Germination Conditions**
- **Temperature**: Tomato seeds need a warm temperature to germinate, ideally between **20 and 25 °C**. If the temperature is too low, germination will be delayed or will not occur.
- **Humidity**: Keep the substrate moist, but not soggy. Use a spray bottle or gentle watering to avoid displacing the seeds.
- **Light**: Tomatoes need light to germinate. Place the pots or trays in a bright spot, but avoid direct sunlight, as it can dry out the soil too quickly. Indirect light is ideal.
- **Covering the seedlings**: To maintain humidity, you can cover the pots or trays with plastic wrap or a cloche, but be sure to air them from time to time to avoid excessive humidity and mold growth.

### 5. **Germination**
- **Germination Time**: Generally, tomato seeds begin to germinate in **5 to 10 days** if conditions are favorable.
- **Check the seedlings**: When the first shoots appear, remove the plastic cover to allow air to circulate and prevent mold. Young plants need light to grow and strengthen.

### 6. **Care of young plants**
- **Watering**: Once the seeds have germinated, water regularly to keep the soil slightly moist, but avoid overwatering. Use a fine-spout watering can to avoid disturbing the young plants.
- **Light Exposure**: When the first leaves appear, young tomato plants need **6 to 8 hours of light** per day to grow properly. If you don't have enough natural light, you can use grow lights to supplement.
- **Temperature**: Ensure that the room temperature remains constant between **18 and 22 °C** for good plant development.

### 7. **Transplanting the young plants**
- **When to transplant**: When the young plants have 2 to 3 true leaves, they can be transplanted into larger pots. You can also put them in the ground if the weather conditions are favorable and the risk of frost has passed (tomatoes are sensitive to frost).
- **Handling the seedlings**: When transplanting, be gentle to avoid damaging the roots. Plant them a little deeper in the new pot or garden to encourage root development.

### 8. **Acclimatization before outdoor planting (hardening off)**
- If you have sown the tomatoes indoors and plan to plant them outdoors, it is important to harden them off before planting. This involves gradually acclimating them to the outdoors to make them more resistant to weather conditions.
- Place the seedlings outside for a few hours a day, gradually increasing the time spent outside over 7 to 10 days.

### 9. **Outdoor Planting**
- **Soil**: Choose a rich, well-drained, and slightly acidic soil (pH 6 to 6.8) to plant tomatoes.
- **Spacing**: Plant tomatoes about 45-60 cm apart from each other to allow them to develop properly.
- **Sun Exposure**: Tomatoes need **plenty of sun**, ideally between 6 and 8 hours per day, to produce good fruit.

### Additional tips:
- **Minimum Temperature**: Do not plant tomatoes outdoors until the night temperature remains above **10-12°C**, as they are sensitive to frost.
- **Staking**: Tomatoes need support to grow properly. Use stakes, cages, or supports to keep plants upright and prevent them from breaking under the weight of the fruit.

By following these steps, you will be able to sow and grow your own tomatoes at home and enjoy their tasty fruits throughout the growing season.