Am I overdoing it because I'm starting seeds in a new place this year? Or is 63 tomato plants a reasonable number, and I'm not overdoing it at all? 🤣

I just got my tomato seeds started this week, down at the Orta shop instead of at home because the spot where I usually start seeds is under renovation. In fact, the countertop (and the cabinet it was on) just found a new home via Craigslist!

Though it feels late because of this crazy heat wave, the end of March is actually right on time for tomato seed starting. Started any earlier, and I would be have to find space indoors, under lights, for the 63 (!) tomato plants I just started. Started now, however, the weather will probably be fine to have them outdoors in a protected spot once it's time to pot them up, but before they go out to the garden beds.

Before I get to the literal hot tips for tomato seed starting, I want to share this graph with you:

This is just how out of the ordinary these temperatures have been in the Southwest over the last few weeks. Average for July, not March.

Psychologically, in a gardening sense, this has really been doing a number on me. All my senses are screaming that I should have tomatoes in the ground and beans on a trellis and be thinking about what to do with all that zucchini and basil. Instead, the peas that should be thriving are stunted in the heat, and the winter greens I should be harvesting are bolting. The air is hot, but the soil is cold and dry. I've been having trouble adjusting to the idea of irrigating like it's July, in March.

Chances are good (I hope?) that cool weather will return and that my tomatoes will be on time for seasonal warm weather in May.

Here's how I started them:

When I pulled out my square pots, they were pretty grubby after spending the winter being stored. I gave them a good scrub and a blast with the hose. Unless I've had particular trouble with fungus, I don't sterilize pots between uses.

[Caveat: If I were starting native perennials, I would be much more careful and sterilize everything. The healthiest natives I've grown come from the nursery that follows strict contamination protocols.]

I used one whole dirt bag to fill 7 square pots (with enough left over for one more pot.)

I then put 9 seeds in each, in a grid like so:

When they look like that, it seems so sensible to put 9 seeds in one pot. I've done it enough times to know that as long as I pot them up relatively quickly (when the seedlings have 2 sets of leaves, in about 3 or 4 weeks), they'll have plenty of space.

On the other hand, when you do 9 seeds in each of 7 pots, you get 63 plants! With each of them potted up to a 4" square pot, that would take up about a square yard!

Steve Peters, who grows tomatoes professionally, starts his in 1" cells, and transplants them out to the field when they're about 3" tall. So that's one way to save space. You have to be patient, though, and not start your seeds until you're only a month or so from transplant time.

Given my space restrictions this year, I may transplant straight from the square pots when they're tiny, at least with the plants I have room for outdoors. The ones I give away will have to go into pots of some kind . . .

Regardless of where they're going to end up, here are a few things I do to jumpstart germination and the the seeds off to a strong start:

Sowing tips:

🌱 Add a tablespoon or so of soil from your garden to the seed starting mix. The microbiota will inoculate the mix, helping seedlings form symbiotic relationships early, and suffer less shock when transplanted.

🌱 Moisten the soil before laying the seeds on top. That way there is moisture below for the roots to seek.

🌱 After covering the seeds with soil, press down on the surface to make sure the seeds are in good contact with the soil. You don't want to compress, but you want a gentle squeeze, like helping the soil give the seeds a little hug.

🌱 Always water gently from above after sowing the seeds. This settles the seeds into the soil and gets germination going.

Heat:

🌱 For seeds that like heat, like tomatoes, I always fill my Orta pots with hot tap water to bring the temperature up quickly.

🌱 A heat mat is not strictly necessary for tomatoes, but it will shorten the germination time by about a week, in my experience.

Light:

🌱 Finally, make sure you have lights ready to go. Strong tomato seeds with nice moisture and heat may start to poke up through the soil as soon as 2 or 3 days. They need light right away, or they will stretch long and tall, skinny and leggy, and tip over. Even a day without light will do it for emerging seedlings.

I've got mine on a timer from the get-go, so that whenever the seeds pop up, even if I'm not there to notice, the light will be there to greet them.

Do you have any questions about starting your own tomatoes from seed?

Hit reply and ask! I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Seedurday,

Anne

When you’re ready, here are some more ways I can help you grow a thriving garden from seed:

1. Plan your seed-starting schedule with our ​free printable planner.​

2. Download the free ​Orta Seed Starting Handbook with all the basics you need to succeed with seeds.​

3. Take the guesswork out of watering with Orta Self-Watering Pots. (Find discounted factory seconds here!)

4. Join the Orta Seed Club to have 5 hand-picked, unusual & high-yielding varieties delivered to you every season.

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