How to grow your own tomatoes
We are paying homage to the humble tomato with the launch of the Vine Tomato candle. As part of the Land + Sea collection, this is the first of three scents released to laud the quiet and the roaring elements that shape land and sea.
Feeling green fingered? Here we share some simple steps to grow your own tomatoes at home.
What you will need:
-Packs of heirloom tomato seeds
-Starting mix or soil
-Containers
-Water Spray bottle
Step one - SEEDS
Pick up some seeds from a gardening store or online - you’ll find a huge array of flavoursome and colourful heirloom tomato varieties to choose from. Red, green, yellow, orange, heirloom, Cherokee purple and plum just to name a few. It is recommend to start with at least six of each variety – the number of cells in a typical starter tray. Bear in mind, each variety will have a different germination rate.
Step two - sow your seeds
To sow your seeds, it is important to only use either potting soil or a soilless starting mix (regular garden soil can be damaging to the health of your fledgling tomato plants). Environmentally friendly soilless starting mix with coconut coir would be advised here.
Time to prepare your starting trays - we recommend repurposing egg carton trays or reusing any paper or plastic cups as these shallow containers will be ideal for holding your potting mix. Alternatively you can purchase starting trays designed for the job. Ensure your trays have drainage to avoid damping off. Bear in mind that tomatoes grow quickly, so having larger nursery pots for repotting is recommended. Tip: Fill the cells loosely as you don’t want the soil to be too compact.
Take out two or three seeds from the packet and place one seed on the surface of the soil, and repeat with the others, spacing them out as you go.
STEP THREE - GERMINATION
For happy tomato seedlings, you need warm and humid greenhouse conditions. Budget dependent, you can either use domed growing trays which you can purchase easily or budget and space permitting, you can invest in a greenhouse. These options are easily available to purchase and provide the light, heat, and humidity they need to thrive.
Once placed in their greenhouse environment, germination should take about one to two weeks.
STEP FOUR - REPOTTING
Once your baby tomatoes have at least two or three sets of leaves, they are ready to be transplanted into larger sized nursery pots – unless you are ready to transplant them directly into the garden. When repotting make sure to bury their stem deep into the soil.
STEP FIVE - HARDEN OFF
To prepare your plants for the transition from their cosy, warm environment to the outdoor elements, we want to allow them to ‘harden off’. This period is about 7 to 14 days. Gradually introduce your plants to the outdoors during the day for a few hours at a time, slowly increasing the amount of time they spend outside
STEP SIX - MOVE TO THE GARDEN
Your tomato plants are finally ready for their final destination - the garden (if you are lucky enough to have one). Here you want to dig a hole that is just a bit bigger than the pot they are currently in. Plant your tomatoes at least as deep as their seed leaves. Planting more deeply is preferable, and will help your plants develop a strong root system.
GREEN FINGERED TIPS
-Watering: water once or twice a day - handle your seeds with care, watering them gently. Using a spray bottle is advised and will help to prevent over watering.
-Plant Makers: using these will allow you to essentially label and keep track of which variety you are growing.
