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6 Great Reasons to Start Tomatoes From Seed
TomatoesStarting tomatoes from seed is a new experience for many gardeners. Many of us are used to buying seedlings that have already been started by someone else. So why even go to all the trouble of starting tomatoes from seed in the first place?
6 Reasons We Love Growing Tomatoes From Seed
1. More seed options
Although gardening stores do their best, there are only so many varieties that it’s practical to keep in stock. These stores have limited shelf space, so they pick the varieties that hold up well to the variable conditions of the store and will sell well.
By growing from seed, you can pick tomatoes that fit your tastebuds and gardening situation. Including access to more unique heirlooms, colors, and sizes.
2. You will save money!
Just one packet of seeds can grow a lot more tomato plants for a fraction of the cost. This gives you a chance to explore new varieties and take chances you might not otherwise. You can even share or trade seeds for even more variety.
3. Your have control over the growing conditions and health of your plants from seed to harvest
Buying seedlings from someone else means you’re placing a great deal of trust in their process and care. This trust might be well-founded, but sometimes seedlings that have been grown to look great in the showroom don’t do so well in the “real world” of your garden and suffer from shock. You’ll be able to keep track of the conditions your plants experience from the first day all the way to hardening off. Which leads us to...
4. Hardening off your tomatoes
Your plants won’t have to undergo a journey from greenhouse to store to car to hardening off to garden. Instead, your plants will gradually be hardened off in a way that will spare them the shock of the rough handling and fluctuations in temperature some plants can get in the store.
5. You've earned bragging rights
That’s right, everyone will be more impressed when you’re able to say you took your tomatoes from seed to the dinner table. And growing tomatoes is a challenge. You’ll deserve that glow of pride when you bite into a juicy tomato you grew yourself.
6. Growing Tomatoes is Fun
Yes, we saved the best for last. It’s absolutely delightful to grow your tomatoes from seed. You’ll learn more about your tomatoes along the way, and the whole process will make you smile. That fun angle is also perfect for helping infect kids with the gardening bug.
What kind of tomatoes do you like the best? Are you growing in containers or out in the garden? Whatever your answers, we hope you consider growing your next tomatoes from seed.
Written by Teresa Chandler
