How to Grow Tomato Seeds into a Small Potted Plant? Detailed Planting Steps
Tomato, also known as xihongshi (western red persimmon), is a common vegetable in daily life. It can be eaten directly as a fruit, or used in soups and stir-fries, and has high edible value. The mature seeds inside can also be grown into potted plants, so how do you grow tomato seeds into a small potted plant?
1. Collecting seeds and sprouting
Remove the flesh from a fresh tomato and keep the seeds in the middle. Then wash the seeds with clean water and let them dry. Before sowing, you can first soak them in warm water at 35°C for a period of time, then place the seeds on a moist paper towel. In a dark environment, they will sprout in about a week.
2. Preparing the pot and soil
Tomatoes can tolerate drought but not waterlogging, and they are not very strict about soil, but it is best to choose soil that is deep, loose, fertile, and good at retaining water and nutrients. For the pot, ordinary plastic or ceramic flower pots will do.
3. Sowing and raising seedlings
After preparation is complete, scatter the sprouted seeds over a seedbed rich in humus, fertile and loose, then spread a layer of fine soil on top. After the tomato seedlings emerge, they need to be placed in a sunny spot for care. During this period, the soil only needs to be slightly moist, not too wet, otherwise leggy growth is likely to occur. When the seedlings have grown for a while longer and have more than 4 leaves, they can be transplanted and planted in place.
4. Planting in place
When planting in place, there is no need to remove the soil around the roots; just transplant and plant them with the soil intact. Before planting, some base fertilizer can be added to the bottom of the pot soil to ensure sufficient nutrients. After planting, water thoroughly once. The best temperature is above 18°C, and the best sunlight exposure is more than 6 hours.
5. Management
After planting in place, water and fertilize appropriately to keep them growing better. Water mainly to keep the soil moist, and start fertilizing three months after planting, mainly with decomposed farmyard manure.