From seed to harvest: our guide to sowing tomatoes

From mid-March, you can start sowing tomatoes in advance.For this, you need a warm and bright spot, for example, near a large window in the living room or kitchen. If you don't have a greenhouse, it's best to wait a bit before sowing. Start sowing from the beginning of April, so the seedlings are big enough to be planted out after the Ice Saints. Always keep the eight-week rule in mind: the small seedlings need about seven to eight weeks to be big enough before they can be planted out. So definitely don't start sowing too early. Fill your seed tray with seed and cutting compost. Distribute the seeds over the tray, the pot, or the seed box. Although tomatoes are light germinators, you can still cover them with a very thin layer of soil. Keep the soil moist, but definitely not wet. You want to avoid the tomato seeds from molding. During the germination process, provide a constant warm environment of about 18 to 20°C. Most tomatoes germinate quickly, after about 5 to 7 days the first seedlings start to become visible.

Tomatoes are fast growers. After a while, the seedlings will become too big for the plug or pot in which you planted them.There is also no extra plant food in sowing and cutting soil, which will make them grow worse. So to give them the ideal growing conditions, it's best to transplant them to a larger pot. When the first two pairs of real leaves are visible, you transplant the seedling. The very first leaves that grow are always the seed leaves. The leaves that grow after this are the real leaves. Take a larger pot, for example a P9 pot, and fill it with regular potting soil. You can put the seedling in the soil up to the first leaves. Roots can also grow on the stem of the seedling, making the plant stronger. By the way, regularly turn the pots a quarter turn to the left or right. This prevents the plants from growing slanted towards the light. When the plants are larger, you can water them either through a saucer or from the top with a watering can (preferably not on the leaves).

The tomato plants can be moved to their permanent spot in the greenhouse at the end of April or beginning of May.If you don't have a greenhouse, it's best to wait a bit before planting them out. After the Ice Saints, in mid-May, you can fortunately plant them out without running the risk of the young plants freezing. Don't forget to harden off the plants before you want to move them outside, so they are prepared for the weather conditions. Start a few days in advance, so the young plants have enough time to gradually adjust to the new conditions. On a nice day, put the plants outside for a few hours. Bring them back inside or into the greenhouse in the evening. You can do this a little longer each day, so that they eventually get used to life outside. In good weather, you can also leave them outside at night after a few days. This way, the plants get used to sunlight, wind, and changing temperatures after a few days. Don't want to plant the tomato plants in the greenhouse? Choose, for example, a variety that is resistant to Phytophtora infestans, the tomato blight.The variety 'Tyfrane' is a type that is resistant. Tomatoes are strong growers. If they don't have support to grow against, they unfortunately fall over and continue to grow on the ground. Because fungi get free rein, we therefore recommend tying up the tomatoes. So it's best to provide extra support when planting out: think of a tomato spiral, a rope, or a sturdy bamboo stick.