Spring is coming, the weather is gradually getting warmer, I believe you are all starting to get excited about your gardens. We are also struggling with which tomatoes to choose for our rooftop garden. This time, let's talk about tomato seeds and share the planting notes compiled by tomatofest .
Once you determine how many plants you want for your containers and/or garden then you can look at other criteria for your selection:
1.Plant Growth Styles:
Determinate varieties are short, around 2-3 feet, with all fruit maturing simultaneously. Ideal for container planting and regions with adverse weather conditions. Indeterminate varieties offer the most fruit, continuing to grow and produce throughout the season, requiring support such as staking or caging. Best for longer growing seasons, producing larger plants and fruit.
2.Days to Maturity of Fruit:
Early-Season varieties (less than 55-69 days) are best for regions with shorter growing seasons, such as cooler/coastal, high-altitude, and desert areas.
Mid-Season varieties (70-84 days) are suitable for regions that become too hot at the end of summer, leading to flower drop and reduced fruit set.
Late-Season varieties (85 days or more) thrive in ideal warm conditions with ample sun, enabling the growth of larger plants and the harvesting of larger fruit until the arrival of frost.
3.Purpose of Harvest:
Will you be growing tomatoes for snacking and salads (which may require some cherry or smaller fruited varieties), for canning or salads (which may require smaller - medium sized fruits, making sauces (which may beg for meatier paste tomatoes, or bigger-fruited varieties for sandwiches, salads or other favorite culinary delights. I suggest including within your total plant count: a selection of different colored cherry varieties, different shapes and colors of medium to larger-sized varieties, and at least one paste tomato variety. This will assure you of having a harvest of distinctive flavors along with a beautiful display of colors and shapes to entertain your family and friends.
4. There are three main types of tomato varieties:
open-pollinated/non-heirloom, open-pollinated heirloom, and hybrid. Open-pollinated varieties are sustained from the same seeds year after year, producing identical fruit to the parent. Heirloom tomatoes, which include commercial and family heirlooms, often have valued characteristics and are all open-pollinated. Hybrid tomatoes are produced by cross-breeding distinct varieties to combine the best qualities of both parents, but may lack the flavors of open-pollinated and heirloom varieties and do not allow for seed-saving.
Combining these opinions, I chose Camp Joy and Amy's Sugar Gem varieties, which are moderately sweet and tart with a balanced flavor. Perfect for snack tomatoes, salad tomatoes or tomato sauces. Looking forward to warmer temperatures so we can plant them! If temperature is kept consistently and sufficiently warm, your tomato seeds will usually germinate within 5 to 10 days. Best to keep temperature range 70 to 80F (21 to 27C). The lower the temperature the slower the germination. However, temperatures below 50F (10C) or above 95F (35C) are poor for germination.
Watch for the first seedlings, because they will need to be moved into a good light source as soon as they begin to emerge from the soil. If the light is not adequate, you will get long, leggy stems shooting up which is not good.
Give Your Seedlings Light:
Watch for the first seedlings as they need to be moved into a good light source once they emerge from the soil to prevent long, leggy stems. Many home gardeners use windowsills for light, but it is often insufficient, leading to leggy growth. If using a windowsill, turn seedlings regularly or use full spectrum grow lights or white fluorescent lights a few inches above the seedlings for ideal growth. Strong light is necessary for tomato growth, with lights on for 14 to 16 hours per day.
You can try it on light detection RainPoint Smart + Soil& Moisture Sensor ，Not only can you test soil temperature and humidity, but also light intensity，Built-in smart sensor to improve the accuracy and reliability of measurement data. And the data is summarized into a chart so that you can quickly analyze the changes in the three values in the last 24 hours/10 days.With the power of technology I can grow more easily, attached is information about other tomato seed recommendations, I hope you will like my recommendations!
https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/top-tomato-varieties-to-grow/
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-tomatoes/
https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/tips-for-growing-better-tomatoes/