Buying Tomato Seedlings: The Pros and Cons (2024)

FAQs

What are the cons of tomato seeds? ›

One of the main components of tomato seeds is lectin, which is a type of protein that can bind to other molecules and interfere with their functions. Lectin can bind to vitamins and minerals in food, preventing their absorption by the body. It can also cause cellular dysfunction and damage to the intestinal lining.

Avoid Plants That Look Rough

Here are a few general things to consider when buying your tomato plant: A bunch of holes in a tomato plant could mean a little worm has been snacking. Avoid tomato plants with dark spots, as this could indicate a fungus. Opt for full, green foliage and avoid a yellowing plant.

The cost of seedlings, when compared to seeds, is significantly higher, especially when considering shipping costs. And, of course, you'll have a much narrower selection of tomato varieties if you buy seedlings than you would if you started them yourself.

You should normally see true leaves appear on tomato germinants/seedlings somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-14 day after sprouting, so you're definitely behind schedule.

Tomato mosaic virus is highly seed-borne and hard to eradicate from seeds. There is a strip test. Infected fruit is unmarketable. Three other highly seed-borne diseases of concern in tomatoes are bacterial speck, bacterial canker and bacteria spot.

Tomato seed is a good source of antioxidants because it is rich in phytochemical compounds. It is an important reservoir of phenolic compounds. There is growing recognition that many phenolic secondary metabolites present in seeds may be beneficial to human health to some degree, mediated via antioxidant actions.

Learn how to plant and nurture tomato plants in your garden. This article includes advice on fertilizing, irrigating, mulching, and supporting tomato plants. Warmer soil temperatures in late May and early June are perfect for tomato seedlings, but keep an eye on the thermometer.

Most tomato seedlings are ready to move from the seed starting trays and into a larger container when they are three to four inches tall and have three or more sets of leaves. They should be transplanted into a larger container at least four weeks before planting outdoors so the root system has a chance to develop.

Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Enrich with compost and aged manure and fork in well. A dusting of garden lime will also help reduce the likelihood of blossom end rot (a physiological disorder that causes the base of the fruit to rot).

Tomato seedlings grow best when the soil is consistently moist but not wet. When you touch the soil surface, you should feel moisture, but water should not emerge when the soil is lightly pressed. Maintain moist soil by watering lightly every day. Don't allow the soil to completely dry out.

Is it better to plant seeds or seedlings? ›

Larger plants do better being placed in the garden as seedlings versus seeds because of the length of time they need to grow. On the other hand, plants that are smaller in size (like lettuce plants) don't take as long to reach maturity and may do much better in your garden being direct sown from seed.

In general, determinate tomatoes tend to do better in pots, so look for those. It's also possible to grow indeterminate tomatoes in containers, of course, as long as you provide enough support and soil volume.

Water correctly: Do not overwater. The first week tomato plants are in the ground, they need water every day, but back off watering after the first week, slowly weaning the plants down to 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.

Leaves that look more like true tomato leaves will begin to form after about two weeks. About two weeks after germination, true leaves will start to form.

Look for a fertilizer that has a high middle number, which represents phosphorus, in the N-P-K analysis. Commonly available fertilizer analysis that are great for tomato seedlings include 8-32-16 and 12-24-12. Mix the fertilizer with water according to package directions.

Anything you remove from a tomato diminishes its nutritional value. So leave everything in and on them, including skin. If you're making stuffed tomatoes, you'll need to scoop out the seeds and pulp, but then you should mix that into whatever you're using to stuff them.

While the study authors stated that there needs to be more research into the topic, they suggested that the glutamate in tomatoes may raise uric acid levels to trigger gout. Glutamate is a type of amino acid that also acts as a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, in the brain.

We have found that many seeds are often protected from acid degradation during stomach digestion by their tough exterior seed coat. Tomato seeds were selected as a model system to assess DNA analysis and plant variety marker identification.

It's also a good idea to save heritage, or rare varieties of tomato in this way, to preserve the seed for future generations. If you grow more than one variety you could grow your own brand new variety of tomato by cross-pollinating the flowers.