Exploring the World of Tomatoes: Varieties to Grow from Seed and How to Do It

Tomatoes are a gardener’s delight, offering a spectrum of flavors, colors, and uses. From tiny cherry tomatoes to hefty beefsteaks, growing tomatoes from seed opens up a world of possibilities. This post dives into the main types of tomatoes you can grow from seed, their unique traits, and a step-by-step guide to cultivating them successfully.

Types of Tomatoes to Grow from Seed

Tomatoes come in diverse categories, each suited to different culinary needs and garden conditions. Here’s a breakdown of the primary types:

1. Cherry Tomatoes

• Description: Small, bite-sized tomatoes, typically 1-2 inches in diameter, known for their sweet flavor.

• Popular Varieties:

  • Sungold: Golden-orange, intensely sweet, and early to ripen.

  • Sweet 100: Red, juicy, and prolific.

  • Black Cherry: Dark purple, rich, and complex in flavor.

• Uses: Salads, snacking, garnishes.

• Growth Traits: Often indeterminate (vining, producing fruit throughout the season), though some are determinate (bushy, fruiting in one main flush).

2. Beefsteak Tomatoes

• Description: Large, meaty tomatoes, often weighing 1-2 pounds, with a dense, juicy texture.

• Popular Varieties:

  • Brandywine: Heirloom with pinkish-red fruit, renowned for rich flavor.

  • Big Beef: High-yielding, disease-resistant, with classic red fruit.

  • Cherokee Purple: Deep purple, smoky-sweet taste.

• Uses: Slicing for sandwiches, burgers, or caprese salads.

• Growth Traits: Mostly indeterminate, requiring sturdy support due to their size.

3. Plum (Paste) Tomatoes

• Description: Oval or cylindrical, with thick flesh and fewer seeds, ideal for cooking.

• Popular Varieties:

  • Roma: Red, reliable for sauces and canning.

  • San Marzano: Italian heirloom, elongated, with sweet, low-acid flavor.

  • Amish Paste: Heirloom, great for sauces and fresh eating.

• Uses: Sauces, salsas, canning, drying.

• Growth Traits: Often determinate, compact, and high-yielding.

4. Heirloom Tomatoes

• Description: Open-pollinated varieties passed down for generations, prized for unique flavors and colors.

• Popular Varieties:

  • Green Zebra: Green with yellow stripes, tangy flavor.

  • Yellow Pear: Pear-shaped, yellow, mild, and sweet.

  • Mortgage Lifter: Large, pink-red, meaty, with a balanced taste.

• Uses: Fresh eating, salads, or showcasing in dishes.

• Growth Traits: Mostly indeterminate, sometimes less disease-resistant but flavor-focused.

5. Slicing (Globe) Tomatoes

• Description: Medium-sized, round tomatoes, versatile for many dishes.

• Popular Varieties:

  • Early Girl: Red, early-maturing, reliable.

  • Better Boy: High-yielding, disease-resistant, classic red.

  • Celebrity: Determinate, uniform, and flavorful.

• Uses: Sandwiches, salads, grilling.

• Growth Traits: Mix of determinate and indeterminate, often beginner-friendly.

6. Dwarf Tomatoes

• Description: Compact plants, ideal for small spaces or containers, producing full-sized fruit.

• Popular Varieties:

  • Patio Choice Yellow: Bright yellow, productive in pots.

  • Tiny Tim: Cherry-sized, red, very compact.

  • Red Robin: Small plant, sweet red cherries.

• Uses: Small-space gardening, fresh eating.

• Growth Traits: Determinate, rarely exceeding 2-3 feet tall.

How to Grow Tomatoes from Seed

Growing tomatoes from seed is rewarding and allows you to explore unique varieties not always available as seedlings. Follow these steps for success:

Step 1: Choose Your Seeds

• Select varieties based on your climate, space, and culinary goals.

• Source seeds from reputable suppliers (e.g., Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds).

• Check seed packets for days to maturity and growth habits (determinate vs. indeterminate).

Step 2: Start Seeds Indoors

• Timing: Start seeds 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost date (e.g., March for a May planting in many regions).

• Materials:

  • Seed trays or small pots with drainage holes.

  • Seed-starting mix (sterile, well-draining).

  • Grow lights or a sunny windowsill.

• Process:

  1. Fill trays with moistened seed-starting mix.

  2. Plant 2-3 seeds per cell, ¼ inch deep, and cover lightly with soil.

  3. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged; maintain 70-80°F (21-27°C).

  4. Place under grow lights (14-16 hours daily) or in bright, indirect sunlight.

  5. Seeds typically germinate in 5-10 days.

Step 3: Care for Seedlings

• Thinning: Once seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, snip weaker ones, leaving one strong plant per cell.

• Watering: Water gently to keep soil consistently moist.

• Fertilizing: Use a diluted, balanced liquid fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) every 10-14 days after true leaves appear.

• Light: Ensure strong light to prevent leggy growth; adjust grow lights to 2-3 inches above seedlings.

Step 4: Harden Off Seedlings

• 1-2 weeks before transplanting, acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions.

• Start with 1-2 hours of shaded outdoor time, gradually increasing exposure to sun and wind over 7-10 days.

Step 5: Transplant to the Garden

• Timing: Transplant after the last frost when soil temperatures reach 60°F (16°C).

• Site Prep:

  • Choose a sunny spot (6-8 hours of direct sun).

  • Amend soil with compost or aged manure; aim for a pH of 6.0-6.8.

• Planting:

  1. Dig holes 2 feet apart for indeterminate varieties, 18 inches for determinate.

  2. Bury seedlings deep (up to the first set of true leaves) to encourage strong roots.

  3. Install stakes, cages, or trellises for support, especially for indeterminate types.

Step 6: Ongoing Care

• Watering: Provide 1-2 inches of water weekly, watering at the base to avoid wet foliage.

• Fertilizing: Use a tomato-specific fertilizer (e.g., 5-10-10) every 2-3 weeks.

• Pruning: For indeterminate varieties, remove suckers (growth between main stem and branches) to focus energy on fruit production.

• Pest/Disease Management:

  • Monitor for pests like aphids or tomato hornworms; hand-pick or use neem oil.

  • Prevent diseases (e.g., blight) by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering.

Step 7: Harvest

• Harvest when tomatoes are fully colored and slightly soft to the touch.

• Timing varies: 60-80 days for early varieties, 80-100 days for larger heirlooms.

• Pick regularly to encourage continued production.

Tips for Success

• Crop Rotation: Avoid planting tomatoes in the same spot yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases.

• Companion Planting: Grow basil, marigolds, or nasturtiums nearby to deter pests.

• Container Growing: For dwarf or patio varieties, use 5-gallon pots with good drainage.

From the tiny, sweet Sungolds to the robust Brandywines, growing tomatoes from seed lets you tailor your garden to your taste and space. With the right varieties and care, you’ll enjoy a bountiful harvest. Start experimenting with seeds this season, and savor the fruits of your labor!