Grow Your Own from Seeds

Tomatoes

Firstly, we need a good grade of tomato seed to work with. The seed should be clean of dirt, and foreign bodies. It is very important that we choose the best seeds we have available if we would like to glean the most favorable results. In this sense, we want to select those seeds which are the most perfect in their condition and shape.
Seedlings need a good soil to give them nutrients and simple dirt or simple plain potting soil is not adequate for optimum results.Put the seeds into pots or propagator.
Germination:
The following day, sow your seed into the pots to a depth of about 1/2 an inch and cover the seed gently. A toothpick is an ideal instrument to poke a small crevice into the soil for the seed. Be sure to mark your pots in such a way to identify each variety if you are sowing more than one variety. In addition, it is also wise to keep records of your seeds and plants by assigning each seed an ID number (ie. #001-Armenia). Record the date of sowing,germination, transplant, flowering and production, as well as any notes on each and every plant. If you are serious about your tomatoes, these types of records will be of a great aid to you in the future.
After 5 to 9 days (depending upon the variety) germination should yield in small seedlings breaking through the surface. The seedlings will grow very rapidly with proper care. As time passes, be sure to cull any undesireable plants out of your containers such as those which are stunted or display any irregularities.
Transplanting:
Provided the weather and season permits, you should prepare to transplant your seedlings when they reach about six inches in height. Your garden area should be completely prepared ahead of time and be evenly tilled and free of debris and roots.
The seedlings should be spaced approximately one and a half foot apart in a straight line. If you are planting multiple varieties, try to space the varieties away from one another to avoid cross pollenation. Place other types of vegetables (such as peppers or eggplant) between them. Although this will not neccessarily prevent cross pollenation 100% of the time, it does help. If you have the space, by all means plant your varieties in seperate groups at a distance from one another. Using obstructions such as buildings on your property to seperate varieties is also advised.
If the plants are somewhat lanky opposed to bushy, clip the lower branches away from the main stem with a pair of scissors and bury the plant to the point where the lowest remaining branches are 2 inches above the ground. This will not only encourage a more bush like growth, but will also yield a stronger root system as the plant will develop roots all the way along the buried main stem portion. This will insure that your plants have a strong start.