Growing Tomatoes from Seed
EQUIPMENT Tomato seed from garden centres. Choose Bush or varieties suitable for
container production like BALCONI,TOTEM or TUMBLER. (Obtain enough
seed to provide a plant for each child to take home plus one or two for the
classroom.Seed count is available on the packet (90% germination/survival rate).
Small flower pots or old yogurt containers
Larger pot ( 4 litre container )
Seed and potting compost
Plant food
Canes to support plants
PREPARATION Source seed, seed and potting compost, old yogurt containers, a piece of clear
plastic to cover the pots until seeds have germinated and a tray on which to stand
the pots before starting the project.
BACKGROUND Growing tomatoes shows the production of a common edible fruit from seed
INFORMATION germination to flowering and fruit formation.It will help to explain the plant life
cycle and the factors affecting growth.
TIME SPAN. Sow seed in February; re-pot end of March, flowering April, fruit in
June onwards.
SKILLS Observing, investigating and experimenting.
ACTIVITY The time span of this project will last from seed sowing in February through to
the summer holidays.
1. Sow seed individually in old yogurt containers.Follow instructions on seed
packet as to sowing procedure.
2. Keep in well-lit warm windowsill,water as necessary.
3. Re-pot into a larger container using full strength potting compost once the
plant is approx. 10 cm tall.
4. Start using liquid fertiliser with each watering, following instructions on
plant food container.
5. Support plant with canes if necessary as the plant grows.
6. This is a good activity to develop understanding, caring, responsibility... and
like all gardening projects getting your hands dirty. Encourage pollination by
stroking the flowers underneath with a paintbrush. Natural pollination by
bees would be very limited in the classroom!
SAFETY Wash hands after sowing seed and after each stage of potting.
FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES Visit a local commercial grower of tomatoes.
Ask questions about growing tomatoes to info@raringtogrow.com
