Growing your own tomatoes is one of the most rewarding gardening experiences. There’s nothing quite like the taste of a sun-ripened tomato fresh from your own garden! Whether you have a big backyard or a small patio, with a little patience and care, you can grow healthy tomato plants that produce delicious fruit.

Here’s how we grew our tomatoes—from tiny seeds to the first juicy harvest—sharing what worked for us every step of the way.

Starting Seeds Indoors

We started our tomato seeds indoors about 6–8 weeks before the last expected frost. Some suggest investing in a heat mat, but for this year, we simply turned on a space heater in the room if it got a little chilly—that kept the seeds cozy and helped them sprout nicely.

We used Jiffy & Natural & Organic Seed Starting Soil Mix and planted the seeds shallowly. Once the seedlings grew their first true leaves, we transplanted them into red Solo cups with drainage holes poked in the bottom. These cups are an easy, inexpensive way to give your seedlings room to grow before moving them outside.

Giving Your Seedlings the Right Light & Warmth

Tomatoes need lots of light—at least 14–16 hours daily—to grow strong and healthy indoors. We set up a simple grow light on a timer to make sure our seedlings got consistent light every day. A sunny window alone often isn’t enough, especially in early spring.

Keeping the seedlings warm and well-lit helped them develop thick stems and deep green leaves—signs of a healthy start.

Hardening Off & Planting Outside

About a week before transplanting outdoors, we “hardened off” our seedlings by gradually introducing them to the outside world. Starting with short periods of time in the sun, wind, and fresh air, we increased their outdoor time each day. This step helps avoid transplant shock and strengthens the plants.

When it was time to plant for good, we chose a spot with at least 6–8 hours of sun daily and rich, well-draining soil. We planted our tomatoes deeply, burying part of the stem because tomatoes grow roots along buried stems, which leads to sturdier plants. We also added cages early on to support the vines as they grew.

Watering, Feeding & Care Tips That Made a Difference

Watering is one of the most important parts of tomato care. We found that watering deeply in the morning is best—it lets the sun dry off the leaves during the day and helps prevent fungus. Plus, giving the plants two rounds of watering in one go (watering, then waiting a bit, then watering again) ensures the roots get fully soaked. Early in the season, watering every 2–3 days worked well; once summer heat set in, we water daily (unless it rains), especially for container plants.

Tomatoes are hungry plants! We mixed compost into the soil at planting, then added fertilizer once flowers started to appear.

Pruning & Pest Prevention

For vining (indeterminate) tomatoes, we pinched off the little side shoots called “suckers” that grow between the main stem and branches. This directs energy into fruit production and improves air circulation. Removing yellow or diseased leaves promptly also helped keep the plants healthy.

Harvesting Your First Homegrown Tomatoes

The best part—picking those first ripe tomatoes! We waited until the fruit was fully colored and slightly soft to the touch. If picking the tomatoes a little early, let them ripen indoors on a sunny windowsill.

Picking tomatoes regularly encouraged the plants to keep producing throughout the season. Checking every day or two during peak ripening is helping us enjoy them at their best.

Final Tips for Tomato Success

Rotate your tomato planting spot each year to avoid soil diseases.
Companion plants like basil and marigolds are great for deterring pests.
If you’re growing in containers, use pots at least 5 gallons and water more often.

Growing tomatoes has been such a fun and satisfying journey for us—from red Solo cups on the windowsill to ripe tomatoes on the vine. With a bit of patience and care, you can enjoy homegrown tomatoes all summer long!

What’s your favorite tomato variety or gardening tip? I’d love to hear in the comments!

By Leah Ann Grace

How to Grow Tomatoes From Seed to Harvest