How To Start Your Tomato Seeds Indoors (Part Two)

Hey Guys,
I hope everyone is doing well.

This post follows on from the first half all about starting your tomato seeds indoors.
By this point in your tomato growing journey, if all has been going well, you should be at the point where your tomato seeds are ready to be transplanted outside.
So that's what we're going to be talking about today...

Let's dive right in....
Tomato seedlings are ready to be transplanted outside when they're showing their first set of true leaves, it's best to err on the side of caution when it comes to transplanting your tomato seedlings outdoors

It usually takes roughly about 3 weeks for your tomato seedlings to show their first set of true leaves, so don't panic if it doesn't happen immediately, the thing I've learned the hard way many times over by now is that patience really is the answer when it comes to learning how to grow your own fruit and veggies!.
Here's something important to keep in mind before you begin to transplant your tomato seedlings outdoors.

Here's something important to keep in mind before you begin to transplant your tomato seedlings outdoors.

YOU HAVE TO GET THE TIMING RIGHT.

Your timing for transplanting will depend on the last predicted frost date in your area, which is determined by your USDA hardiness zone and that year's specific weather.

Timing is essential.

If you plant your tomato plants outside too early, this can be a disaster for your growing tomato seedlings because if it's too early frost or a cold snap could easily hinder their growth or worse still... kill them.
Tomatoes planted a little later in the season will quickly catch up to earlier transplants that have been stunted by the cold.

As a general rule of thumb, when night time temperatures remain steadily above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, it's safe to begin hardening off your seedlings.
Your plants should be several inches tall at this point.
One method is to expose them to the outdoors gradually in stages, as too much too soon will shock your tomato seedlings.

Over a period of 7-10 days you should expose your tomato seedlings a little more and more, after 10 days, your tomato seedlings should be ready to live in your garden full time.
Before you transplant your tomato seedlings out into your garden ensure that the soil is tilled to get rid of any weeds that will have a negative impact on the growth of your tomato seedlings, and work in some compost to the tilled soil to create a loose planting bed (you also want to remove any stones or debris found in the soil).
Selecting a planting site for the tomato plants that will receieve full sun for at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day. This is the ideal spot for tomatoes to grow in.
Tomatoes really do thrive in warmer climates

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