It's Tomato Time

Who doesn't enjoy a beautiful vine ripened, juicy red tomato fresh from the garden?  No garden?  No worry. There are a variety of ways to grow tomatoes in pots on your deck or patio. 

Residents of Farmington/Farmington Hills as well as all of south-eastern Michigan should be starting tomato seeds indoors RIGHT NOW for outdoor planting with your chosen method in late May.

A few tips:

2-3 inch pots with a hole in the bottom work best.  
Use two to three seeds per pot.
Water only from the bottom.
Use a cheap set of fluorescent light fixtures about 2 inches above the seeds for 16 hours a day.  Raise lights to maintain this 2 inch space as seedlings grow.

Using these tips, you will have lovely tomato plants ready to go in late May when the ground reaches 70 degrees.  Not only are seeds MUCH less expensive than buying plants, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you did it from "scratch" and have extra plants to share with family, neighbors and friends.