Starting Tomato Seeds, Failing, and trying again
I love growing tomatoes and peppers in my garden, and every year I go buy the seedling starts from the local nursery. But this year, now that we live on the farm, I decided I would try to grow my tomatoes and peppers from seeds.
I already have all the supplies — two heat mats and plenty of seed starting trays — so I picked up a couple packs of tomato seeds and pepper seeds. I labeled each of the four packs so I would know which variety I was growing in each cube.
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Starting Tomato Seeds, Failing, and trying again
I planted them on February 24, labeled them, spritzed them with water, and covered them — one tray with a plastic dome and the other with plastic wrap. Every day I would go in and spritz them again, but I noticed they were drying out. I tried spraying them twice a day, and they still dried out.
One mistake I didn’t want to make was growing plants from seeds and then not knowing the variety. I had these little bamboo plant markers but didn’t have the time to pull out the laser engraver or Cricut machine, so I just used a sharpie marker. Not near as pretty, but efficient.
Then, on March 5, I realized I probably killed the seeds because the heat mat was drying them out so badly, and there was no sign of germination.
So this weekend I decided to try something different.
Instead of spritzing from the top, I decided to water from the bottom so the soil could soak up the moisture and become evenly damp instead of just drying out on the bottom. I poured water into the bottom tray, unplugged the heat mat, and let the water absorb into the soil.
Tip: Remember to check for holes in the bottom tray so you don’t end up leaking all that water all over the basement floor. Ask me how I know this is important…
Update: Now that I have tried a different watering technique, I actually have some baby tomato seedlings! So these are now under a grow light while I try another batch on the heat mat.
Materials Needed
- Heat mat
- Seed trays
- Seeds
- Water
- Plant Markers
While I’m fairly certain that the first batch of seeds failed, that doesn’t stop me from trying again.
And worst-case scenario, I’ll just go to the local greenhouse and buy seedlings for my peppers and tomatoes when it’s time to plant. But right now I still have about six weeks before the last frost and planting date in our area.
So it’s worth another shot. Failure doesn’t mean it’s time to quit. Just that I need to try something else and see if that works.
Book Recommendations for Tomato Growers
The Tomato Grower’s Handbook — Holly Farrell
This beginner-friendly guide walks gardeners through the entire process of growing tomatoes, from starting seeds and preparing soil to transplanting and caring for mature plants. Holly Farrell explains the basics in a simple, approachable way that makes it easier for new gardeners to feel confident. The book also includes helpful troubleshooting tips and a handful of tomato-based recipes so you can enjoy the harvest once your plants start producing.
Ripe Tomato Revolution — Frank Hyman
Written by longtime organic grower Frank Hyman, this practical guide focuses on helping gardeners grow healthier, more productive tomato plants. Hyman shares techniques developed over decades of experience, including smart trellising systems and solutions for common tomato problems like blight and pests. The book also covers how to grow different varieties—from beefsteaks to heirlooms—while adapting to real-world challenges like weather extremes and soil conditions.
Have you started seeds indoors? What am I missing? Hopefully, I’m on the right track finally!
