I posted earlier about starting our tomato seeds for the year – but thought it’d be a good idea to share more of the tomato journey story.

Prior to marrying Mr, I grew tomatoes of course {what kind of Southern girl would I be if I hadn’t?}, but my experience was primarily buying a couple “pre-started” plants and calling it done. I tried growing from seeds a few times, but was never super successful. {Weirdly, the most successful “from scratch” growing that ever happened was from tossing out an old tomato and when Mum tried planting slices. Go figure}.

Last year, when it was time to start seeds, I got an education. {The first of many, I know. This is a life of learning-by-doing, and I love it}. After nursing baby tomato sprouts into plantable plants {ha}, and learning some unexpected tricks along the way, we had a bumper crop of tomatoes last year. I’m talking picking gallons of tomatoes a day. We canned 8 quarts one day, then turned around and picked 8 gallons that evening. We had tomatoes to share with extended family, coworkers, and friends, and still had more than we could use and/or can. It was a fabulous year, and I can only hope it was more than “beginner’s luck.”

That abundance of tomato-y goodness also meant we were able to save seeds. We try to plant heirloom varieties whenever possible, so we can save seeds and have repeat harvests {apparently if you save hybrid varieties, you get surprise offspring from the seeds, who knew?}. So when we started seeds a few weeks ago, we were able to use our seeds.

After letting the seeds germinate and sprout on my kitchen windowsills {huzzah for southern exposure!}, we separated them into individual plants/cups once they started developing their second (or third) sets of leaves – the “grown up” leaves. Last year, after starting the seeds in one larger pot (the same as we did this year), we separated them into growing flats/trays like you’d buy plants from the store. They did okay, but were not as robust in those early stages as we anticipated. The last set of seeds however, did splendidly. The difference? We ran out of space for flat trays and had to pop those wee seedlings into solo cups.

We speculate the bigger cup gave the roots more room to grow and do their thing, thus making a stronger plantling. This year, we’re testing that theory and separated our individual sprouts into solo cups from the get-go. {It also made it super easy for me to label them, since we have 5 varieties to keep track of this year!}. I’m quite intrigued to see how they grow…

It will be a bit longer still before they’re able to go outside, and even though they now reside in my living room, it’s hard to mind the growing promise of spring – and the flavor of summer – to come. Green plants are good for the soul, ya know?