How to Germinate Tomato Seeds Without Lights

You don't need a sunny window or fancy grow light setup to successfully germinate tomato seeds indoors. The plants don't require any light to sprout. Tomatoes, like most vegetables, need light only after they send up their first set of leaves. Temperature and moisture are the most important concerns until the seeds sprout. Once the seeds germinate, the plants will require consistent lighting, either natural or artificial, if they are to grow on to maturity.

Pots
Tray
Potting mix
Plastic bag

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare the pots and plant the seeds seven weeks before the last expected spring frost in your area. Use 3-inch diameter seedling pots that have a drainage hole in the bottom.
- 2
  Set the pots in a tray that catches any water that drips through the drainage hole. Fill the pots to within 1/2 inch of the rim with a moistened potting mixture.
- 3
  Plant two tomato seeds per pot, sowing them approximately 1/4 inch deep. Mist the soil surface with water after planting.
- 4
  Cover the pots with a plastic bag to conserve the moisture in the soil during germination. You may use a clear bag or a black garbage bag, since light doesn't matter at this point.
- 5
  Place the tray of pots in a location with a temperature of 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 6
  Look inside the bag after five days and inspect the pots for sprouts. Tomatoes typically germinate within one to two weeks. Continue to check daily until sprouts appear.
- 7
  Remove the bag once the first sprouts emerge. Move the tray of pots to a window that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight or place them under grow lights for 14 to 16 hours daily.

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