My Outdoor Tomato Seeds Are Not Germinating

Temperature

• Tomato seeds germinate best with a soil temperature near 80 degrees. Soil temperatures below 80 degrees slows the germination and may allow the seed to decay before it germinates. Planting the tomato seed too early in the spring, before the soil has warmed, can cause the germination to fail. Late planting into warmer soil can also reduce the chance of germination.

Moisture

• Seeds require moisture to germinate. If the soil is too dry the seeds won’t germinate. They may lie dormant in dry soil. Due to the lack of moisture, the seeds won’t decay like seeds in cool damp soils. The tomato seed may germinate once moisture is introduced to the soil.

Planting Practices

• Ideally, tomato seeds are planted just a half-inch deep. Tomato seeds planted too deep may germinate but not be able to emerge from the ground. In this situation, the seed does germinate but no plant emerges. Check the seed by carefully excavating the seed and checking for sprouts. Tomato seeds planted too close to the surface may be lost to wind, bird or insect action.

How Long to Wait

• Tomatoes commonly germinate between 5 and 10 days after planting. In cool conditions, allow a few extra days. If no germination occurs in two weeks the tomato seeds may not be viable or the conditions not favorable for germination. Tomato seeds stored in cool dry conditions can remain viable for up to four years although some reduction in germination rates occurs over time.