Published: 23 March 2026 - Watch on YouTube
Hello everyone, and welcome back. I'm Aga, and today I'm tucked away in the shed of my garden here in Chichester, West Sussex. It's Saturday the 21st of March, the day after the equinox, which means the days are only getting longer and warmer from here. We are officially in spring, and that makes now the perfect time to sow tomato seeds.
The timing really does matter, especially in our climate here in England. From this point in the year the conditions start to line up nicely for the seeds to germinate and for the little seedlings to survive and grow on without too much effort from us. Longer days, more light, a bit more warmth. It all helps.
This video is meant to be a friendly, step-by-step tutorial. If you're an experienced gardener you'll probably find it very basic, and that's fine. I'm really thinking of myself four years ago, when I was just getting started and had no idea what compost to use, what pots to sow into, how many seeds to use or how deep they should go. Those simple, step-by-step videos are exactly what helped me, so I hope this helps anyone starting out.
The list is short. Some tomato seeds, compost, a pot, water (ideally in a spray bottle), and some labels. I've picked eight varieties this year, but please don't feel overwhelmed by that. You can happily start with just one and see how you get on with the process.
If you already know which tomato you like to eat, go for that one. Growing something you genuinely enjoy eating makes the whole thing, from sowing to harvesting to that first taste, so much more worth the effort.
I'm using eight square gardening pots today, but you really don't need anything fancy. For years I sowed into old yogurt pots that my daughter loved, with a few drainage holes drilled into the bottom. I still use them. The only rule is that whatever you sow into has holes for drainage.
For the propagator I use a random box that came packed with some cosmetics I ordered online. The pots fit inside it perfectly, and with the lid on (held with a rubber band, since it doesn't quite close) it creates a lovely humid microclimate for germination. You don't need to buy a propagator at all. A tray with cling film over the top works just as well, and so does any plastic or cardboard box you have at home, as long as it holds a little moisture in case the pots drain.
When I first started, the choice of compost really confused me. The honest truth is that you can use almost any compost, whether it's from a garden centre or somewhere like Tesco. It doesn't need to be an expensive seed compost.
What does matter is that it's fine and loose. I run mine through a sieve first to take out the twigs, sticks and any clumps that so often end up in a bag of compost. Tomato seeds are tiny, and you don't want them getting stuck under a lump of something that hasn't broken down yet. That's really my only piece of advice on compost.
I'm starting with my favourite cherry tomato, Rubellious. It was the very first tomato I ever grew, and it gives an unbelievable amount of sweet fruit from a single plant. I'd used up all my seeds over the past three years, so I repurchased them online, as sadly I can't find them in the garden centres here in West Sussex. Alongside it I'm growing Sungold again, and trying Sweet Aperitif for the first time.
For beefsteaks, which I love sliced on a sandwich and for making my own passata, my all-time favourite is Faworyt, a Polish variety whose name simply means favourite. I bought it in a UK garden centre without realising where it was from, and it grows into huge, wonderful tomatoes. My husband also brought three new Polish varieties back for me to try, Bosman, Ożarowski and Warszawski, plus a Red Pear he brought over last year. If you're choosing for the first time, do a little research, note the names of tomatoes you enjoy from the shops, and start from there.
I always check the use-by date on the packet. The cherry seeds I bought online had a surprisingly short date, which felt a bit cheeky, since fresher seeds usually have a few years on them. Older seeds can be harder to germinate, so it's worth checking before you buy. A little tip for the garden centre: shops tend to put the older packets at the front, so have a rummage at the back where the fresher stock usually hides.
I sow around five seeds of each variety into one pot, all sitting gently on the surface. Sowing a few extra is sensible, as some may not come up. If you want two plants, sow four seeds. Some of these were precious too, with the Sweet Aperitif and Sungold holding just ten seeds for £4.50, which I think is a bit much. Then I label every pot with the variety name and the date of sowing. I don't write "tomato" because I know what they are, but the date is genuinely useful once you've got lots of things on the go and lose track of what went in when.
Over the top I sprinkle a thin layer of vermiculite, just enough to cover the surface like a light blanket. It's optional (a fine layer of compost does the same job), but I like it because it's light enough not to squash the seeds and it holds moisture beautifully. Whatever you use, don't press the seeds down. They're perfectly happy sitting on top.
For watering I really recommend a spray bottle rather than a watering can. The seeds are so tiny that a can would wash them straight down into the compost. Mist it until the compost is moist but not dripping. If water runs from the bottom when you lift the pot, you've overdone it. Then cover everything, either with cling film or in your propagator, pop it on the sunniest windowsill you have, and wait. Tomatoes need warmth and light to germinate, so that sunny spot makes all the difference.
And that's the first step of growing your own tomatoes done. It's such a rewarding thing to do, especially when you grow something you genuinely love to eat. I'd love to know which varieties you're growing this season, and how far along you are if you've already started. If you'd find it helpful, I'm happy to carry on and show how I prick out and pot on the young seedlings as they grow. Good luck with your tomatoes, and I'll see you in the next one.
Tags: #SowingTomatoes #TomatoSeries #BeginnerGardening #GrowYourOwn #WestSussexGarden #MyWindyGarden