10 Things Anyone Can Do To Prepare For Tomato Season
Winter might look quiet in the garden, but don’t be fooled….this is where the tomato season really begins. What we do now, when the pressure is low and the seed trays are still empty, sets the tone for the entire growing season.
Think of winter as your chance to slow down, get intentional, and design a tomato season you’ll actually enjoy and not one that runs you ragged by mid-summer.
1. Decide What Kind of Tomato Season You Want
Before the seed-starting excitement kicks into high gear….take a beat. This is the time to be making decisions about what your hopes are for the season. Are you looking for abundance? Rare and unusual varieties? Breeding experiments? Varieties from a particular breeder or part of the world? A calm, satisfying season is built on decisions made now and not during a spring moment when everything suddenly looks irresistible.
Each year I will have a few themes in my garden which makes things fun for me. I had an entire bed for varieties from Spain and a few other beds devoted to varieties by particular breeders who I love. Mix it up each year and have some fun!
2. Research With Intention (Not Just Impulse)
Winter is prime tomato rabbit-hole time…..believe me….I know this all too well and speak from experience!
Use this time to look into origins, breeder notes, and real grower experiences. Ask yourself why you want a variety, not just whether it looks sexy in photos. Thoughtful research now saves space, time, and disappointment later. Communities for tomato enthusiasts (like mine at “Tomato Lover’s Collective & Swap” on FB) can really help to narrow down which varieties deserve your precious garden ‘real estate.’
3. Choose What Flavors You Want More Of
Before planting season arrives, think about what you actually love to eat. Do you want sweeter tomatoes? More acidity? Deep, rich, savory, and umami flavors? All of the above?
Let flavor goals guide your variety choices so your harvest matches your taste buds and not just your seed stash. Look for reviews on social media for various varieties and pay attention to the tomato influencers who seem to have the same flavor palate as you. There are tons of tomato influencers on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram who can help you choose the flavor profiles you choose for your upcoming garden.
4. Take Inventory and Check Seed Health
Winter is seed-stash reality-check season. Go through what you have, what’s still viable, and how the seeds look of the varieties you have chosen to grow. Tomato seeds can be viable for up to several decades, but the germination rates do decline by about 10% each year as they age and will likely take a bit longer, as well.
How they are stored also makes a difference. If they are kept in a cool, dark, and dry location…the germination rates will be much higher than if they are exposed to heat, humidity, and light.
If the seeds you want to use aren’t looking light, plump, and fluffy…you may want to do a germination test by dropping one or two in water and waiting a few days to see if they germinate. If they do…GREAT! If not, you may want to consider getting replacement seeds so you aren’t stuck with seeds that don’t germinate during the all-important seed-starting time! There’s nothing worse than precious seeds that just won’t germinate!
5. Reflect on Last Season and Lessons Learned
What thrived? What struggled? What would you absolutely grow again?
Reflection isn’t about reliving mistakes…..it’s about learning. Every season teaches us something, and winter is when those lessons actually sink in. Every year I learn and tweak my system just a little bit based on what I learned from the previous season. Tomato season is about trial and error, and even after growing for 30 years, I am always excited to try new methods.
You never know when you stumble upon a simple tip that becomes a game changer for you and makes all the difference in the world for your precious tomato seedlings!
6. Carefully Plan Out Your Precious Garden ‘Real Estate!’
Whether you grow in containers, raised beds, or in-ground, your space matters. Sketch it out. Think about sunlight, airflow, and how much attention you realistically have to give to your plants. Intentional spacing leads to healthier plants, but it also depends on how you intend to grow and prune. The single-stem method allows for closer spacing and more plants than if you let your plants bush out without pruning. While all ‘tomato heads’ ache to maximize our garden space and plant as many exciting varieties as possible, planting them too close together can maximize the chance for disease, so keep that in mind when planning your spacing.
Grow bags have been a great option for me over the years and allow me to squeeze in extra plants within the various corners of my yard. Just make sure they get adequate sunlight and rain.
Whatever the case, be realistic about the number of plants you can grow and stick to it (I realize this is easier said than done…ha!)
7. Give Your Tools a Little TLC
Do you need any new supplies? Now is the time to test grow your grow lights and replace any cracked trays you may have.
If you are growing more varieties than you did last year, factor that into whether you need to purchase extra grow lights seed starting trays, heat mats, or whatever you use to start your precious seeds
What about your labeling system? Has yours worked for you in the past? I get a lot of complaints from ‘tomato heads’ that their tags fade which makes identifying varieties problematic. There are a lot of neat label makers out there nowadays, and while the labels look cool, the thermal printing system does not last and they fade relatively quickly. Prevent this heartbreaking issue by getting a highly rated garden pen or use some other method.
A little winter prep here makes spring feel smoother and far less chaotic.
8. Set Your Seed-Starting Calendar
Instead of winging it every year, take a few minutes to map things out. Count backward from your average last frost date and note which varieties need earlier starts and which don’t. If you’re unsure of your last frost date, the Farmer’s Almanac has a super helpful tool where you can enter your ZIP code and get an estimate for your area:
https://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates
This is also a great time to consider succession starting so everything doesn’t get large all at once. I’ve been doing this for the past few years, and it has worked brilliantly. I get more manageable plants, less overwhelm, and better use of space and grow lights.
One extra tip: check the days to maturity for your varieties. Late-season or longer-maturity tomatoes can benefit from being started earlier, while varieties that are earlier ripening can wait a bit. A little intentional staggering now makes the entire season feel calmer later. I break my varieties up into 3 or 4 sections and will start each group a week later than the previous one. While it is so tempting to get them all started at the same time, I promise you that this method will ease your struggles as your tiny seedlings begin to get taller and taller and become more tricky to handle.
9. Be Thoughtful About Soil and Nutrition
Great tomatoes start below the surface. Winter is the perfect time to research soil blends, compost strategies, and amendments you want to try. A little planning now leads to stronger plants, healthier roots, and better flavor down the line. Do your own research on what soils or seed starting mixes work best for many of your fellow ‘‘tomato heads.’ While soil can get pricey, I’m a big proponent of not skimping by getting the cheapest you can find. When it comes to soil, you do get what you pay for, and it can make a huge difference in the health of your seedlings.
10. Stay Connected to the Tomato Community
Winter is when stories get shared, lessons get passed along, and seeds get saved. Join conversations, support breeders, ask questions, and share what you’re learning. Growing tomatoes is better (and more fun!) when we do it together! There are lots of groups for tomato enthusiasts on Facebook, and I invite you to join mine at “Tomato Lover’s Collective & Swap!”
Final Thought
Tomato season doesn’t start when seeds hit soil. It starts when we decide how we want to grow. Winter gives us the gift of time, reflection, and intention. Use it well, and your future tomato season will gift you with a delicious abundance and a rainbow of exciting fruits to harvest.
Known as Mrs. Tomato Head, Lauren Blanchard Zalewski has spent over 30 years growing, tasting, and celebrating tomatoes with her husband Rob (Mr. Tomato Head). She founded the community “Tomato Lover’s Collective & Swap” on Facebook and hosts a lively and interactive weekly YouTube show called “Lauren’s Tomato Awesomesauce!!”, where she spotlights extraordinary cultivars from around the world. She is also the co-host of the monthly “Tomato Talk Live” with Jen Joy and is a passionate grower and educator in the wonderful world of tomatoes!
You can find her on IG and YouTube at: @mrandmrstomatohead
Join her community at: Tomato Lover’s Collective & Swap