Growing tomatoes from seeds is a great way to save fortune on tomato plants. Tomato plants can cost $2-10 depending on the type of tomato, the size and where you purchase it from. Creating a large tomato garden with 20 tomato plants would cost no less than $40 if you were to buy even the smallest tomato plants from a local garden center or nursery.
The good news is that you can buy a pack of tomato seeds for around the cost of one tomato plant. Tomato seeds run $2-5 a pack depending on the variety. Common varieties such as Better Boy, Better Girl, Early Girl and Big Boys can be bought at places like Walmart for less than $2 and contain 20 or more seeds.
Image Source: Flickr
Cost of Growing Tomatoes from Seeds:
Tomato seeds- $2
Big bag of Miracle Grow Potting Soil: $6
Total: $8 for 20 or more tomato plants!
We can’t count water and fertilizer because those would be required for your store bought plants as well.You can then use old pots, seed trays or purchase a new seed tray for $3. I personally use aluminum pans from the Dollar Tree. They are like 3 for $1. Just be sure to poke holes in the bottom of the pans using a nail, spike or drill. It’s simple!
To learn how grow tomatoes from seeds visit Growing Tomatoes from Seeds. It includes a step by step guide show you how to grow tomatoes from seeds.
Gardening With Stephanie 
Great informative blog! You have many helpful gardening hints.. I especially like your suggestions about growing tomatoes from cuttings. I have a question. Do you have an opinion as to whether it is better to buy hybrid seeds and plants or natural (I don’t know if I’m using the right word) seeds and plants. I’ve heard that hybrids may produce flowers but no fruit. By the way, thank you for visiting my blog.
Hi Sheryl, I’m glad you liked it. I haven’t done much with this blog lately, but I need to start back. 🙂
As with any hybrid seed, you run the risk of getting a different species all together. Yes, some producers have gotten lucky and mastered a plant that will produce a seed identical to it’s hybrid parent, but there will always be the chance of getting a ‘dud’ or mutated plant occasionally. I do by hybrids and rarely have an issue with not producing plants. It’s kind of the risk you take. I will say, I only by hybrids from well none companies such as Ferry-Morse Seeds and Burpee. You can order from them directly for a bigger selection but you can usually find them at big name stores like Walmart, Lowes, Ace, and other department stores. I would be cautious on buying them from Bob up the street since you never know what he is really growing and how true his hybrids are and what may have been pollinated with what. Commercial hybrids are usually stronger plants and have been bred for specific characteristics.
Take roses for example, there are one of the major types of plants that are hybridized. There are several roses that don’t do good here in Florida due to the heat, humidity and blackspot so 99% of my roses are hybrids. I have to look for ones that are drought tolerant, blackspot resistant, and can take the humidity.
Tomatoes on the other hand, don’t have as many issues as roses so maybe that wasn’t a good example. You can usually bet that if you are buying a hybrid seed from a major seed company like Burpee or Ferry-Morse, that you will be fine. Most stores will only carry seeds that do well in their region so that’s another plus. If you want to go the extra mile, check out those two seed sites to see what kind of tomato seeds they offer and which ones you are interested in, (cherry, roma, Big Boy, etc). Find out there EXACT name and if they are hybrids or not. Research that specific tomato and see just how it performs. You may be surprised to find out they don’t do well in a specific area or soil, that most other tomatoes would have done great in. Simple errors like this can sometime be the reason that some gardeners get flowers and no fruit.
Sorry for such a long post- just wanted to make sure I covered the bases. If you have anymore questions just let me know.