Tomato Time Challenge Quiz

Explore essential techniques and best practices for sowing tomatoes in horticulture with these straightforward questions about timing, soil, and basic plant care. Enhance your understanding of successful tomato cultivation from seed to seedling.

1. Best Time to Sow Tomato Seeds

   When is the most suitable period to sow tomato seeds indoors in a temperate climate for optimal transplanting?

   1. Immediately after the first frost
   2. Early autumn, as days shorten
   3. Midsummer when temperatures are highest
   4. 6–8 weeks before the last frost date

   Explanation: Sowing tomato seeds 6–8 weeks before the last frost gives seedlings adequate time to develop indoors before transplanting. Sowing after the first frost or in early autumn risks cold damage and poor growth, while midsummer sowing is too late for a full tomato cycle in temperate regions.

2. Seed Sowing Depth

   How deep should you sow tomato seeds in seed-starting mix to encourage healthy germination?

   1. About 0.5 cm (1/4 inch) deep
   2. 4 cm (1.5 inches) deep
   3. 5 cm (2 inches) deep
   4. On the soil surface without covering

   Explanation: Tomato seeds should be lightly covered, about 0.5 cm deep, to allow for proper moisture and air contact. Planting 4 cm or 5 cm deep buries the seed too far, risking non-germination, while leaving seeds uncovered can cause drying and poor contact with soil.

3. Ideal Germination Temperature

   At which temperature range do tomato seeds typically germinate most reliably?

   1. 5–10°C (41–50°F)
   2. 21–27°C (70–80°F)
   3. 12–16°C (54–61°F)
   4. 35–40°C (95–104°F)

   Explanation: A temperature range of 21–27°C promotes fast and consistent tomato seed germination. Colder temperatures (5–10°C or 12–16°C) slow or prevent germination, while excessive heat (35–40°C) can harm seed viability.

4. Soil Selection

   Which type of soil mix is best suited for sowing tomato seeds in containers?

   1. Heavy clay garden soil
   2. Rich compost only, without any additives
   3. Coarse sand and gravel blend
   4. Well-draining, sterile seed-starting mix

   Explanation: A sterile, well-draining seed-starting mix supports healthy root and shoot growth while reducing disease risk. Heavy clay holds water and reduces air, sand and gravel lack nutrients, and pure compost may be too dense or high in nutrients for young seedlings.

5. Watering Practice for Sown Seeds

   What is the recommended way to water tomato seeds immediately after sowing?

   1. Let the soil dry completely before watering again
   2. Sprinkle dry fertilizer directly over the seeds
   3. Gently mist the soil to keep it evenly moist
   4. Flood the container until water stands above the surface

   Explanation: Gentle misting keeps seeds moist without displacing them, supporting germination. Flooding can bury or wash away seeds, letting soil dry disturbs sprouting, and applying dry fertilizer at sowing is unnecessary and may harm seedlings.