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http://www.grit.com/farm-and-garden/growing-tomatoes-from-seed.aspx Increase the season's yield of your garden-grown produce by starting the seeds indoors. Learn the basics of planting early and indoors from Editor-in-Chief Hank Will. Containers like peat pots, small plastic pots, fiber egg cartons and even plastic water bottle bottoms will work if you poke some holes in them for drainage. By the time the seedlings are well established you should thin each pot to a single robust plant by pinching off the stem of those you want to get rid of. Starting seeds indoors will give you more of the freshest, most delicious produce. Hank's Hints on starting seeds indoors is featured in episode 15 of Tough GRIT: "Green Thumb." Starting your own plants from seed, you can grow tomatoes that are orange, yellow, striped, green, white, pink, purple, nearly black and -- yes -- even red. Start them indoors about six to eight weeks before your last frost. Baby tomato seedlings are very susceptible to a fungus called "damping off," which kills seedlings, so use a sterile seed-starting potting soil. The seeds require a good deal of heat to germinate -- ideal temperature is 70 to 80 degrees. A sunny window might do fine, but to germinate very quickly, put your seed tray or pots on a heating mat (yes, the kind you can buy at the drug store) turned onto its low setting. This will hold your soil at a consistent temperature. Visit the link above for more information. The GRIT Magazine YouTube channel is your top source for videos related to rural living. Check out full episodes and editor tips from our Tough GRIT TV show. Watch televised interviews with Editor-in-Chief Hank Will. Learn how to raise chickens, from egg incubation to predator protection. Get to know our sharp (and fun-loving!) staff. We've been your favorite provider of rural news and tips for more than 125 years, and we hope you enjoy getting to know us even better. Subscribe to our channel today! (http://www.youtube.com/user/GritMagazine) Find us on these other social networks: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GritMagazine) Twitter (https://twitter.com/GritMagazine) Google+ (https://plus.google.com/106505888902373892608/posts) Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/gritmagazine/)