This weekend is the time to get those seeds started so the plants are ready to go into the ground in eight weeks or so. If you haven't started seeds indoors before but would like to try, I recommend getting a table top seed starting kit.

Most of the seed companies sell a 24-inch wide stand with an adjustable high intensity fluorescent grow light and a tray that holds cell packs. Some of them come with a cheap plastic dome that covers the flat until the seeds germinate. Burpee has one for $149.I recommend also purchasing a seed starting heat mat to go under the flat. Put down a towel first and then the mat. Finally, set the flat on the mat.Plant the seeds according to the directions on the package. Use a seed starting medium you can buy at a local garden center. Garden soil has too many microorganisms in it that might kill your seedlings and potting mix is too rich. I prefer an organic seed starter, but there are plenty of choices.Keep the plant cells moist by putting water in the tray. Don't water from the top because that can wash away the seeds and the seedlings as well. Mist if the top gets dry. Keep the tray covered with plastic wrap until the seeds germinate.Once the seeds have sprouted and are showing their first two to four true leaves, you can repot into small individual pots. Use potting soil that has some fertilizer in it. After repotting, you can use a liquid fertilizer periodically to keep the seedlings healthy.At this point, your plants need more intense light than they get from the seed starting bulb. The easiest thing to do is to start taking them outside on sunny days. Do it for an hour the first day, and gradually increase the time over a week until they are what we call "hardened off."Keep an eye on the water. Don't let the seedlings dry out. I've killed seedlings by forgetting how quickly those little pots dry out in the sun.Once the plants are fully hardened off, they are ready to be transplanted when the soil is nice and warm, and the nighttime temperatures stay above 60 degrees F.This can be a fun project for the kids. They may love to eat tomatoes they have a hand in growing. If you have any questions, call the Penn State Extension office at 570-325-2788, or email us at

CarbonExt@psu.edu.