As I mentioned in the past entry, “Easy Home Gardening using 100-yen store goods,”
I’ve been experimentally growing cherry tomatoes since the end of September 2012. For cherry tomatoes, the time of seeding is usually spring but I planted seeds at the end of last September. I’ve been growing the tomato plants indoors using a hydroponic system, which is easy and allows plants to grow well, and I want to see if the plants grow vigorously during winter. Following is my report on the experiment and in this article I show you how the seeds were planted and how they sprouted.

This picture was taken at the time of seeding. I used a tray, Japanese tea filter bags, and Perlite. These are sold in 100-yen shops. I filled the tea filter bags with Perlite 3 centimeters high on the tray, poured the water into the Perlite so that it was level in the bag. Then I planted tomato seeds on the Perlite.

I didn’t know what the germination rates of the tomato seeds were, so I put 3 or 4 seeds in each tea bag. However, that was too much; putting in one or two seeds will do. Because the germination rates were 100%, I was surprised at the power of seeds.

After planting seeds in each bag, I covered the seeds with a small amount of Perlite, and then filled the tray with water to half the height of the tray (about one centimeter). You should keep your eye on the water level and as the level decreases, refill the tray with water. At this stage, perhaps all you should watch is the water level.

Notice the sponges at the top left in the above photo. Since there was space on the tray, I used those sponges as plant beds on which to put seeds. I cut a slot in each 1.5-centimeter cubic sponge and put seeds in the slot. I soaked the sponges in water. Both methods of seeding made the seeds sprout well. So far, all that was required was putting Perlite into tea filter bags and cutting sponges. Very simple!