So, I fell prey to the colorful little easter-egg-red display of "grow your tomatoes indoors" at the W-store. (won't print it's name here; it's akin to an obscenity). Let me redeem my dignity a bit by protesting that IT'S NOT FOR ME! It's for a plant-shy office mate who I am trying to introduce to the joys of growing something...
So my question is this: does anyone know if tomatoes planted indoors under office-flourescent lighting will produce, or am I setting him up for a disappointment?
Thanks bunches for your replies.
p.s. - my *own* seeds are being carefully prepared at home under a grow light... and will go into a real garden asap!

If your friend is planning on growing cherry tomatoes in a hanging basket, or those small patio-type tomatoes, perhaps they might have success, if only because they take up less space. Fully mature, determinate or especially indeterminate varieties would require lots more room and support.

Regardless, flourescents or no flourescents...as much as adequate light is imperative, the major factor with successfuly growing tomatoes is ambient temperatures. Unless your friend can provide a room where they can keep the temps close to 80˚ during the day and no lower than 70˚ at night, then IMO, it's an exercise in futility.

gardenz

Yes, but the tomatoes taste better with a bit of halogen spotlighting on the plant along with the flourescents. I bring tomatoes and peppers in nearly every winter to keep producing under flourescent lights. My favorite indoor tomato is Silvery Fir tree. Very pretty, ornamental foliage, perfect tomatoes. Lovely.

Tomatoes are grown in greenhouses so they should do okay in an office environment. The only limiting factor would be light levels since very few offices have the wide swinging temperatures even our gardens do. Since tomatoes are self fertile pollination won't be a problem.

Starting tomatoes under lights is pretty easy. Growing them to fruiting stage needs more than just a couple flourecsent bulbs but can be done.