Growing Tomato

Lycopersicon esculentum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                  S S  
T                     T

(Best months for growing Tomato in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 16 - 24 inches apart
  • Harvest in 8-17 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Asparagus, Chervil,Carrot, Celery, Chives, Parsley, Marigold, Basil
  • Avoid growing close to: Rosemary, Potatoes, Fennel, Cucumber

Your comments and tips

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10 Apr 20, Kerry (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Greetings! I'm hoping to start a small organic vegetable garden. Would now be ok to plant tomatoes, lettuce, onion, green pepper etc. I have a partially covered courtyard so I have the option to plant in containers too. Our winters here are not too bad, lovely days, cool/nippy evenings. Please advise. Regards, Kerry.
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14 Apr 20, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
This website is for people to look up when to plant different vegetables etc. Work out your climate zone and check each vegetable when to plant.
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09 Apr 20, Amana abda seyid (Australia - temperate climate)
I am from ethiopia i went to ask some thing about tomato. My seedling is falldown and gridling of stem at the base in the green house .how can manage these diseases.
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14 Apr 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
Had to say what your problem is, too much water, too little water, too hot. Maybe start again.
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30 Mar 20, Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
For tomatoes what is the best ph level
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31 Mar 20, Liz at Gardenate (New Zealand - temperate climate)
6.5 is a common pH level for vegetables and works for tomatoes.
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30 Mar 20, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look up ph levels for vegetables on the net. Then you will know for all vegies.
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04 Mar 20, Anna (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My tomato vines are full of fruit, all of it green. I've often had the problem of ending up with lots of unripe fruit at the end of the season so I was wondering it there is a sure-fire way of ripening the tomatoes on the vine before the first frosts?
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30 Mar 20, Eddie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My dad said he used to pull the whole plant out and hang it in a shed and the tomatoes would vine ripen then finish off on the windowsill.
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04 Mar 20, ML (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Ethylene gas ripens tomatoes and some other fruit. Add a few bananas to them. Suggest you read up about how to ripen tomatoes on the internet. Read different articles. Also see if you can start your seedlings earlier in future so that they grow/ ripen earlier in future.
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Showing 151 - 160 of 817 comments
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I haven't grown tomatoes much - usually fairly cheap where I live. I have grown cherry tomatoes the last few years at the end of the growing season (Mar- Oct) and just let them spread all over the garden. Have had pretty good crops. This year I have staked them. I have planted Roma and Cherry next to each other. Done this twice. A row with 3 Cherry and 1 Roma. I know the Cherry tomatoes are Cherry because I just use them when they germinate from one that had fallen on the ground. The Roma I purchased seeds - can't be totally sure they are Roma. On a couple of the Cherry plants they start out big spread out leaves and then turn to very tight bunched leaves. You would think they are turning into Roma. IS there some deficiency in the soil to do this. And the Roma are just producing a lot of growth and little fruit. The fruit on 1 Roma is like a Cherry - very small. The weather here has turned cold for here, Night temps have fallen from low 20's to low teens in the space of 4-5 weeks. Last night was about 8. Anybody have any clues to what is happening to my tomatoes. Help!!!

- Anonymous

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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