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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09 Aug 20, Sandra G. (USA - Zone 10b climate)
I’m zone 10b as well; I started my tomatoes in early February, the weather here is never too cold, so the worst that can happen is that they “overwinter “ and wake in the springtime. I had volunteer tomatoes come up in OCT & NOV and they just grew slowly in a container until they woke in mid mid March and then grew vigorously in April and they’re still giving fruit. These were cherry and Roma tomatoes. I’ve also been sowing seeds every two weeks with determinant (New York, Purple Russian & beefsteak) tomatoes. I freeze all the overages for winter. So, basically, in 10b in southern Cali you can plant anytime and you’ll be fine.
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24 Mar 18, Maree (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I grow tomatoes in adelaide in winter
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17 Mar 18, jaheda (Australia - temperate climate)
my aunt rubys german green tomato has been producing a lot of fruit. one of the branches had a slight tear because of too many tomatoes. what should i do?
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18 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
Put a stake in near the hand of tomatoes and tie it to the stake to support it.
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08 Mar 18, Martin (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Australia, a tomato plant poped out of the ground I live in Albion Park N S W The plant is loaded so I need to fertalze and what with. Plant age 2 months Thank you martin
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09 Mar 18, Hamsa (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
We get chicken manure from a farm and we soak about 1 cup of manure to 1 litre water in proportion for a couple of days and use the liquid to water the tomato plants. You can keep adding more water to the manure. We did this on a regular basis, weekly and had a bumper crop
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09 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Most of its early growth has happened so it doesn't require a lot of fertiliser. If you give it a lot of Nitrogen it will produce a lot of leaf and growth. It is requiring Potassium now for fruit production. So buy a fertiliser that isn't too high in N. What kind of tomato is it.
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08 Mar 18, Dan (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have about 8-10 cherry tomato plants this year and they have grown tall. Have even special color tomato. We live in cold part of Australia (Melbourne) so frost will always be there. What will happen during the winter (ie they are going to die and I have to buy another tomato plants)? Is there anyway I can help them to survive and replant them next year ?(by bring them indoor). Is there any technique to move tomato plant from outdoor to indoor? (They are very tall, and not sure I can accomodate the size) Thanks in advance
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09 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What you do is keep some of the tomatoes when they are really ripe - seeds from the different colored tomatoes. Put the tomatoes in a bowl and mash them up - take the flesh out and just have the seeds left. Put the seeds in a container and put some water in it to cover them. They will ferment - have a white fungi scum on the top. After about 5-6 days wash the white stuff off and then place the seeds on some paper towel to dry for a week. Place the seeds in a sealable bag and put in a jar with a lid and tighten it - then put in the fridge until next spring. Tomatoes are easy to germinate and grow. Tomatoes are usually a 6-8 mth crop and then removed. Won't really grow inside - need sunlight.
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15 Feb 18, francie hancock (New Zealand - temperate climate)
what tomato do people recommend for cooler climate please
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Further to my posts below. I have found this which I believe is the problem with my bunchy curly leaves on cherry tomatoes. It is called -Tomato yellow leaf curl virus. TYLCV. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Qld In March 2006, tomato leaf curl disease was found in cherry tomato crops in the south and west periphery of Brisbane. The disease has been found in many crops, with infection levels ranging from 5 to 100 per cent of plants. Losses in severely affected crops have been very high and the disease is a major threat to tomato production. In April 2006, infected plants were also found around Bundaberg. By June 2007, the virus was present in the Lockyer Valley, Fassifern Valley, Esk, Caboolture and Redlands areas. Since 2009 it has become a serious production constraint around Bundaberg. In February 2011, it was found in backyard tomato plants in Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands. Tomato leaf curl disease is caused by viruses in the Geminivirus family of plant viruses, and is spread by whiteflies. The virus causing this disease is tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). This virus is distinct from tomato leaf curl Australia virus (TLCV), which occurs in the Northern Territory and at several locations on Cape York Peninsula. Silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Biotype B) was first recorded in Australia in 1994, it is now a widespread pest in Queensland and Western Australia and could become a major pest in most irrigated agricultural areas of Australia. Silverleaf whitefly (SLW) is also known as poinsettia or sweetpotato whitefly and in USA literature it is now referred to as Bemisia argentifolii. SLW has a wide host range (over 500 species) of crops and weeds, and is difficult to control as it has developed resistance to conventional insecticides. Biotype Q was discovered recently in Queensland. There is also an Australian native species. These three biotypes are indistinquishable in the field.

- Mike

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