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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24 Feb 18, Wendy (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
We grow short season tomatoes successfully, like Early Girl.
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21 Feb 18, Gaurav (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Francie, I am not sure of the variety though I've seen something in Bunnings couple of months ago and that was specific to tomatoes. May be worth going/asking there? Not sure if this is of any help though. Good luck! Regards, Gaurav
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27 Jan 18, Greg (Australia - temperate climate)
Blossom end rot; is it potassium or calcium deficiency. I have applied two doses to the soil and watered in but my Apollo tomatoes look to be developing it. Thank you for any help.
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30 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It is Magnesium deficiency. A suggestion is to put two teaspoons in the bottom of the hole when you transplant. Mix it into the soil. Or apply some around the base of the plant (two feet diameter) and water it in.
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30 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Apply epsom salts
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22 Dec 17, Richard Masina (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
How many kinds of tomatoes
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19 Nov 17, Chris M (Australia - temperate climate)
With some arrays of flowers on my tomato plants there is a single large flower. Why is there one large flower? Would be very grateful for a reply,
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19 Nov 17, Pauline (Australia - temperate climate)
A older person told me to cut a tomatoe into 4 and plant I have never done this before so I did and wow 15 plants and the. Plants are unreal
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20 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
From a crop (3-4 plants) of tomatoes ( I mainly grow Cherry) a lot fall on the ground - grub holes etc. In a few weeks/months time heaps of seedling come up. I just transplant them. I can grow tomatoes all year round.
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20 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Another method is to just cut slices and place them in the soil and cover them over. Or just take a tomato or a few if small and squash them up in a tray of water - in a few days they will ferment - leave for a few days. Then plant the seeds or separate the seeds and dry them out and keep for later on.
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Showing 271 - 280 of 808 comments
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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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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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