Growing Tomato

Lycopersicon esculentum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	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

24 Nov 17, Maureen (Australia - temperate climate): Yes, doing that really works and I have been doing this all year. I also grow plants from tomato slices placed in seed raising mix. Wonderful results.
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03 Nov 17, (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Hi there, to tie up all my tomatoes etc I have used an old cotton/polyester sheet that I have torn into strips about 2cm wide. You get heaps of “ribbons “ and can even buy an old sheet from vinnies for $6. The polyester makes them last and they are soft on stems unlike twine and the like. Also old stockings are excellent! Cheers.
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06 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have used old clothes sheets towels all my life. I'm now trying a couple of posts with wire mesh between them. Train the plant in and out of the wire mesh and can use twine etc to support them also. Saves having dozens of pieces of cloth.
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01 Nov 17, David (Australia - temperate climate): Hi I love tomatoes but don't have any luck growing them without white fly or aphids impregnating them. I've tried white oil but with no luck. Does someone out there have the solution as I love growing them and especially eating them. Cheers
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03 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Try a mix of LUX soap flakes. Mix 2 table spoons of flakes with 500mls of warm/hot water. Then mix with 5 liters of water and spray both sides of the leaves - do this every 4-5 days. Do the leaves curl up and not grow? Try growing in a different spot. .
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14 Oct 17, Hayley (Australia - temperate climate): Hello, is it too late to sow tomatoe seeds now (mid October)?
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16 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): You could probably grow tomatoes all year round. Maybe better to plant some good strong seedlings - like about 6-9" tall. Next year plant a bit earlier. I transplanted some small seedlings out 2 days ago. If your soil is nice and fertile mulch around the plants and keep the water up to them.
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04 Oct 17, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Hello.Green shield beetles are attacking my tomatoes and sucking the goodness out if them.I have to throw them away. How can I stop this? Thankyou.
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05 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Look up the internet. Maybe a garlic and chilli mix.
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27 Sep 17, Daisy Brown (Australia - temperate climate): Hi guys, do we need to do plant successive crop for tomato?
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Showing 281 - 290 of 807 comments

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Replying to:

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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Lycopersicon esculentum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

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Lycopersicon esculentum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

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