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 16°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 40 - 60 cm 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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11 Nov 15, Glenn (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Max, I also live in Ballarat, grow my own tomato plants and have lots of success, have number of varieties, Grosse Lisse, German Johnson, Beefsteak, Black Krim, Black Cherry and more would be happy to give you some plants and help. Kind regards, Glenn
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08 Aug 15, anna (Australia - temperate climate)
I brought some tomatoes inside last year and my grandson picked some that were not as red as the rest. I left the not so red ones on the kitchen bench and they became redder over a period of days. I love homegrown tomatoes - they are a joy to cook with - they seem to go redder and are tastier than shop bought tomates
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08 Aug 15, Lola (Canada - Zone 3a Temperate Short Summer climate)
my winter tomatoes are starting to ripen, but they are rotting at the top of the fruit, any solutions?
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24 Jul 15, brent (Australia - temperate climate)
Looking at growing roma tomatoes this year and looking at doing multiple crops. How long after should i plant the 2nd crop of roma tomatoes to replace them once they have finished? So as soon as they die i can pull them out and put in new transplants.
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28 Jun 15, Tassy Michele (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hiya Michael, I believe yellow tomato varieties are low in acid, also find that they are sweeter (probably due to a lack of acid) and very tasty. Have grown them and made Tomato Relish for an arthritic friend -- loved, loved, loved the relish (hadn't eaten home-made relish for years due to acid There are other fruits & vegetables that are yellow fleshed/low acid. Had an uncle grow Yellow Raspberries & yes, they taste the same as red ones. Have purchased yellow tomato plants at our local Bunnings -- don't forget to keep some seeds to grown your own plants from. Hope this helps. Good Luck!!!!
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27 Jun 15, Econ (USA - Zone 7b climate)
I planted a tumbling Tom from nursery in mid April and it is doing great. If I had to do over I would have bought 5 or 6. I planted about 8 different tomatoe plants with 7 of them indertiminate. So far the best are Lemon Boy. They melt in your mouth!
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21 Jun 15, Brian (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Don't know about the wrong time. I am just planting mine now, for Winter, and every year have an abundant crop. Summer, too many bugs. Mine last year were weli over 10ft high. Had to use a ladder to get the top ones Another tip, do NOT water the whole plant just the base. They don't like it. If no bees, use a feather to cross pollinate yourself. We had to do that on Manus Island as no bees there. Worked a treat.
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07 Jun 15, kierian (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm trying to grow oxheart tomatoes and its been 12 weeks since they have been planted. I've steaked them and they are growing lushly and beautifully, flowering a lot too. I've even been keeping lower branches and suckers snipped but alas no fruit yet. I feed them every week with power grow for vegie gardens also. What else can i do to get these plants to bear fruit?
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22 Jun 15, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
Too cool for tomatoes, they need about 25 degrees or more consistent day temps to set fruit. Bees not required; they will grow in closed green houses!
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09 Jun 15, dieter (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Kierian, it could be that there are not enough bees around to pollinate them, but it could also be just the time of the year, or the plants are still too young. Do they have flowers on them?
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Showing 431 - 440 of 811 comments
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I think you might have blossom end rot, and root rot mixed up. Blossom end rot occurs on the base of the tomato, and is caused by a lack of calcium (usually -- it could be other things that cause the calcium to be unavailable - PH, lack of water etc.). Blossom end rot causes the tomato to look deformed. Calcium added to the soil at the time of planting is usually adequate to ensure this does not happen. The calcium really needs to be added EARLY in the growing stages. You could also use egg shells -- I would grind/smash up the shells pretty good then work them into the soil of the planting hole; better yet, enrich with egg shells over the winter and early spring in anticipation of future planting. Root rot usually occurs when water sits around the roots of a plant for long periods of time -- bad drainage, excess watering, soil that holds too much water (which is really drainage). If you have proper aeration this usually doesn't happen since the air flow will whisk away excess moisture (provided it isn't a swamp at the roots). Try to create updrafts in your pots -- you want water drainage holes that do double duty -- let the water run off and allow air in. I find that holes at the SIDE BOTTOM of the pot, rather than directly under the pot, work well. It may seem like a hole at the side of the pot will let the soil out -- but pretty much after the first watering this stops happening -- and once the roots take hold it certainly does not happen. No need for drainage material (stones etc.) -- just use soil/compost top to bottom -- expect soil to come out at first when filling the pot -- after that you should be fine. I make my holes rather large -- on a BIG pot these holes are about 3inches (circular). Roots of plants really like air (maybe not direct exposure) but they certainly like the occasional breeze through the soil. Face the hole on the shady side of the pot for a cooling updraft in hot weather.

- Celeste Archer

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