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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29 Sep 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
can you tell me how often to water tomotoes in hot house in tassie
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23 Sep 12, Cheryl (Australia - temperate climate)
I read that tomatoes shouldn't be fed until fruit starts forming, otherwise you end up with lots of lush leaves but no fruit. If the plant is too well fed it doesn't feel the need to reproduce itself. I always plant in good soil but don't feed until then.
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09 Sep 12, Meiling Chong (Australia - temperate climate)
Are there anybody around North-East Melbourne who would like to swap seeds/seedlings? I live in Greensborough. :)
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22 Jul 12, Kevin (Australia - arid climate)
My tomatoes have little black spots on the leaves, what is this from and how do I treat it. Also the fruit is still green but som have been stung (?) by something as they have worms in them
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24 Oct 12, JJ (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Black spots is usually "Early Blight", google it and have a look at some pics and see if it looks the same. There is not much you can do, its best to pull out the affected plants and throw them in the garbage. You can also trim off all affected branches, try keep the plants dry and make sure they aren't planted to close so lots of air can get through.
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25 May 12, malcolm (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i have rosmary growing next to my tomatoes in a pot will this have a efect on my tomatoes growing in a pot next to them ?????????
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18 Aug 12, Patri (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Well, it depends on how big the pot is (make sure you have it in a 19 litre container). I don't think rosemary's got deep roots so it should be fine as they won't compete against each other for space. Also make sure you fertilize them regularly because plants in pots tend to lose a lot of nutrients. I've got basil right next to one of my tomato plants and they're both fine. They're not in a pot tho.
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17 May 12, Dani (Australia - temperate climate)
I just moved into a new house and have inherited a bit of a garden and some plants. I'm new to gardening but would really like to start growing my own fruit and veg. I have 3 different types of tomatoes - what look like plum, small heirloom ones?? and a more rounder, larger variety (no labels on any). They were a bot worse for wear having sprawled on the ground for a few weeks.... I have tried to save them... they have been staked/supported and dead, browning or "excess" leaves taken off. They do have some fruits on them and more flowers but after 2 weeks they don't seem getting any bigger/riper though leaves still seem to be growing. I'm in Perth and it's starting to cool here. Have I missed the season? Can I get the rest of the tomatos to grow/ripen? And how long can I expect the plants to fruit? Do I need to keep fertilising them, and how often? Also is what do I do with the plant when it does get too cold/it is done fruiting? leave it? Pull it out and start again next year? Cut it back? I know there are a lot of questions but I haven't done this before. ;-) Thanks
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20 Apr 12, Patrol (Australia - tropical climate)
I am new in growing things in my garden and I have some new tomato plants sprouts (I think I overwatered the first ones I had sowed) that are still on trays. I would like to know what's the best for them, I mean, how much should I water them, how long should they be lying on the sun, and if it's ok to have their a full sun final position taking into account that the sun in the NT is very intense. my previous experience makes me think that they don't need much water when they are seedlings, neither many hours of sun, I dont think they cope well with that. I also bought a little tomato cherry plant in bunnings and was doing very well until it started to be devoured by some caterpillars and some other insect I don't know... The plant has like little holes in the leaves that make then transparent (I am having the same problem with my basil)I think they are tiny white spiders, but not sure.... I haven't actually seen any bug chewing the leaves... I need help, I am a horrible gardener!!! I want to boy some insecticide, but I don't know when I will be going into town, so I would appreciate some homemade remedy. Thanks!!!
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05 May 12, ali macleay (Australia - tropical climate)
Re the holey leaves :-) There are many minute insects that chew up the leaf tissue.You can use a dilute peroxide to combat the. 1 teaspoonful in 2 cups water. Also dilute coffee is not bad. You can get a spraycan of 'white oil' and that works a treat on all soft leaf plants.If you try a small area 1st you will avoid any mistakes. The time for planting toms in the tropics is autumn so you are right in it. You must use tom fertilizer to get good tasting toms and a plant that is healthy and strong is very resistant to disease and insects.
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Of course there are lots of factors (soil watering etc.), I\ll point out a few you may have issues with. I'm a little concerned about your night time temperatures harming the growth or steady growth of your tomatoes -- in addition Blossom drop will occur in if daytime temperatures are warm but night temps drop below 55 F. (13 C.) -- a condition that can easily occur in a greenhouse in winter. When you look at days to harvest for tomatoes -- they are assuming spring/summer growing -- which means the NUMBER of daylight hours is HIGHER. Your area may drop from 12 hours of daylight in summer to 9 in winter.... that's a big difference. Additionally the INTENSITY of the sun is not as great in winter as it is in summer. This means the plant is not collecting as much light. I would GUESTIMATE you need to at double the DAYS to harvest to account for your growing conditions. If you decide to go forward I would opt for varieties that tend to grow well in colder climates that NATURALLY have less intense sun and shorter days (or install lighting if you don't have it and perhaps some heat). REMEMBER your soil temp needs to stay at about 16c -- so if your pots are on the ground or if you are planting directly into the soil, the cold may creep into the soil from below. There are specific tomato varietals bred for cold hardiness which will tolerate conditions at or below 55 degrees F. (13 C.). The best choices for colder climates are short to mid-season tomatoes. These tomatoes set fruit not only in cooler temps, but also reach maturity in the shortest number of days; around 52-70 days. I would look to some indeterminate cherry or plum size tomatoes (so small tomatoes) with very low days to harvest. I have never grow this tomato -- but -- Originally developed for cool rainy nights, Quedlinburger Frühe Liebe (or as I like to say, QFL) is a German heirloom tomato variety that’s ready for harvest in just 40 days after transplanting (!!!) and keeps producing until killed by a freeze. This makes it quite an amazing all-season plant and a real keeper in the garden if you’re prone to cold snaps. QFL is sweet and flavorful with small, juicy red fruits ==> tomatofest (internet site in the USA) says : Old German potato-leaf variety means "Early love of Qued Linburg". Small spindly vines produce 1 1/2-inch, round, 4-lobed fruit in clusters of 4. These tomatoes have great flavor with good acidity. Developed for cool rainy nights. Prolific even during colder summers. **** you really need to review the conditions in your green house -- day and night time temps, hours of sunlight --and you need to choose your variety wisely -- and even then, this might be difficult -- a lot depends on your greenhouse.

- faith Celeste Archer

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