Select your climate zone Australia - arid Australia - cool/mountain Australia - sub-tropical Australia - temperate Australia - tropical New Zealand - cool/mountain New Zealand - sub-tropical New Zealand - temperate South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical South Africa - Humid sub-tropical South Africa - Semi-arid South Africa - Summer rainfall United Kingdom - cool/temperate United Kingdom - warm/temperate USA - Central West Coast USA - Maritime Northwest USA - Mid-Atlantic USA - North East USA - South East and Gulf States USA - South West USA - Upper Midwest What is my climate zone?

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
T							S	S	T	T	T

(Best months for planting Tomato in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings.

TOMATOES

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There is nothing like the taste of a freshly picked tomato, warm from the sunshine. In the smallest of gardens or even an apartment with a window-box, it is worth growing at least one tomato plant for the pleasure it will give you. They will grow in pots, troughs or even hanging baskets.

Tomatoes are frost tender and should be grown in shelter or under cover in cool climates.

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Tomatoes need feeding. In a garden bed, compost and mulching will produce a crop from one or two plants. In containers, use some suitable long term fertiliser pellets or feed regularly when you water. Feeding also improves the flavour of the fruit.

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When you plant out, put the seedlings in a deep holes, up to the top set of leaves. The covered stems will put out extra roots and you will have a stronger, healthier plant.

There are many different varieties of tomatoes but they all have one of two growth habits.

Determinate:

Compact bush growth, stops at a specific height and useful for containers. If left without supporting stakes, they will form a dense carpet which excludes weeds and keeps the soil cool and damp.

Indeterminate:

Will continue growing a main stem, or vine until stopped by frost. The majority of heirloom tomatoes are indeterminate.

Both types need stakes to give them some support otherwise they will sprawl across the garden.

Varieties include Acid-free, Bush, Tall, Cherry, Yellow and many others.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Tomato

Use in sauces, with fried meals, in sandwiches. Can be frozen whole or in pieces.

Your comments and tips

30 Jan 12, stella (Australia - temperate climate)

i amm growing gross lisse variety of tomatoes they are pretty huge on the vines but none of them are ripening as of yet ..what should i do theplants are a fairly average size with los of leaves and flowers and unripe fruits..

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30 Jan 12, Reg Parker (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi Stella, Your fruit will ripen, however I strongly suggest that you rid your plants of ALL LEAVES except the for the top (3), you will notice that you have a flowering stem, then a leaf stem then a flowering, get rid of all non flowering stems, you will do yourself and your vines a great favour....leaves only pull the nutrients away from the fruit, block sunlight & air circulation , create disease and attract pests. Also use a liquid fertilizer 2-3 times a week, you will have sweeter, juicier fruit and more than you can possibly even give away. DON'T BE AFRAID TO STRIP THOSE LEAVES> Reg

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16 Jan 12, Irene (Australia - temperate climate)

Planted Apollo Tomatoes Improved: They were fruiting beautifully until today I saw what looks like teeny blemishes, tiny dints like pin pricks coming on them...they are still unripe and more are coming what can I do to save the crop or is this a normal part of the process. By the way we have had a lot of rain but the drainage is fine. Thank you

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21 Jan 12, Bec (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Sounds like fruit fly. Try hanging some fruit fly traps around and yellow sticky traps. Had this problem last year but since hanging up a eco-lure no problems this season.

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04 Jan 12, Dianne (Australia - temperate climate)

Is it too late to put more tomato plants in the garden

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06 Jan 12, Miguel (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi Dianne, I've grown tomatoes as late as December, shortly before Christmas. I've had success but got only a small handful of tomatoes. They ripened on the windowsill as there was not enough sunlight or time to vine rippen them and some tasted a little bland. So in answer to your question, you can plant tomatoes now but don't expect them to give you more than 2-3 green tomatoes each plant.

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31 Jan 12, tim (Australia - temperate climate)

try tommy toe. i have grown them from february and picked full flavoured fruit through to end of june in southern riverina in frost free years.

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02 Jan 12, Cathy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I am growing Grosse Lisse tomatoes, they have fruited well but the fruit is splitting before they are ripe. Does anyone have any ideas as to why this is happening?

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05 Jan 12, Mudhonei (Australia - temperate climate)

Sounds like too much water.

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28 Nov 11, Richard (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I have good green growth on my tomatoes, have been fertilising them with seasol, cow dung and a little blood and bone, I have plenty of flowers but am not getting any fruit, the flowers have been out for about 1.5 weeks, how long should it take to see fruit form.

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