Growing Tomato

Lycopersicon esculentum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S                  
      T T T            
      P P              

(Best months for growing Tomato in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • 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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17 Dec 19, Barbara (Australia - temperate climate)
I wouldn't freeze fresh tomatoes. I do make pasta sauce, freeze it and then use it for all those wonderful winter recipes like lasagna. You could just peel them (by placing them in boiling water for 3 minutes), and cook them for five minutes on the stove, cool them and then freeze them to use later.
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18 Nov 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If frozen I don't think you could use as a fruit to slice etc. I think you could make sauces or similar.
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02 Nov 19, Anna (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I'm looking to grow cherry tomatoes close to my sweet Peppers and wondered if they are compatible together? Can't seem to find an answer on the net.
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04 Nov 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you can't find anywhere where it says don't grow next to each other then I would assume it is OK. Just give each crop it's room to grow. Think where the sun will be throwing shade during the day. You don't want the tomatoes shading the caps all day.
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28 Oct 19, karen maslen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi there I liveiinnthe Tallebudgera Valley..near Burleigh Heads...I am an experienced gardener who ..always has had success nn Victoria growing large tomatoes but here they seem to go lengthy and spindley and do not produce large. fruit..same with the zucchini I water them every second day via an on the ground little spray..maybe i should be watering them deeply?They are in rich soil with sugar cane mulch. Please would you advise me what i am doing wrong? Regards karen maslen
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29 Oct 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I assume you are trying to grow the same variety of tomatoes. Any crop requires sunlight, water, nutrients and something to grow in - soil, water etc. 1. Tomatoes need good fertile deep soil. They need DEEP watering every 2-3 days. A little ground spray line just doesn't do it. A few comments back I gave some tips on growing tomatoes. Some people recommend you dig a trench 400-500 deep, throw in some fish heads/backbone etc, aspirin, Epson salts, compost/fertiliser. Put some soil back in and add some more compost/fert and mix it up. Still with the trench 200-300 deep plant the seedlings. As they grow fill the soil back in. Tomatoes are deep rooted so fert and water deep. 2. Zucchini need plenty of water also.
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30 Oct 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The tips were on the New Zealand site.
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21 Oct 19, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
Can tomatoes grow alongside zucchini
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22 Oct 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Zucchini like to spread out .
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22 Oct 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the notes in Zucchini - the answer is there.
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Showing 181 - 190 of 815 comments
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-- WOW -- I'm not sure HOW MUCH of each amendment (manure, bone meal, blood meal) you put in ... but it sounds like there is enough nutrition there for awhile. I am concerned about 2 things: 1. The initial acidity of the pine mulch. Tomatoes do like slightly acidic soil, but the initial acidity here could be too much. Pine mulch does however break down neutral and pine mulch offers several benefits for gardens, including weed suppression, moisture retention, and improved soil structure. 2. You need to ensure your 5 gallon buckets have a few large holes on the sides near the bottom - this is to prevent your roots from cooking. Even if your containers are in the shade (with the plant in the sun) those containers need aeration. I suggest at least 2 (and up to 6) 3" holes around the bottom sides of your container -- don't worry, after the initial soil spill, the soil will stay put even during watering. As far as continued fertilization, you could top dress with chicken manure -- that is add an inch or two to the top of the soil (top dressing) of chicken manure, and when you water this will go into the soil. Perhaps monthly, maybe more if the plants are growing fast.... I might however hold off for the first couple of months (this really depends on HOW much of each amendment you added -- for example, half a 5 gallon bucket of chicken manure, opposed to several handfuls) -- additionally, when the plants are really small... they don't intake that much nutrition , but as they grow -- they really use up the nutrition fast (think a 5 year old boy compared to a teenager)

- Celeste Archer

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