Growing Tomato

Lycopersicon esculentum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

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

(Best months for growing Tomato in Australia - sub-tropical 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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21 Dec 12, allen lee (Australia - arid climate)
Blossom end rot the blacking at the base of tomatoes may be eased by using lime or dolomite water in well there is also product of the same but is liquid form which is mixed with wAter and can be used as a foliage spray if you do it this way add eco fungicide and seasol to protect leaf disease.
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07 Dec 12, Irene (Australia - arid climate)
Hi everyone, I have had massive sucess in growing tomatoes in big pots (beauitiful flavour) but in a round garden I have they arent doing so good lots of fruit but by the time they ripen blossom end rot gets them! & I have also round big white grubs in round one of the platnt which I threw out! Any ideas on how 2 prevent blossom end rot?
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31 Oct 12, Heather Masters (Australia - temperate climate)
My tomatoes are growing well, but they have started to exceed the 7' mark. Can I cut of the top of the bush so its not as high? Will this increase lower growth or will the plant go into shock and not produce?
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05 Oct 12, shaz (Australia - temperate climate)
hi this is my third season of growing toms ,i have found that my plants don't like to much watering , i don't drench them and i only give them seaweed that's all from the moment there planted right to harvest,about every two weeks but only on soil..great size toms i had, well happy growing all .
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09 Oct 12, Steven Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
How often do you water (first time tomato grower)?
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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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Showing 381 - 390 of 600 comments
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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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