Growing Tomato

Lycopersicon esculentum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

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

(Best months for growing Tomato in Australia - cool/mountain 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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22 Jun 20, Razan (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
How much daily watering is necessary for growing tomatoes inside greenhouse in black plastic bags?
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24 Jun 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Little seedlings/plants need a light watering each day - if hot twice a day. Bigger plants need a good watering each 2-3 days. For pots - you need to check the top 10-20mm of soil to see if it is wet or dry. If dry then water. The size of the plant and pot will decide how often you water. You want your soil moist not wet wet. It is a bit of trial and error until you work it out.
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20 Jun 20, ben (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
what fertilizer do tomatoes like ?
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22 Jun 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try googling what NPK fertiliser tomatoes like.
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09 Apr 20, Amana abda seyid (Australia - temperate climate)
I am from ethiopia i went to ask some thing about tomato. My seedling is falldown and gridling of stem at the base in the green house .how can manage these diseases.
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14 Apr 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
Had to say what your problem is, too much water, too little water, too hot. Maybe start again.
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30 Mar 20, Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
For tomatoes what is the best ph level
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31 Mar 20, Liz at Gardenate (New Zealand - temperate climate)
6.5 is a common pH level for vegetables and works for tomatoes.
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30 Mar 20, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look up ph levels for vegetables on the net. Then you will know for all vegies.
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04 Mar 20, Anna (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My tomato vines are full of fruit, all of it green. I've often had the problem of ending up with lots of unripe fruit at the end of the season so I was wondering it there is a sure-fire way of ripening the tomatoes on the vine before the first frosts?
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Showing 41 - 50 of 601 comments
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Basically from the start of October to early November is considered tomato planting time in Melbourne but exactly when to plant out your seedlings depends on the microclimate of your garden. If your veg plot is sheltered from cold wind and gets lots of sun, or you have raised beds (which warm up quicker than an in-ground garden), or you are growing your toms in large pots (again, warmer than in-ground beds), then you can get away with planting them now. I have a heavyish clay-based soil which tends to take a little longer to warm up, so will not be planting mine out until around the end of this month. As far as planting in less than full sun, the minimum recommendation for plants like tomatoes is usually given as 6 hours of sun a day, so your patch doesn't necessarily need to get sun from dawn to dusk. If it's currently getting 6 hours you can proceed as per usual. I have a spot in my garden that is shaded by a shed in winter/early spring, which I'll be using for a tomato plant this year. I'll pot up the tomato seedling destined for that spot (an early fruiting variety) into a bigger pot as necessary, and plant it out mid-November, by which time the space gets about 6 hours and the seedling will be a good size.

- Tracey in Melbourne

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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