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

26 Feb 21, Jean-Claude (USA - Zone 10a climate)
I transplanted my tomatoes a week ago and I notice today that a few of them are already showing signs of flowering. The plants are still relatively small. Should I pinch off these very early buds.I am sure there are experienced gardeners out there who know what to do. Please advise.
01 Mar 21, Anonymous (USA - Zone 6a climate)
They have been in a pot where the nutrients have nearly run out so the plant is trying to reproduce its self, by going to seed. Make sure you have good rich soil. You need to prepare the soil well before planting out.
08 Feb 21, Joe Musselwhite (USA - Zone 10a climate)
What type tomatoes are best or grow area 10a and should they be determinate or indeterminate?
13 Feb 21, SarahM (USA - Zone 10b climate)
In 10b here. You can grow either. Determinate only grow to size, produce fruit then die off. You would grow them in succession to get get tomatoes all season. Indeterminate tomatoes require space as the plants just keeps growing [kinda like a vine] while we have long days of sunlight. Better to decide what type of tomato fruit you want [paste, slicer, etc...].
12 Feb 21, Colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate)
You can grow any tomato your heart desires in your zone! Do you like great big beefy slicing tomatoes? Little cherry tomatoes to eat like snacks? Plum tomatoes to make into sauce or sun-dry? All will do great. You may need to use shade cloth in the hottest months to keep them from scorching (I get 40 percent shade cloth from San Diego Seed Company but Amazon has lots of cheaper ones too). If you try to keep them alive through winter, assuming they don't have blight, you can string incandescent Christmas lights around them and cover with fleece if frost threatens. Indeterminate types are basically perennials and will get huge and possibly survive the winter in your zone, so space may be an issue. I usually have ONE big indeterminate sprawler like a Juliet or a Sungold, and let grow as big as it wants on a tower made of cattle panels, and then grow a number of compact bush tomatoes to get some varied crops for slicing, drying, saucing, etc. In your zone you can constantly start new
25 Jan 21, Ian (Australia - temperate climate)
Hey there, some of my tomatoes have a small pointed spur growing from the top of the fruit near the stem. Did a search on the interweb without much joy. Any information would be appreciated. cheers, Ian
27 Jan 21, (Australia - temperate climate)
It happens - don't worry about it- I have no idea why.
08 Dec 20, Joel (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What is the best variety of tomato for the Brisbane climate?
09 Dec 20, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
You can grow nearly all varieties, cherry are probably more suited for the summer, more disease resistant. Grow the kind that you like, check internet seed selling companies, more varieties there. I feel it is better to start growing from mid-late February
24 Nov 20, Max (USA - Zone 10b climate)
My tomato plants in zone 10b (Los Angeles, CA) still continue to develop new flowers and grow a lot of new fruit. It seems like it is recommended to remove the plants at the end of the growing season... but how do I know when that is?
Showing 91 - 100 of 799 comments

Hi i have plenty of tomato's this season but im just noticed alot of my tomatos have been eaten away by some pest it looks like a tiny tiny white fly they have been there for months.They make a small drill hole into my tomato's.And also, the bottom of my tomato's are black its very strange.Never have i seen this in my garden before. i have been using calf manure for some time.These little pests are now eating my peppers and my basil but not my cucumbers and zucchini .Could somebody help??

- Domenic

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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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