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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08 Jan 11, Lou (Australia - temperate climate)
Someone told me they know of a tomato plant that's been growing fruit for 10 years.......
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08 Jan 11, dino (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi my tomatoes are growing OK , but are not showing any sign on flowers, I have had them in for weeks now.
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06 Jan 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
Mine are the same! I grow Sweet Bites and Tomatoberries in large pots, but they end up dying from the bottom up with leaves on the new growth. My soil is rich and I regularly use worm castings/juice and potash-rich fertilizer. Kellie, Sydney
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04 Jan 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
My tomato plants always die from the bottom up. The leaves yellow then brown then drop off. Plants develop well, and I keep it in check by removing diseased leaves, but by the time tomatoes are ripening the plant starts to die. If I don't pull the plant while mist fruit are green the fruit go bad. Does anyone know what thus is? How can I stop it? Sarah, Perth, temperate
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05 Jan 11, Adrian Castellari (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Sarah. I'm no expert, but, how is your soil. If it is nice and rich, you shouldn't have any problems. Maybe you need to replace the soil, then build it up with compost etc. My plants were like that, so I replaced everything for this growing season. My 16 tomato plants are now well over 6ft. tall and 'loaded'.
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30 Dec 10, Mick and Paula (Australia - temperate climate)
I have tomatoes at 1.5 metres and the fruit is large on all plants. The problem is the plants look like they are starting to die off before the fruit ripens. We have chook so i have placed the waste on the ground around the plants ( the waste is a week old before it goes on). Suggestions please.
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01 Dec 10, Colleen (Australia - temperate climate)
we've had so much rain, the soil in places is boggy but my tomatoes are in a new slightly raised bed. I've noticed blossom end rot on many of the plants. I guess the calcium has been leached out of the soil with all this rain, should I add some lime?
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28 Dec 10, Pat Lightfoot (Australia - temperate climate)
From experience night temps will stop flowers from bearing fruit. We in Armidale (Northern Tablelands NSW) have experienced 1 C over the last few weeks at night. However, I have pot plants in a secure under the eves and one self seeded plant lived through winter, and has beared a few fruit. Not the most healthy looking either. But has three tomatoes on it.I don't think Armidale is the best place to have tomatoes unless in a green house. They grow well but don't bear much fruit, as night time temps go beneath 10 C.
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16 Nov 10, Pyley (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi David.. Whitefly can be controlled by using a low toxic product called Natrasoap. It suffocates the pests, then they dry up and fall off. You can also add a few drops of Peppermint or Eucalyptus oil as well.
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15 Nov 10, David (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Help!! Dear All, I live in St Kilda in Victoria, my Tomatos which are only a couple of feet high are covered in clouds of whitefly, Ive tried everything, concoctions of sunlight soap and vinegar, pyrethrum, you name it but nothing seems to work. I have heard companion planting in conjunction with at least one other method is the best way but as i have tried so many different methods, i am somewhat sceptical. Does anyone have any tried and true methods to stop whitefly (other than not growing tomoatos)?
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You can look up the germination (seed hatching) temperature for various vegetables online. Compare this temperature to your soil temperature (even your air temperature to get an idea) -- the germination temperature needs to be met and sustained for the seeds to germinate (in addition to water, soil and presence of light for some shallow planted seeds). Most likely you will still benefit from starting indoors -- it all depends on temperatures AND which veggies you are planting - some veggies seeds have fairly low germination temps - beans, chard, mustard etc. Other veggies have very high germination temps: tomatoes, peppers etc. Remember that the germination temp needs to not only be met, it needs to be sustained. Since you can control your inside temperature - I would start my seeds indoors -- and potentially add a heating pad under the seedling tray. If you plant outdoors you can use a tarp to help warm the soil; I prefer clear elevated about 6" above the ground (like a green house) to help warm the soil when the sun hits it
- Celeste Archer

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