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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
04 Apr 11, Sarah (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
April has started now and I"ve just picked one ripe fruit. Am I waiting for nothing? Will they ever ripen. I've got 100's of green tomatoes. I also noticed one of my plants is still flowering.
Reply or Post a new comment
13 Feb 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
my tomatos ripened very slowly too, but they eventually got there. I only just started harvesting them a week ago. I have not had problems with birds.
Reply or Post a new comment
03 Feb 11, Sam (Australia - temperate climate)
I had the same issue issue last year and a friend suggested hanging yellow and red christmas baubles on the vines before it starts fruiting. Birds will go for these first without success and, hopefully, leave your ripening tomatos alone. That's my plan for this year, anyway.
Reply or Post a new comment
04 Feb 11, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I'll try that on my plum trees next year!
Reply or Post a new comment
14 Jan 11, kate (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I am no expert, but I read somewhere that you can put banana skin under the mulch or in the soil and the potassium helps with flower production. I tried this and also made a tea of banana skins which I apply (diluted) weekly. It seems to work! There are lots of flowers and fruit even though we have had a very slow start to summer here.
Reply or Post a new comment
08 Jan 11, Lou (Australia - temperate climate)
Someone told me they know of a tomato plant that's been growing fruit for 10 years.......
Reply or Post a new comment
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
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
Reply or Post a new comment
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
Reply or Post a new comment
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'.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 651 - 660 of 821 comments
See comments for all plants

I am also from the Central Highlands, though this will be my first year trying tomatoes here. A lady with many years of gardening experience recently told me that tomatoes shouldn't be planted out here until Melbourne Cup day (5th November). It's simply too cold before then, especially overnight, and late frosts are still possible in October. For best results you should raise seedlings beside a sunny window or in a greenhouse in late September - early October, to plant out in early November. Or simply buy seedlings from a nursery - this is a much easier option but the number of varieties they sell is limited. I have researched on cold-tolerant varieties for this season and here are three that I am trying this year: Siberian, Stupice, and Swift. You may want to try to look for these varieties as they will probably be better adapted for this climate. Generally, any variety from Northern Europe is probably better to plant than typical Australian varieties, which are bred for hotter climates. Finally, make sure you are feeding them correctly. A high Nitrogen fertiliser is necessary early on, but once it puts on flowers you want to only feed it with one high in Phosphorus and Potassium. There are very few of these fertilisers that seem to be available at the big box stores (many have way too much N) but something like liquid potash or a 'flowers / bloom' labelled fertiliser should work. Make sure to include some organic fertiliser or organic compost when planting out your seeds / seedlings as well, so that your soil is not deficient in trace elements. I hope at least some of this advice helps and that you end up with a bumper crop this year. Tomatoes are probably harder to grow here than elsewhere but I have also been told there are less pest problems than up towards the tropics. Best of luck!

- Prometheus

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.