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 - 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 16°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 40 - 60 cm 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

02 Jan 16, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Yes, break off the piece of tomato in join of leaf and stem, and put in a glass of water. This will grow roots, plant in a pot or garden.Keep moist. In Winter if you need warmth protect with plastic over top but not completely covered. Certain tomatoes do better in winter so check varieties that grow in cooler climates. Cherry tomatoes do well all year in sub tropical. Always have new ones growing, and feed well. Planting fish heads and bits under tomatoes, well down, does wonders. Good luck.
01 Jan 16, Kim Evans (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can you grow tomatoes all year round if so could you please tell me how
24 Dec 15, peter haggarty (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
interested in variaties of acid free tomatoes for inland southeast qld area , please if anyone has any recommendations ??
29 Dec 15, Tony (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
seeds australia online mention a miniature red pear tomato and a miniature yellow pear that they say are acid free
15 Dec 15, Cobie (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a tall yellow tomato bush with heaps of large beautiful looking tomatoes. Picked our first yellow tomato last week and the taste was good, but the the flesh was Rather mushy. My question is, did I pick it too late and need to pick it earlier or are the yellow Tomatoes mushy? I can pick them when green and make a chutney, but that's a shame.
07 Dec 15, Prometheus (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I am just wondering if anyone has any tips about varieties of tomatoes that are not troubled by birds. In my area of residence there is an abundance of both native birds and introduced species such as Starlings. They have already devastated my yellow raspberry plant, which was not netted - I was testing out the common gardening myth that birds are attracted to red fruits rather than yellows. I have often heard that yellow tomatoes are less attractive for them, but I wonder if anyone can confirm whether this is true from their personal experience.
28 Jan 16, Jules (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi there......nope...the king parrots in my area have devoured all of our yellow grape tomatoes...................love any type of cherry tomato and feed on the green unripe ones as well :(
09 Dec 15, Bert (Australia - temperate climate)
I have lots of native birds and lots of starlings (they seem to die suddenly) None of the birds bother my tomatoes, not even my chooks which hate being dive bombed by the wattle birds.
25 Dec 15, Prometheus (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Thanks for your reply Bert. Glad that birds are not an issue for you - hopefully will be the same for me once all the tomatoes ripen. I have heard a lot about bird problems from gardeners in the USA but it sounds like it may be specific to birds from North America (especially Mockingbirds).
30 Dec 15, Ernie (Australia - temperate climate)
I don't think the bird problem is just from specific North American, I live in Wollongong, and my tomatoes get eaten every year fro the time they are small green until they ripen by mostly King parrots, actually have a video of one eating my cherry tomatoes when they were still green. Another bird I have a problem with is green and resembles a minor bird, but bigger actually eats the plants and leaves which are supposed to be poisonous. Go figure.
Showing 261 - 270 of 601 comments

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