Growing Tomato

Lycopersicon esculentum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

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

(Best months for growing Tomato in Australia - sub-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

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19 Nov 17, Chris M (Australia - temperate climate)
With some arrays of flowers on my tomato plants there is a single large flower. Why is there one large flower? Would be very grateful for a reply,
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19 Nov 17, Pauline (Australia - temperate climate)
A older person told me to cut a tomatoe into 4 and plant I have never done this before so I did and wow 15 plants and the. Plants are unreal
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20 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
From a crop (3-4 plants) of tomatoes ( I mainly grow Cherry) a lot fall on the ground - grub holes etc. In a few weeks/months time heaps of seedling come up. I just transplant them. I can grow tomatoes all year round.
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20 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Another method is to just cut slices and place them in the soil and cover them over. Or just take a tomato or a few if small and squash them up in a tray of water - in a few days they will ferment - leave for a few days. Then plant the seeds or separate the seeds and dry them out and keep for later on.
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14 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have read that you can pinch out the laterals (the new shot where the leaf joins the stem) of tomatoes and put that in water and start a new plant. Maybe try that. Can only give it a go or buy some seeds from :The seed collection company" - out of stock at the moment. 200 seeds for $1 + postage.
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24 Nov 17, Maureen (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes, doing that really works and I have been doing this all year. I also grow plants from tomato slices placed in seed raising mix. Wonderful results.
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03 Nov 17, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi there, to tie up all my tomatoes etc I have used an old cotton/polyester sheet that I have torn into strips about 2cm wide. You get heaps of “ribbons “ and can even buy an old sheet from vinnies for $6. The polyester makes them last and they are soft on stems unlike twine and the like. Also old stockings are excellent! Cheers.
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06 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have used old clothes sheets towels all my life. I'm now trying a couple of posts with wire mesh between them. Train the plant in and out of the wire mesh and can use twine etc to support them also. Saves having dozens of pieces of cloth.
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01 Nov 17, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi I love tomatoes but don't have any luck growing them without white fly or aphids impregnating them. I've tried white oil but with no luck. Does someone out there have the solution as I love growing them and especially eating them. Cheers
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03 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try a mix of LUX soap flakes. Mix 2 table spoons of flakes with 500mls of warm/hot water. Then mix with 5 liters of water and spray both sides of the leaves - do this every 4-5 days. Do the leaves curl up and not grow? Try growing in a different spot. .
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Showing 141 - 150 of 595 comments
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Jaci, I think that is a good way of getting your tomatoes to set early fruit. But I don't think there is any need to treat all you tomatoes quite so harshly. When it gets hot in the summer they tend to get punishment enough. I reckon you should treat some of your tomatoes more kindly so that they can develop strong root systems to get them to bare well through the summer. That doesn't mean you have to treat them with kid gloves but it could help extend your season.

- Grahame

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