Growing Tomato

Lycopersicon esculentum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

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

(Best months for growing Tomato in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed

August: Frost tender. Start undercover

  • 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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27 Sep 17, Daisy Brown (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi guys, do we need to do plant successive crop for tomato?
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28 Sep 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Bush varieties (determinates - like Roma) of tomatoes will produce a crop all at the same time basically. Where as indeterminates (cherry) will produce over several weeks/months. Yes you need to plant successive crops if you want to be picking all year.
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18 Sep 17, Irene kerford (Australia - temperate climate)
Beef steak does not have hardly any seed in them
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07 Sep 17, John Simon-Codina (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
when is the best time to plant tomatoes in the Kilmore area Victoria Australia
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10 Sep 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the notes here about growing tomatoes in Cool climate.
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10 Sep 17, Bru (Australia - temperate climate)
i live in Adelaide south, and sow tomato early September (i have a 6 Beefsteak and 12 Cherry in greenhouse now). I don't usually plant out seedlings till late November when they're a good 4 to 5 inches high. Having slightly colder soil where you are, i'd prob wait till early/mid December to plant seedlings.
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17 Aug 17, John C (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi folks, Looking for a seedless, or near seedless, tomato please. (My partner cannot physically handle the seeds but loves tomatoes.) Lots of people tell me they do exist (near seedless at least) but nobody I know has any clues on where to find them. I've looked in lots of catalogues but no luck. Any tips/leads would be greatly appreciated.
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25 Aug 17, Paul Kasten (Australia - temperate climate)
Oregon Star is a favourite variety of mine, developed in the US. It is a cross of a paste and a slicer, and produces big fruit that are seedless or nearly seedless through most of the season. Great as a slicer for raw use, but so meaty it also cooks down very nicely for sauce or canning. I don't recall the name, but I found a Canadian online nursery last year that shipped a pack of seeds to me in Melbourne for a very reasonable price.
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19 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Amish paste is another fleshy type of tomato.
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18 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Seems to be a few of these in the USA. Probably in aussie you would look for tomatoes for paste - like Roma, Super Roma and San Marzano. Best if you GOOGLED and have a look around for ones with more flesh than seeds.
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Showing 161 - 170 of 601 comments
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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

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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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