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 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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21 Jun 15, Brian (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Don't know about the wrong time. I am just planting mine now, for Winter, and every year have an abundant crop. Summer, too many bugs. Mine last year were weli over 10ft high. Had to use a ladder to get the top ones Another tip, do NOT water the whole plant just the base. They don't like it. If no bees, use a feather to cross pollinate yourself. We had to do that on Manus Island as no bees there. Worked a treat.
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07 Jun 15, kierian (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm trying to grow oxheart tomatoes and its been 12 weeks since they have been planted. I've steaked them and they are growing lushly and beautifully, flowering a lot too. I've even been keeping lower branches and suckers snipped but alas no fruit yet. I feed them every week with power grow for vegie gardens also. What else can i do to get these plants to bear fruit?
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22 Jun 15, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
Too cool for tomatoes, they need about 25 degrees or more consistent day temps to set fruit. Bees not required; they will grow in closed green houses!
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09 Jun 15, dieter (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Kierian, it could be that there are not enough bees around to pollinate them, but it could also be just the time of the year, or the plants are still too young. Do they have flowers on them?
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12 Jun 15, kierian (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi thanks so much for your help. Yeah they have flowers and are growing strong. Just not producing anything. I keep them well fed and watered also. Sorry just an amateur gardener. Thanks for any help
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16 Jun 15, Lachlan (Australia - temperate climate)
Wrong time of year for tomatoes
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27 Apr 15, Trish - (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have never grown Roma acid tomatoes before. At first I watched the plants growing in leaps and bounds day by day - then they seemed to come to a standstill. I am in Cairns. But this morning went out to look them over and noticed that one plant has 3 tomatoes on it but the plant itself does not look happy. Trish
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20 Apr 15, Jane (Australia - temperate climate)
We had a great crop of mixed tomatoes this year but could you please tell me why the skins on the tomatoes are tough. Many thanks
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08 May 15, Tom (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
that depends on the variety you are growing and where you live. In Canberra the nights are COLD and I notice some of them have very tough skin. Now I grow one with no name, Grossie Lissie, s. Marzano and Jersey Devil, they all good.
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21 Apr 15, TOM TOM TOMATO (Australia - temperate climate)
they would be hybrids which are bred for a tough skin for transport so they don't bruise.
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Showing 281 - 290 of 601 comments
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I have been growing tomatoes in pots at North Sydney for the last 10 years. Each year is more problematic and depressing than the previous even though I sterilise pots and use new potting mix each year. Plants start off very healthy then about the time that fruit set, the plants start yellowing from the bottom and within a few weeks they are history. This year was interesting in that I placed the pots on a second story balcony well away from previous plantings on the assumption that whatever was killing the plants near the ground may not exist on the balcony. I planted in September, great plants until mid November when they did the same thing - started yellowing from the bottom up and ended up basically dead after a few weeks. I took one of the plants (Mighty Red) which was dead except for one small leaf about 10mm above ground level. I cut the plant off completely immediately above this leaf and planted it in a new garden bed we have recently created in the area where we had previously used pots. For a couple of weeks nothing happened then the plant started growing and now in mid March we have just picked 3 large tomatoes off a very healthy (large) plant with another 15 or so tomatoes still on the plant. I still don't know what causes the problem but the experiment with this 'Lazarus' plant is nothing if not interesting.

- Ian

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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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