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

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30 Mar 20, Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
For tomatoes what is the best ph level
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31 Mar 20, Liz at Gardenate (New Zealand - temperate climate)
6.5 is a common pH level for vegetables and works for tomatoes.
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30 Mar 20, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look up ph levels for vegetables on the net. Then you will know for all vegies.
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04 Mar 20, Anna (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My tomato vines are full of fruit, all of it green. I've often had the problem of ending up with lots of unripe fruit at the end of the season so I was wondering it there is a sure-fire way of ripening the tomatoes on the vine before the first frosts?
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30 Mar 20, Eddie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My dad said he used to pull the whole plant out and hang it in a shed and the tomatoes would vine ripen then finish off on the windowsill.
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04 Mar 20, ML (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Ethylene gas ripens tomatoes and some other fruit. Add a few bananas to them. Suggest you read up about how to ripen tomatoes on the internet. Read different articles. Also see if you can start your seedlings earlier in future so that they grow/ ripen earlier in future.
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08 Mar 20, anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Also most fruit take a few weeks from being fully developed to then ripen, 3-5 weeks. Same applies to pumpkin, rockmelons, watermelons etc.
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27 Feb 20, Luke (Australia - temperate climate)
Any advice on best cool climate tomato varieties for a greenhouse in Melbourne between March and October? Thanks in advance
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01 Mar 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
You are temperate, a greenhouse will raise the temperature in it. Most varieties would grow in it. Ask at your local nursery etc.
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19 Jan 20, Carol (Australia - temperate climate)
To keep the slugs, caterpillars from Tomatoes and other vegetables away break egg shells up and spread around plants. Works great
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Showing 41 - 50 of 595 comments
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I suggest you find a place with sun all day. You are really just wasting your time if you don't. Then google how to grow tomatoes. Water in the morning or at the base of the plants. Put stake in when you plant. Put the tie around the plant and cross it over and then around the stake and tie it off - have it a bit loose - a few inches. Plant them about 60cm apart and in rows 90cm apart. Don't plant anything near them (that is close to them). the shade from the tomatoes will stop the other plants from growing strong. Plant tall things near each other and small things near each other. Read up as much as you can about growing them. When they are about .5m high give them a good side dressing of fertiliser and put some mulch all around the plants .3m diameter.

- Mike

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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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