Growing Tomato

Lycopersicon esculentum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

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

(Best months for growing Tomato in USA - Zone 5a 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 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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20 Aug 19, Marie B (Australia - temperate climate)
Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate and doesn’t address the lack of calcium. For this coming spring you can buy calcium at Bunnings or your nursery but if you add finely crushed eggshells in your soil and let it degrade over the winter months you will not have to buy calcium again. Boiled eggs water and fish bones buried in soil work wonders against blossom end rot.
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28 Dec 18, stephen musgrave (Australia - temperate climate)
tomatoes look healthy have plenty leafs but not many fruit
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05 Jan 19, Mike Logan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Maybe too much N. Depends how tall they are now.
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11 Dec 18, Peter Smith (Australia - temperate climate)
Growing tomatoes for years now and keep getting small holes like a grub mark as the fruit is rippening and then goes rotten what treatment if any can be used
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13 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I had similar problems - I used some spray from Aldi - don't know if that did any good. Then used tomato dust and I also used some yellow sticky fly cardboards. I think that stopped it a bit. Some kind of grub was in mine.
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09 Dec 18, Lida (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi,my tomatoe seedling grow well up to about 30 -40cm then all the new shoots and leave curl up and plant stops growing ,can u please help?
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10 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Sounds like tomato yellow leaf curl virus. Go on the internet and read about it. A couple of tablespoons of lux soap flakes in some hot water and dissolve then add to 6 l of water and spray all over and under the leaves. The leaves look like the fingers in your hand all curled up.
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20 Nov 18, Andrew S Cowell (Australia - temperate climate)
Just a quick piece of advice...avoid planting too close to cabbages, trust me, you'll have spindly tomato plants!
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20 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Normally you wouldn't plant tomatoes close to cabbage if planted north - south. The tomatoes would shade the cabbage for half the day. Try and plant tall crops together. If you want good strong tomato plants dig a trench 12-15
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23 Sep 18, David Perry (Australia - temperate climate)
What temperature should the soil be to plant out tomatoe seedlings in Melboune? It is now Sept 23. Is it too early. Thank you.
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Showing 221 - 230 of 811 comments
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I live on the North Shore, Auckland and have done container growing for several years now, This is the third year of growing tomatoes on a large scale - predominantly determinate varieties. I source my seeds from Kings Seeds who supply a determinate variety called Sub Arctic Plenty which I have experimented with variable results. All plants raised indoors, gently hardened off then potted out into 15L tubs. I use 50/50 new compost/previously used container soil from a non-tomato pot mixed well with added slow release fertiliser and half a cup of powdered eggshell.. The top is mulched with straw and 4 marigolds to attract the bees. They also need a 5ft stake. Generally the plants like the morning and late sun and need shade from the glaring hot midday temperatures. Each year I am growing them earlier to avoid the heat of summer. The pots on the decking facing North fully exposed struggled, the pots that were shaded midday grew much better. Next year I plan to plant out in July/August and see how they get on then. They have a mild taste, personally I prefer the richer flavours of the dark toms but they are good for dehydrating. I also found that they prefer dryer soil than some of my other varieties. I liquid feed them once a week using a litre of water. Don't let them stand in trays, they need full drainage. Any run off from the trays I use on something else (the pineapple sage is very grateful). Spay every part of the plant with a brew of bicarsoda to pre-empt and control powdery mildew weekly. Please let me know if you want any other info - happy to share. Let me know how you get on.

- Karen

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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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