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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04 Dec 11, Malcolm in Melton (Australia - temperate climate)
Patience, Richard, especially if you are south of Sydney, incl. Victoria where I am. The recent cooler-than-normal days have caused the plants to "baulk" - they'll only let their babies (the flowers) out to play (to start growing) in regular (and a succession of) temperatures of 20 deg. plus. Let's now about mid-December how they are going then.
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21 Nov 11, BCW (Australia - temperate climate)
Tomato and potato are the same family and carry the same deseases from one crop to the next so plant other vegies in rotation to avoid problems
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19 Nov 11, Pete (Australia - temperate climate)
In my experience the tomatoes grow from the flowers after the flowers are done so don't get rid of them. I just usually punch out some shoots and remove some foliage to help tomatoes. Leave some foliage for protection from the sun.
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15 Nov 11, Lola (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My tomatos started to fruit but now the plant is dying with green tomatos on the dead vines....
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17 Nov 11, dave (Australia - temperate climate)
i would say u may be over watering them , if u dig down in the soil about 4 to 5 inches and squeeze the soil if i stays in a ball soil is ok and dose not need water.
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14 Nov 11, Beth (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm growing Red Truss and Grosse Lisse tomatoes in Adelaide. The truss plants have already flowered on plants 30cm & 40cm high. Should I remove the flowers to let plants grow taller before putting energy into fruiting?
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19 Nov 11, Tricia (Australia - temperate climate)
Ive planted a variety of tomatoes this year and they all started flowering before they even got to 30 cm, I have left them and they are still growing and flowering, the early flowers have set and I have some really nice looking tomatoes already, I made my own compost and have side dressed them and I swear they have grown another 6 inches in a few days :)
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21 Nov 11, Beth (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks Tricia - that sounds promising. That's what I'd decided to do. They certainly love compost. And who wouldn't prefer home-made? Roll on delicious tomatoes!
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16 Oct 11, graham michelle (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Am wondering which is the best tomato plant to grow in glasshouse on the coast in southern new zealand
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15 Oct 11, jeffrey (USA - Zone 5a climate)
found a great calendar all about tomato it is from the butte county Master Gardener program they have a great calendar out all about tomato i picked one up last week at an event you should check it out
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Showing 601 - 610 of 811 comments
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Further to my posts below. I have found this which I believe is the problem with my bunchy curly leaves on cherry tomatoes. It is called -Tomato yellow leaf curl virus. TYLCV. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Qld In March 2006, tomato leaf curl disease was found in cherry tomato crops in the south and west periphery of Brisbane. The disease has been found in many crops, with infection levels ranging from 5 to 100 per cent of plants. Losses in severely affected crops have been very high and the disease is a major threat to tomato production. In April 2006, infected plants were also found around Bundaberg. By June 2007, the virus was present in the Lockyer Valley, Fassifern Valley, Esk, Caboolture and Redlands areas. Since 2009 it has become a serious production constraint around Bundaberg. In February 2011, it was found in backyard tomato plants in Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands. Tomato leaf curl disease is caused by viruses in the Geminivirus family of plant viruses, and is spread by whiteflies. The virus causing this disease is tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). This virus is distinct from tomato leaf curl Australia virus (TLCV), which occurs in the Northern Territory and at several locations on Cape York Peninsula. Silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Biotype B) was first recorded in Australia in 1994, it is now a widespread pest in Queensland and Western Australia and could become a major pest in most irrigated agricultural areas of Australia. Silverleaf whitefly (SLW) is also known as poinsettia or sweetpotato whitefly and in USA literature it is now referred to as Bemisia argentifolii. SLW has a wide host range (over 500 species) of crops and weeds, and is difficult to control as it has developed resistance to conventional insecticides. Biotype Q was discovered recently in Queensland. There is also an Australian native species. These three biotypes are indistinquishable in the field.

- Mike

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