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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
05 Jan 12, Mudhonei (Australia - temperate climate)
Sounds like too much water.
Reply or Post a new comment
23 Mar 12, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
generally it is caused by irregular watering or lack of lime
Reply or Post a new comment
28 Nov 11, Richard (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have good green growth on my tomatoes, have been fertilising them with seasol, cow dung and a little blood and bone, I have plenty of flowers but am not getting any fruit, the flowers have been out for about 1.5 weeks, how long should it take to see fruit form.
Reply or Post a new comment
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
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
Reply or Post a new comment
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....
Reply or Post a new comment
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
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?
Reply or Post a new comment
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 :)
Reply or Post a new comment
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!
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 411 - 420 of 602 comments
See comments for all plants

Could be birds. Do you get bower birds in your area? They are very clever and will even eat chillies. We had an area fenced all around with stiff plastic mesh and fine bird netting on top, but something was still getting in and eating our chillies. I caught a bower bird in the act, it had managed to get through a small hole half way up the bird netting, and I watched it fly up and easily scramble out the hole again. I couldn't believe it. Apparently birds don't feel the chillie heat like humans do. It could also be possums, ring tails are expecially naughty and almost silent. They eat the rinds entirely off our lemons and for years we couldn't figure out what was leaving "nude" lemons hanging in our tree, until we caught a pair of them eating fruit in our grapefruit tree, and the tiny bite marks were the same. For the lemons and grapefruit we can't do much except pick them all as soon as they seem ready enough. For veggies we usually have to build fort knox around them with fine veggie netting, which seems to keep *most* birds, possums, moths/grubs and snails out.

- Jason

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.