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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12 Jun 18, Lisa the Transplant (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Hi David :) I am in Northern NL Canada and if you are not doing greenhouse tomatoes, actually...the Artic tomato is perfect for zone 3-4.
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31 Mar 16, David (Canada - Zone 2b Sub-Arctic climate)
So, I asked for the names of tomato seeds that best grows in my region. Zone 2b Sub-Arctic? Can you help or not!
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19 Mar 16, hazwl (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
My green peppers an tomatoes doesn't do well tomatoe leaves turn grey and greenpeper leaves don't look so good. I do treat them with insect sprays it helps but I get one or 2 peppers a time .
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14 Mar 16, philip hope (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Bright yellow leaves at the tip of the plant what is the soil deficient in? I live just outside of Gympie
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28 Apr 16, Tania (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Phillip, yellow leaves tend to mean you need more calcium in the soil.... try some chicken manure.
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10 Mar 16, Dave McGinlay (Australia - temperate climate)
I have an amazing Roma Tomato plant that is now in it;s third flowering & has produced over 200 tomatoes over the past 18 months(I just trim off the dead foliage) Lately some of the fruit has a very small round hole in them & when cut open reveals a heap of tiny eggs. Could this be some kind of wasp.? I am picking them a bit earlier now as the culprit can;t seem to put a hole in them if they are slightly unripe. Regards Dave McGinlay
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15 Mar 16, Jacqueline Comber (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Sounds very much like fruit fly...we can't grow in Sumner because of these.
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08 Feb 16, Max (Australia - temperate climate)
my Oxheart tomatoes have worms inside them but no entry point how is this possible. It's frustrating as I'm throwing out a lot. Is there something I can do to avoid this /
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09 Feb 16, Cecile (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
If I remember correctly, moths lay their eggs in the flowers of the tomato plant, so as the fruit develops from the flower, the eggs mature inside the growing tomato
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29 Jan 16, Robyn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Should I pick the flowers off my tomato plants while the plants are still small?
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Showing 401 - 410 of 815 comments
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I just moved into a new house and have inherited a bit of a garden and some plants. I'm new to gardening but would really like to start growing my own fruit and veg. I have 3 different types of tomatoes - what look like plum, small heirloom ones?? and a more rounder, larger variety (no labels on any). They were a bot worse for wear having sprawled on the ground for a few weeks.... I have tried to save them... they have been staked/supported and dead, browning or "excess" leaves taken off. They do have some fruits on them and more flowers but after 2 weeks they don't seem getting any bigger/riper though leaves still seem to be growing. I'm in Perth and it's starting to cool here. Have I missed the season? Can I get the rest of the tomatos to grow/ripen? And how long can I expect the plants to fruit? Do I need to keep fertilising them, and how often? Also is what do I do with the plant when it does get too cold/it is done fruiting? leave it? Pull it out and start again next year? Cut it back? I know there are a lot of questions but I haven't done this before. ;-) Thanks

- Dani

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