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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18 May 12, Jim (Australia - temperate climate)
Am keen to further explore the issue of stressing the plant to bring on flowers. Can you stress the plant to a point of no return and have the whole plant die. Any other side effects
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17 May 12, Shaun (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Alternatively, you could ditch all the chemical fertilisers and just dig some wilted comfrey leaves into your soil and the tomatoes will sing an organic tune all the way to your table. That's all I use and I'm still harvesting now, 8 months after the first flush of fruit appeared.
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27 Jan 11, Maria (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i have beautiful tomatoe plants growing with no tomatoes on them. In the early stages, they had a number of flowers on them but they have dissapeared. What have I done wrong?
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25 Jan 11, Colin (Australia - temperate climate)
I have noticed two changes in my tomato crop this year. 1. The fruit is very slow to ripen, and 2. The birds attack the fruit as soon as it shows some colour. I've never had birds eat my tomatoes before. Has anyone else noticed this?
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04 Apr 11, Sarah (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
April has started now and I"ve just picked one ripe fruit. Am I waiting for nothing? Will they ever ripen. I've got 100's of green tomatoes. I also noticed one of my plants is still flowering.
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13 Feb 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
my tomatos ripened very slowly too, but they eventually got there. I only just started harvesting them a week ago. I have not had problems with birds.
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03 Feb 11, Sam (Australia - temperate climate)
I had the same issue issue last year and a friend suggested hanging yellow and red christmas baubles on the vines before it starts fruiting. Birds will go for these first without success and, hopefully, leave your ripening tomatos alone. That's my plan for this year, anyway.
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04 Feb 11, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I'll try that on my plum trees next year!
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14 Jan 11, kate (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I am no expert, but I read somewhere that you can put banana skin under the mulch or in the soil and the potassium helps with flower production. I tried this and also made a tea of banana skins which I apply (diluted) weekly. It seems to work! There are lots of flowers and fruit even though we have had a very slow start to summer here.
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08 Jan 11, Lou (Australia - temperate climate)
Someone told me they know of a tomato plant that's been growing fruit for 10 years.......
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We often have issues like this in life. Tactful diplomacy is required. Tomatoes need 'consistent' water. this means that if they are continuously wet, rather than damp, they will not do well. l If they are 'wet then dry' they will suffer from Blossom End Rot due to irregular nutrient uptake and if they are too dry they will be slow to develop and often flower while quite small so that the plant can finish its life cycle before it dies. Brown and shrivelled leaves along with blotchy fruit suggests they plants are affected by soil born viruses. Soggy, wet soil will exacerbate this. Moist good draining soil is ideal for optimum growth and yield. Crop rotation and planting virus resistant varieties is also a MUST to control or reduce the effect of soil borne diseases. Slaters are normally only 'decomposers' and would generally only attack plants that are very stressed. Mushroom compost is already 'spent' and while can build up the soil it also increases the salinity. Trust this helps.

- Ken

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