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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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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28 Apr 16, Tania (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Robyn. Picking off the flowers while the plant is still young gives more energy to the roots and leaves. i always pick off the first two trusses to allow for more branching.
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10 Jan 16, Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)
I am growing my first tomato Beefsteak or something like that can anyone tell me why do the leaves fold in or curl inwards ?? Is this because of too much water ??
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11 Apr 16, Digger1 (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Sounds like unhappy roots. Roots need oxygen (tiny spaces between soil particles), so heavy soils (clays) or excessive watering can cause leaf curl. Both of these limit available oxygen.
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20 Jan 16, Natalie (Australia - temperate climate)
when i have an issue with tomato plant leaves I bag the leaf and take to the a garden centre, they tell me whats happening. i then go home and look on internet for a natural DIY(DO IT YOURSELF) solution. it works a treat.
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12 Jan 16, AnnonRabbit (Australia - temperate climate)
I also have this problem and was also wondering the same thing!
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06 Jan 16, Prometheus (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Peter, The conventional wisdom is that yellow tomatoes are lower in acid, or even almost acid free in some cases. So I would probably stick with the best yellow varieties you could find. There is a yellow variety of Roma tomato available that is apparently quite good, though I personally have never grown them. Lemon currant and Jubilee yellow are worth trying. There is also an excellent seed provider on ebay who I have used before for rare chilli seeds - Rahi seed bank. He only packets them in small quantities but if you contact him he may be able to arrange more bulk offerings. I mention him because I just saw that he is selling on ebay a variety called 'Italian Ice' which claims to be 'acid free.' Hope that helps, and wishing you all the best.
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Showing 251 - 260 of 601 comments
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I bought 2 young tomato plants; a cherry tomato and berry tomato. I repotted them into a bigger pot and added in Herb and Vegetable pot mix. Berry grew up very healthy and well and even started to flower. However, on the first sight of flower, the leaves started to curled downwards and later the leaves turns dry ( felt like crepe paper to the touch) and finally drying /dying from bottom branches. I spotted a young shoot growing from the lower branch and I trimmed off the the plant just above the shoot. Now the young shoot grew up well, at least for now... The same problem now happen to my cherry tomato plant, the first sight of flower, the leaves curled from the top of the plant while from the bottom up, the leaves just dry up slowly and surely. Please advise what happenned to my tomato plants as I've done all I know, watering them regularly and putting them in a sunny spot. Watching them grow and in anticipation of the fruit is a joy turned to disappointment.

- aster

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