Tomato

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Tomato

Timing, training, watering and pest control are crucial for growing a good crop of tomatoes.

When to plant/sow in zone:
Requirements: Full sun; protection from strong winds; protection from extreme heat and frost
Soil: Well-drained soil enriched with compost and/or well-rotted manure or organic pellets.
How to start: SEED: Sow direct in the ground or in punnets, into seed-raising mix. Sow 5mm deep, 50cm apart, in rows 70cm apart. Keep moist. Germinates in 7-10 days. SEEDLING: Plant in the ground or into a 30-40cm diameter pot when seedlings are 5-10cm+ tall. If planting in the ground, space them 50cm apart, in rows 70cm apart. Water in and mulch with straw. To encourage a more stable plant, bury seedlings just past the first set of leaves as roots will form at this point.
How to grow: Keep moist and mulched with straw. Irregular watering can cause blossom end rot to develop. Apply seaweed solution or liquid fertiliser fortnightly. Apply organic fertiliser pellets monthly.
When to harvest: Start harvesting in 8-9 weeks. Pick ripe fruit. In cool and temperate areas, towards the end of the season, pick when green and allow to ripen on the windowsill.
Troubleshooting: Aphids; Queensland fruit fly; cutworms; white fly; possums; birds; rats; wilt; blossom-end rot; bacterial leaf spot; powdery mildew

Wondering what to plant when?

Use our planner to create a planting calendar for your climate zone
View Planting Guide

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