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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30 Mar 16, David (Canada - Zone 2b Sub-Arctic climate)
Best Tomato seeds to use in this Zone 2b Sub-Arctic?
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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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Showing 401 - 410 of 816 comments
See comments for all plants

Tropical climate - plant tomato seeds May, transplant June and July. Your soil mix is very porous, it would dry out very quickly especially in hot Darwin. And with watering it would leach out the fertilisers. With your soil mix you probably needed to water 3-4 times a day. The wet season probably leached all the Dynamic Lifter out of the soil. Ok- potting mix has a lot of wood in it. Material like this grabs the nitrogen before the plant does. Compost would do the same if it is not completely broken down. Here is what I do, sub tropical, in the fallow season Nov to April, I dig/turn my soil over adding grass clippings, shrub trimming etc mulched with the mower. With normal rain it will keep this moist and help break down the grass etc. You can add a little D Lifter. By late April /early May after the wet season you should have some good friable soil (depends what the original soil was like). You could add some more compost if you like and maybe manures, about 3-4 (?)

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