How to Grow Tomatoes

Planting

It usually takes around 8-10 weeks before you are harvesting tomatoes after planting, so if you plant mid to late October you should be picking by Christmas (weather dependent).

Top 8 Tips for Planting Tomatoes

  1. Choosing the right site for tomatoes is crucial. A north-facing site is ideal as they grow better in a sunny location – the more sun the better tasting the tomato is! 
  2. Tomatoes don’t like strong winds and require shelter, but air circulation is important to help discourage disease. So when planting, make sure it’s not an extremely windy position.
  3. Soil preparation is imperative for growing healthy tomato plants and in turn a bountiful crop. Before planting, prepare the soil by digging in plenty of Garden Time Compost. This will add nutrients into the soil and help with moisture retention. Avoid planting tomatoes in heavy/clay or wet soils as they will not grow well – if you do have this type of soil you will need to add extra compost as well as Garden Time Tomato Fertiliser or Garden Time Tomato Mix to help with drainage. 
  4. Put your support stakes or structures in place before planting so you do not disturb the young plants root system later on. A good trick is to recycle old pantyhose and use them to tie plants to support structures – they are soft so won’t damage the stem and invite disease. 
  5. Spacing for ordinary varieties is approximately 60-70cm between plants. Grafted varieties do require more room to grow so plant them at least a metre apart. 
  6. It’s important to always have a good layer of mulch around your plants, especially in the summer months, to retain moisture, add nutrition and suppress weeds.
  7. At the end of the season it is best practice to dig up plants and remove from the property in case they are harbouring pests or diseases which could re-infect your garden next season. 
  8. Crop rotation – Growing tomatoes in the same position each year depletes the soil of specific nutrients the plant needs to grow well. It’s best to change their position in the garden next season. However, if you have a lack of space in your garden, you can overcome the problem by introducing extra organic matter such as compost to replace the depleted nutrients.

Choosing the right variety

There’s nothing like a juicy red tomato and they taste even better out of your own garden! There are numerous varieties available to suit your tastes and garden. When purchasing tomatoes, selection of the plant is important. Always choose vigorous healthy-looking young plants and look out for disease-resistant varieties like Mortgage Lifter or Tommy Toe. 

Categories of Tomatoes

  • Acid-free Roma
  • Large eating varieties Beef Steak or Money Maker
  • Miniatures Cherry tomatoes 
  • Grafted tomatoes Many varieties available
  • Heirloom For something a little different, try black, yellow or green varieties
  • Dwarf Russian Red – doesn’t require staking

Growing in pots

Soil preparation is imperative for growing healthy tomato plants and a bountiful crop. Before planting, prepare the soil by digging in plenty of Garden Time Compost; this will add nutrients into the soil and help with moisture retention. Avoid planting tomatoes in heavy/clay or wet soils as they will not grow well; If you have this type of soil you will need to add extra compost as well as Garden Time Tomato Fertiliser or Garden Time Tomato Mix to help with drainage.

It’s not as easy to stake plants in containers so consider growing shorter more compact varieties such as Roma or try bush or dwarf varieties like Russian Red.

Feeding and watering

Tomatoes require a lot of water, especially around fruiting time. The key is to be consistent and give them a deep watering three times a week – water until they puddle at the base around your mulch, as this indicates water holding capacity has been reached in the soil. 

Soil should be kept moist but not wet. Always only water the roots and avoid getting the leaves wet as this can encourage fungal diseases. 

General maintenance

Laterals are shoots that appear between the junction of a leaf and the stem. You want to create a nice strong tomato plant with a good structure so remove laterals from the stem up to at least one metre from the ground and keep removing them regularly until the plant is around 1.3-1.4 metres tall. Use sharp secateurs and ensure they are clean before you start.

Feeding schedule

For strong healthy plants and a bumper crop, feed your tomatoes every 3-4 weeks throughout the growing period with Garden Time Tomato Fertiliser.

Tomatoes require plenty of nutrition and water. It is very important to water regularly during the summer dry months. Mulching is an excellent way of conserving moisture in summer. Once the small fruit appear on your plants apply an application of Garden Time Tomato Fertiliser and water in well.

Pests and diseases

  • Tomatoes are susceptible to many pests and diseases. Soil preparation, crop rotation, good ventilation between plants, and a well-timed spraying and feeding programme are crucial. 
  • Blight (‘early’ or ‘late’) is a common fungal disease during warm wet summers. Late blight occurs later in the season as humidity and temperatures increase, causing wilting, dark spots followed by leaf drop. At the first sign of the disease during warm wet weather periods, spray regularly (every 10-14 days) with Copper Oxychloride. Remove and dispose of infected leaves and plants – keeping them out of your compost bin to ensure they do not re-infect your garden. 
  • Whitefly and green shield bugs love tomato plants. Treat them with Neem oil – it can be mixed into a spray and easily applied.
  • Diseases can enter the plant via freshly pruned areas or where the plant is rubbing against a stake – to be safe you can apply Copper spray as a deterrent. 

Regional tips

Tomato planting times depend on where you live. For most of the country the best time to plant out is around Labour Weekend (late October), but those in warmer Northern regions can plant tomatoes from early October. Tomatoes can be grown earlier under cloches, or raised in a sheltered spot in pots – just ensure you protect them from any potential frosts.

  

Gardening Terms Explained

Heirloom These are open-pollinated (non-hybrid) varieties often known for great flavour and long harvest.
Hybrid tomatoes These are a cross between two types of tomatoes that are genetically different. They are designed to have the best of both plants. 
Laterals Shoots that appear between the junction of a leaf and the stem.