Tomato

Growing Guide

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Where to plant

Full sun. Well drained sandy soil.

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Sow depth

1.5mm

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Space between seeds / seedlings

45-60cm

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Row space

45-60cm

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Size of pot needed (width / depth)

200-300cm2

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Seedling Sow Depth

3cm

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Best practice

Transplant

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Germination (days)

7-14

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Maturity (days)

60-85

How to Grow

From seed

Choose sunny spot in the garden with well-drained soil and enrich with fertilizer.

Add liquid lime & dolomite to help sweeten the soil and prevent blossom.

Sow seeds lightly cover seed raising mix and water well.

Put stakes in the ground for support.

Follow seedling instructions.

From seedling

Plant seedlings so that the bottom few centimetres of tomato stems are covered with soil.

Water in well.

As larger tomatoes grow, tie them to the stakes with a plant tie, ribbon, or piece of old hosiery.

In a pot

Choose a pot at least 40cm wide and deep and position in full fun.

Potted planted dry out quicker than in-ground plants, so it is important to keep potted plants watered.

Follow seed->seedling->harvest guide.

Ready to harvest

Harvest tomatoes when the fruit is plump and red (or yellow, orange of purple depending on the variety)

Collect seed

Collect tomato seeds at the end of the season when the fruit is ripe and ready.

Some gardeners simply cut open the tomato and squeeze the pulp onto a plate or other container.

The pulp needs to dry and then you can separate out the seeds.

Another method is to rinse off the pulp in a colander or screen.

Still another method of saving seeds from tomatoes requires the pulp to be put in a glass jar filled with water.

You can shake it and let it soak for five days.

Skim off the foamy fermented pulp and the seeds will be at the bottom of the jar.

The most important part of the process of harvesting tomato seeds is the drying.

If the seeds aren’t properly dried, they will mold and then all your work will be fruitless.

Spread the seed out on paper towels to absorb any moisture in a warm dry location.

Store the seeds until spring in a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Seeds need to be stored where it is dark to prevent stimulating their photoreceptors, which tell them when it is time to germinate.

They may lose vigor or fail to sprout if they are exposed to light.

When to Grow

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Zone 1 - Cool

September , October , November

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Zone 2 - Temperate

August , September , October , November , December

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Zone 3 - Subtropical

January , February , March , April , May , June , July , August , September , October , November , December

Companion Planting

Tips for Care

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Tall tomatoes need support (trellises, fences to grow up) so put these in when sowing seed or seedlings so as not to disturb the plant later.

As the tomato grows, tie up the main stems to the trellis to hold up the plant.
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Mulch around the base of the plant as it grows to keep tomatoes fresh and healthy, and to retain moisture in the soil.
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When buying tomato seeds, choose those that are disease resistant.
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Certain Tomato Diseases are carried in the soil, so choose a different spot each year
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Put a banana peel in a mason jar of water for a day or two, then pour the mixture on the base of each tomato plant.

This creates new tomato blossoms! Potassium is great for tomato plants.

Pests & Problems


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