How to grow Tomato in Australia
Grow in full sun in rich, well drained soil, planting deep so roots form along the buried stem. Water deeply and consistently, keeping moisture even to prevent splitting and blossom end rot, and water the soil not the leaves.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 10 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 60 cm
- Time to harvest: 85 days
- Time to germinate: 10 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 6.8
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | February to April, August and September | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | February to April, September | Coastal follows SEQ. Hinterland frost pockets: wait until mid September for spring sowing. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | July to September | Sow indoors Jul to Aug; transplant Sept to Oct after last frost; later than SEQ baseline. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Sow seed indoors Aug to Sep. Plant out from mid-Oct (inner city and bayside) and from Cup Day (first Tue of Nov) for most suburbs, once soil passes 16°C. Hills wait until late Nov. |
| Adelaide & SA | August to November | Sow Aug to Sep undercover, transplant from mid Oct once frost has passed and soil hits 16C. Oct to Nov sowings still crop well on the plains. |
| Perth & WA | July to September | Seed indoors Jul to Sep, plant out from mid Sep on the plain, Oct in the Hills. Second window: advanced seedlings late Feb on the frost free plain, most reliable on the Coastal Strip. |
| Tasmania | September and October | Start seed indoors with warmth in September, then plant out after the last frost in early October. Choose early types like Stupice or Tommy Toe; a greenhouse lifts yields. |
| Canberra & ACT | October and November | Start seed indoors or under cover in October, then plant out after the last frost in early November. Direct sowing before November is too risky. |
| North Queensland | April to September | Dry season window Apr to Sep (Apr to May is bridge month). Heat-tolerant varieties essential. Avoid wet season. |
| Darwin & Top End | April to July | Dry season only. Sow Apr to Jul so fruit sets before the build up. Transplant seedlings Jun to Jul. Wet season sowings fail. |
Varieties
- Tommy Toe
- Grosse Lisse
- Roma (Paste)
- Black Russian
- Apollo Improved
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Ripe when fully coloured for the variety and giving slightly to a gentle squeeze. Twist at the stem joint or snip the stalk; plants keep ripening fruit over weeks.
Storage
Bench at room temperature, never fridge. Use within 5 days. Freeze roasted for sauces.