Leslie Massey
Melbourne's unpredictable weather can make growing tomatoes a tricky business. The last thing you want is for your plants to be wiped out by frost, so it's important to choose the right time to plant your tomatoes. The traditional time to plant is Melbourne Cup Day, but some sources suggest that this could be too late to get the longest possible growing season. Instead, late September or early October might be better, as this will give your tomatoes a longer season to grow.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Best time to plant | Late September to October, before Melbourne Cup Day |
| Soil preparation | Potassium, rock dust, potash, blood and bone, compost, manure, liquid fertiliser, seaweed-based liquid treatment |
| Spacing | 30-40 cm apart with basil seedlings in a circular framework |
| Sunlight | 8 hours a day in an open, sunny spot |
| Seedling preparation | Start in late August or early September |
| Transplanting | Avoid if temperatures are too high or low; ideal if day temperatures are in the mid-20s and nights are around 15 degrees Celsius |
| Tomato varieties | Tommy Toes, Camp Joy, Grosse Lisse, Nonno's Italian Pear, Jaune Flame, Green Zebra, Tigerella, Sweet F1 Hybrid, Black Krim, Yellow Boy, Baby Red Pear |
| Common issues | Frost, overcrowding, overwatering, pests |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right variety
The single most important factor when growing tomatoes is the choice of variety. There are a huge number of tomato varieties available to backyard gardeners in Melbourne, with hundreds of different types, shapes, and sizes available from various online seed stores.
When choosing a variety, it is important to consider the purpose of your tomatoes. For example, if you want to add richness to salads, Tommy Toes have a beautiful flavour and are a very reliable tomato. For a kaleidoscope of colour, orange jaune flame tomatoes have a lovely flavour, and green zebra tomatoes have beautiful markings and a zesty flavour. If you're making pasta sauces, relishes, and pizza bases, Nonno's Italian pear is always reliable, as is periforme abruzzese, known as "granny's throwing tomato". It has thin skin and is quite fleshy with minimal seeds, so it's perfect for making a delicious passata.
Smaller cherry-type tomatoes can be a good place to start for beginners as they mature quickly and will produce fruit throughout the season. Most cherry tomatoes can be grown in pots. Camp Joy is a sweet-tasting cherry tomato that is slightly behind the Tommy Toe in production and disease resistance. Its sweeter taste makes up for its lower disease resistance.
If you want to grow highly productive, tasty, and nutrient-dense tomatoes, choose varieties that exhibit those qualities. Growing a mixture of different-coloured fruit is a great idea, as it will supply your family with a broader range of health benefits, tastes, and experiences. A range of colours, sizes, and shapes also looks great mixed together in a salad.
It's important to note that birds and other pests tend to associate ripe fruit with red colours, so consider this when choosing your tomato varieties. Additionally, different microclimates in different areas of Melbourne can affect the growth of your tomatoes, so it's a good idea to take this into account when choosing your varieties.
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When to plant
The best time to plant tomatoes in Melbourne is late September or early October, to give them the longest possible growing season. Traditionally, Melburnians plant their tomatoes on Melbourne Cup Day, which is the first Tuesday in November. However, this may cause you to miss out on a month or more of the harvest.
If you are planting seedlings, aim for around AFL Grand Final weekend in late September or early October. You can also plant in August, but no earlier, and some sources suggest waiting until October. If you plant after early December, you won't pick much fruit before winter.
Tomatoes are annuals, which means they only live for a single season. All tomato plants die during autumn or early winter in Melbourne, so you need to plan your growing season carefully.
Spring is the best time to start preparing your soil for a flourishing tomato garden. You can begin growing your seeds in late August or early September, but you need to keep them warm.
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Preparing the soil
The ideal time to plant tomatoes in Melbourne is late September or October, to give them the longest possible growing season. Traditionally, Melburnians plant their tomatoes on Melbourne Cup Day, which is the first Tuesday in November. However, this may cause you to miss out on a month or more of the harvest.
When preparing the soil, ensure it is moist and well-drained. Tomatoes are heavy feeders, so add lots of potassium, rock dust, potash, and blood and bone. Compost, manure, and liquid fertiliser will also help keep the soil rich. You can also add a decent amount of compost and pelletised chook poo.
Make sure to space the tomatoes 30-40cm apart, with basil seedlings in a circular framework around their bases. The soil should not be left to dry out—a weekly watering at the base of the plant will promote deep root growth. Be careful not to overwater, as tomatoes don't like soggy soil. Mulching around the plants will help the soil retain water and suppress weeds.
Apply a seaweed-based liquid treatment when you plant your tomatoes and again two weeks later to promote root growth. Only apply a liquid fertiliser formulated for fruit growth when the plant begins to flower.
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Staking and spacing
Staking is required as your tomato plants grow tall. It is best to do this early on when the root zones are smaller and easier to work with. Use soft twine when attaching the limbs to the trellis and if possible, pinch the bi-lateral growths tip to help form a stronger plant.
The spacing of your tomato plants depends on the variety's growth habit and size. Space the tomatoes 30-40cm apart, with more space if necessary in case some don't take. You can scatter basil seedlings in a circular framework with a radius of approximately 20cm around their bases. Basil is a popular companion plant for tomatoes. Make sure to plant your seedlings where broad beans or peas previously grew, to give them a fix of much-needed nitrogen. If not, integrate a decent amount of compost and pelletised chook poo.
Tomatoes require good care in the backyard to ripen. The soil around your tomatoes shouldn’t be left to dry. A weekly water to the base of the plant should be enough and will promote deep root growth. Check visually that the soil is moist or use a water meter. Take care not to overwater – tomatoes don’t like soggy soil. Mulching around your plants will help the soil retain water and will suppress weeds. Apply a seaweed-based liquid treatment when you plant your tomatoes and 2 weeks later to promote root growth.
The ideal time to plant tomatoes in Melbourne is late September or October, to give them the longest possible growing season. In Melbourne, planting your tomatoes after early December means that you won’t pick much fruit before winter.
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Watering and fertilising
Watering Tomatoes:
- Soil Moisture: Maintain moist soil around your tomato plants. Regularly check the soil moisture levels, either visually or using a water meter, to ensure it doesn't dry out.
- Watering Frequency: Provide a weekly deep watering to the base of the plant. This encourages deep root growth, promoting a stronger plant.
- Avoid Overwatering: While tomatoes need moist soil, be careful not to overwater them. Tomatoes do not thrive in soggy soil conditions.
- Mulching: Apply mulch around your tomato plants to retain moisture in the soil and suppress weed growth.
- Seaweed Treatment: When initially planting your tomatoes and two weeks later, apply a seaweed-based liquid treatment to promote healthy root development.
Fertilising Tomatoes:
- Soil Preparation: Before planting, prepare the soil by adding nutrients like potassium, rock dust, potash, and blood and bone meal. This provides a rich and nourishing environment for your tomato plants.
- Compost and Manure: Incorporate compost and manure into the soil to enhance its fertility and drainage.
- Liquid Fertiliser: Apply a liquid fertiliser formulated for fruit-bearing plants when the tomato plant begins to flower. This will encourage the production of abundant and flavoursome fruit.
- Companion Planting: Consider planting basil alongside your tomatoes. Basil is known to be a good companion plant for tomatoes, enhancing their growth and flavour.
By following these watering and fertilising guidelines, you'll create optimal conditions for your tomato plants to thrive and produce a bountiful harvest. Remember to adjust your watering frequency as needed, depending on weather conditions and the moisture levels in the soil.
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Frequently asked questions
The traditional time to plant tomatoes in Melbourne is on Cup Day (the first Tuesday in November). However, some sources suggest that you can get a longer growing season by planting them in late September or October.
There are hundreds of varieties of tomatoes available to backyard gardeners in Melbourne. Smaller cherry tomatoes are a good choice because they mature quickly and will produce fruit throughout the season. Tommy Toes are a reliable choice with a beautiful flavour. If you want to add colour to your tomato collection, orange Jaune Flame and green Zebra tomatoes have a lovely flavour.
Tomatoes require lots of sunlight, so plant them in an open, sunny spot where they'll get at least 8 hours of sunlight a day. Space your plants 30-40cm apart to prevent overcrowding and promote airflow. Water your plants weekly, ensuring the soil remains moist but not soggy. You can mulch around your plants to help the soil retain water and suppress weeds. Apply a liquid fertiliser when your plant begins to flower to encourage fruit growth.
