Tomatoes await time and space
The old hands reckon it’s not safe to plant tomatoes until after Show Day (this year, October 20). In cold areas, I’d be even more circumspect and hold off until Melbourne Cup Day (November 1). With lots of plants filling the shelves in garden centres it’s hard to resist buying them now.
The reason for holding off planting tomatoes outdoors is that spring can revert to winter sending biting frosts that kill off tomatoes and other tender summer vegies. Once tomatoes are planted, keep an eye on weather forecasts and the night sky and be prepared to protect plantings if a cold spell is forecast and frost is likely.
Tomatoes do best in the warmest, sunniest and most sheltered part of the garden. A local here grows some of the earliest tomatoes in my area by growing them along the north-facing side of his brick house beside a concrete driveway. It’s a very warm microclimate and the tomatoes lap it up. If you’ve got a warm, sunny spot but there’s no garden bed, grow your tomatoes in large pots to make the most of the warm microclimate.
While warmth is the number one factor for successful tomato growing, soil, fertiliser and watering are all important ingredients for a delicious crop of tomatoes.
Tomatoes prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil that is light and well-drained but will also grow well in slightly alkaline soil. Dig in aged compost or well-rotted manure before planting or apply liquid compost to enrich the soil. In areas with heavy or poorly drained soils, grow tomatoes in raised garden beds and keep them well watered.
Most tomatoes are tall vines (known as “indeterminate”) that need plenty of space and the support of 2-3m high stakes, a tripod or a trellis. Space plants 50-60cm apart in rows at least 60cm apart. Generous spacing is important as having room around each plant makes it easier to manage and train the vines as well as accessing the harvest.
In smaller spaces or if growing in containers, select patio tomatoes. These are small, sturdy plants that don’t need large stakes and can grow without support. Other good options for containers are cascading or tumbling varieties that can be grown to spill over the edge of a pot or raised garden bed.
Cherry tomatoes are good value and ideal for beginner growers. Although they grow into large, sprawling plants that need a firm support, little goes wrong, they crop quickly and produce lots of fruit that’s great for snacking or salads but can also be frozen, bottled or made into sauce.
Growing tips: Buy seedlings or grafted plants over the weeks ahead to get your crop off to a good start. If you are looking for unusual varieties, line up for plants at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens annual tomato sale which is on today from 11am-3pm.
Plant deeply, burying the bottom few centimetres of the stem in the soil to encourage extra root formation. This not only gives plants extra support but allows them to source extra nutrients and water as they grow. Also start to train the vines upwards against their support by tying the stems to the stake using a soft, flexible tie.
Once the small yellow flowers appear, start regular fertilising and keep up regular watering.
While any fertiliser will help, specially formulated tomato foods have the right balance of nutrients to encourage strong flowering and fruiting.