Tomato — How to Grow Tomato in Australia

☀️ Sun

Full Sun

💧 Water

Medium

↔ Spacing

60cm apart

↕ Height

Up to 1.5m

📅 Harvest

70 days

Growing Guide

Tomatoes thrive when planted into warm soil, so timing is everything in Australian gardens. In subtropical regions, plant from August through to February, avoiding the peak of wet season humidity. In temperate and Mediterranean climates, begin planting in spring from September onwards once overnight temperatures stay reliably above 10°C. Cool temperate gardeners should wait until October or November and choose shorter-season varieties.

Soil preparation is critical. Dig in generous amounts of compost and aged manure two to three weeks before planting. Aim for a slightly acidic pH of 6.0–6.8. Plant seedlings deeply, burying the stem up to the lowest set of leaves to encourage a strong root system.

Water consistently and deeply, aiming for the base of the plant rather than foliage to reduce disease risk. Allow the top few centimetres of soil to dry slightly between waterings — inconsistent moisture causes blossom end rot and fruit splitting. Apply a thick mulch layer of sugar cane or pea straw to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Feed fortnightly with a liquid tomato fertiliser once flowers appear. Install sturdy stakes or tomato cages at planting time to support developing plants.

Harvest when fruit is fully coloured and yields gently to pressure. Pick regularly to encourage continued production and prevent overloading branches.

🤝 Good Companions

Basil is the classic tomato companion repelling aphids and whitefly while enhancing flavour and marigolds deter nematodes and other soil pests effectively. Borage attracts beneficial pollinators and is believed to improve tomato vigour while garlic planted at the base helps repel a range of common insect pests.

❌ Avoid Planting With

Avoid planting tomatoes near fennel which releases compounds that inhibit tomato growth and reduce yields significantly. Members of the same Solanaceae family — including capsicum eggplant and potatoes — should not be grown directly alongside tomatoes as they share common pests and diseases increasing the risk of rapid spread.

🐛 Pests & Diseases

In Australian gardens, tomatoes face pressure from caterpillars including the tomato grub (Helicoverpa armigera), whitefly, spider mites, and aphids, particularly during warm, dry periods. Fungal diseases such as early blight, septoria leaf spot, and powdery mildew are common in humid subtropical conditions or when foliage remains wet. Manage pests organically using neem oil sprays, pyrethrum, and encouraging beneficial insects; improve airflow by pruning and avoid overhead watering to reduce fungal disease incidence.

🌱 Fertilising

Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser at planting time, then switch to a high-potassium liquid tomato food fortnightly once flowers begin forming to support fruit development. Seasol and PowerFeed combined, or dedicated tomato fertilisers such as Yates Thrive Tomato, are excellent choices well-suited to Australian garden conditions.

✂️ Pruning & Training

Pinch out lateral shoots (suckers) that develop in the crotch between the main stem and branches on indeterminate varieties to direct energy into fruit production and improve airflow. Train the main stem up a stake or trellis, removing the growing tip once the plant reaches the top of its support or as the season draws to a close to encourage remaining fruit to ripen.

🔬 Propagation

Tomatoes are most commonly grown from seed, sown into trays of quality seed-raising mix six to eight weeks before the intended planting date, then transplanted outdoors once seedlings reach 10–15 cm tall and conditions are warm enough. Alternatively, healthy stems can be struck as cuttings placed in water or moist propagating mix, a handy method for extending the season or duplicating a particularly productive or heritage plant.

🗓 When to Plant

Spring Summer

🌾 Harvest

Summer Autumn

🌏 Australian Climates

Subtropical Temperate Cool Temperate Mediterranean

More Vegetables

Lettuce → Broad Bean → Spinach → Pumpkin → Garlic → Zucchini →