When to Plant
In Victoria, late September to early October is the ideal time to plant tomato seedlings. This allows them to settle in before the hot summer days arrive. The key to successful planting is ensuring the soil is warm enough. Tomatoes prefer soil temperatures of around 15-20°C to promote healthy root development. If the soil is still cool, consider using black plastic or mulch to warm it up before planting.
Choosing Varieties
Whether you love cherry tomatoes for snacking or larger varieties like Beefsteak for sandwiches, there’s a tomato for every garden or balcony!
The Mushroom Shed have over 30 varieties of all shapes and colours. Including some cuties like sweetie, tommy toe, green zebra & snow white.
The Mushroom Shed Seedlings
Visit The Mushroom shed at Coburg Farmers Market & Alphington Farmers Market this weekend.
Planting Tips
- Location: Plant your tomatoes in a sunny spot with at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily.
- Soil: Use rich, well-drained soil with organic compost mixed in to give your plants the nutrients they need.
- Soil Temperature: Wait until the soil reaches at least 15°C before planting, as colder soil can stunt growth and lead to poor fruit development.
- Spacing: Space plants about 50-60 cm apart to allow airflow, reducing the risk of disease.
- Watering: Water regularly at the base of the plant, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Tomato Seedlings ready to plant
Caring for Your Tomatoes
Once planted, stake your tomatoes early to support their growth, prune lower leaves to prevent disease, and use mulch to retain moisture. With proper care, you can look forward to a bumper crop of juicy tomatoes by summer.
Just give me the fruit!
If you're not a gardening but still want to enjoy fresh tasty tomatoes, you'll start seeing a range of tomatoes varieties pop up at the market.
Londsdale Tomatoes have your tomatoes covered all year-round thanks to their greenhouse and hydroponic systems. They have the most beautiful heirloom varieties.
Tomatoes from Lonsdale Tomatoes
Oz Fresh & Herbs put on the best tomato spread you have seen, cherry tomatoes of every colour or shape that you could imagine.
Just some of the cherry tomatoes from Oz Fresh & Herbs