Crop Rotation Group
Solanaceae (Potato and tomato family)
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Soil
Rich soil with plenty of compost added.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
No.
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Feeding
Weekly liquid feed or seaweed drench from mid summer onwards.
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Companions
-
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Spacing
Single Plants: 1' 7" (50cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 1' 5" (45cm) with 1' 11" (60cm) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Start seedlings indoors or start with purchased plants. Set out after the last frost has passed, when the soil is warm and settled.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Bushy determinate plants can be tied to stakes, but long-bearing indeterminate varieties need a sturdy cage or trellis.
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Harvesting
Pick regularly as soon as the fruits turn color but are still firm. Store at room temperature.
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Troubleshooting
Watch for leaf-eating tomato hornworms, and pick them off. Dark patches on the bottom of fruits are a nutritional disorder known as blossom end rot. This is best prevented by growing tomatoes in well-prepared soil with constant light moisture. Yellow leaves may indicate a lack of magnesium, so apply a liquid feed.
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