Advice WTB Growing Tomatoes

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#279820 11-Nov-2020 10:49

Hi.

I am told that planting Tomatoes should be done prior to Labour Day, but I missed that boat. I am in Auckland, so I am unsure how significant the effect of region has on that timing.

I am keen to get some Beef Steak and maybe another really nice eating variety growing, and if I missed the Labour Day deadline, wonder if instead of seeds, I go to Bunnings and pick up some plants instead?

In terms of sucessful growing, last time I grew, I had an issue with bugs eating my fruit, and some rotting as well, I am wondering if I cover them in a fine mesh, if that will help and prevent bugs, and still allow sunshine to get to them?

Also, in terms of size of planter box or pot, is there a "good" size to plant them in ? (I don't have much of a garden and it doesn't get as much sun there as hedges block some. I understand big strong roots has a direct impact on quality and size of fruit?

Cheers for any tips.

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#2601809 11-Nov-2020 13:42

If you have the option I'd look at Kings Plant Barn as I've always had excellent results with their products.

As you're late starting you might want to consider a grafted plant which us usually a lot more robust.

Good soil/drainage is important. I took a bit more time preparing my beds this year and my plants are growing like crazy.

For bugs etc I'd recommend putting some marigold plants nearby.

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#2601921 11-Nov-2020 16:04

I have some spare cherry tomatoe seedlings if you want them we have some red ones and purple ones.

When i went to buy my plants everyone beat me to it and most of the seeds were gone too, we then got some from the new world promotion.

These have just been transplanted in a bigger container and hopefully will be ready to put in the ground in a few weeks.

What I have been told is to put fish heads under the plant and it will grow better, I did this a couple of weekends ago when prepping the bed, so far no fishy smell or cats digging them up :-)

Also dont water the leaves only the roots otherwise you can blight / rot / scale and netting will be good to stop birds but you still need the insects to pollinate the flowers as remember tomatoes are a fruit so they come from flowers.

John

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#2601932 11-Nov-2020 16:15

You typically plant seedlings Labour weekend in the North Island. Seed you would need to plant in September some time, I would think.

November definitely isn't too late in Auckland. We used to grow tomatoes on the BoP Coast until May in the 1980s.

I agree with the suggestion to use grafted seedlings. Much more productive.

Mike

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#2601940 11-Nov-2020 16:28

A 'tomato house' covered in insect mesh is very good, keeps out the Tomato Potato Psyllid which is totally devastating if you have in your area. Just watch no caterpillars find there way in, last year I had a caterpillar breakout in my mesh-house and there were no predators (esp paper wasps) to keep them under control

Unfortunately all my tomatoes seedlings have succumbed to early blight this year. A product I suspect of planting year after year in the same place, coupled with the recent rain. I'll have to pick up some grafted ones and plant them somewhere else in the garden.

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#2601952 11-Nov-2020 16:44

Seedlings would give you a good head start. A clear mesh might be good and not reduce light in too much. I grow in 100L containers, semi hydroponic, and find I need to top up the water at least weekly sometimes twice a week. You do tend to need various types of insecticides and fungicides to let them grow well.

By the time these are ready tomatoes will be cheap in the supermarket, if they can provide the type you want. You grow them for the fun and hobby not to save money.

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#2601955 11-Nov-2020 16:51

timmmay:

You do tend to need various types of insecticides and fungicides to let them grow well.

never used any in auckland, just a tomato specific fertilizer, some seasol and they were good to go.

Trim back the laterals, keep the flowers, and weave them over the wires back and forth and they would be about 10m tall if standing up.

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#2601958 11-Nov-2020 16:54

Maybe greenhouse growing is different, insects love the greenhouse and you get more fungus type stuff growing.

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#2601979 11-Nov-2020 17:27

When you plant the seedlings, don’t plant them to their potted soil line. Plant them deeper so the soil now goes half way up the small plant. This makes for stronger roots as they will sprout from where it’s under the soil and give them a strong start. Marigolds as suggested nearby is good.

Consider tomatoes are cheap when your home grown ones are ripe, so I usually plant the cherry varieties which are always expensive. Nice to get the coloured ones to add to salads.

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#2602127 11-Nov-2020 18:52

timmmay: Maybe greenhouse growing is different, insects love the greenhouse and you get more fungus type stuff growing.

never had that problem, you must be doing something wrong.

Is it well ventilated? kept too moist?

networkn

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#2602130 11-Nov-2020 18:58

So how big of a container should I put 1 or 2 plants into? How deep I guess is the question. Will go to bunnings tomorrow to buy some.

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#2602140 11-Nov-2020 19:26

One plant per container, they get pretty big. A tomato cage is also a good idea rather than a stick so they are supported all around as they grow. Plastic ones from warehouse are ok. They are like a very tall cone of plastic sticks. If the plants get too cluttered and dense that’s when you get fungal problems.

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Eva888

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#2602141 11-Nov-2020 19:28

40 to 50 cm deep pots so the roots can go deep.

timmmay

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#2602259 11-Nov-2020 20:59

Jase2985:

timmmay: Maybe greenhouse growing is different, insects love the greenhouse and you get more fungus type stuff growing.

never had that problem, you must be doing something wrong.

Is it well ventilated? kept too moist?

Doors at each end of the greenhouse with mesh, plus a few small windows, but no direct breeze past where I grow tomatoes in the corner. Not moist as concrete floor, the growing boxes all have plastic over the soil that keeps the moisture in.

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#2602616 12-Nov-2020 12:58

thanks for the advice. Bunnings next to me had grafted healthy looking BeefSteaks for $1 each. Grabed a decent sized couple of planter pots and some all singing all dancing potting mix that has 6 months of fert, and water retention stuff in it, and some marigolds, and should hopefully be all sorted.

I'll post photos on Saturday when I have them planted.

They are about 20-30cm high already, should I stake them now?

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#2602641 12-Nov-2020 13:22

At 30cm I tie them, so yes.

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