How to Grow Tomato in New Zealand

Updated June 2026

In Auckland sow from mid August under cover and plant out once the soil warms in October. Stake or cage, mulch deep and feed fortnightly once flowering. Watch for tomato/potato psyllid from late spring and cover plants with fine mesh if needed.

What it looks like as it grows

When to plant tomato in New Zealand

Timing is everything in New Zealand, where the warm north and the cooler south are weeks apart. Sow or plant in these months for your region:

Best tomato varieties for NZ

• Sweet 100, Reliable cherry tomato, long trusses of sweet fruit, heavy cropper. (Kings Seeds, Egmont Seeds)
• Money Maker, Classic NZ glasshouse and outdoor standard, smooth medium round fruit. (Egmont Seeds, Mr Fothergill's NZ)
• Russian Red, Popular open-pollinated outdoor variety, large flavoursome fruit. (Kings Seeds, Egmont Seeds)
• Roma, Egg-shaped paste tomato, meaty and low-seed, great for sauce. (Kings Seeds, Egmont Seeds, Mitre 10)

How to grow tomato

• Space plants about 60cm apart.
• Sow seed around 1cm deep.
• Position: full sun.
• Ready to harvest in roughly 85 days.
• Seeds germinate in about 10 days.

Companion planting

Grow tomato near: Basil, Carrot, Marigold, Parsley, Nasturtium, Borage, Chives.

Pests and problems

Watch for: Tomato/potato psyllid, Whitefly, Aphids, Tomato fruitworm. See our NZ pest and disease guide for organic control.

When it goes wrong

The most common ways tomato trips people up, and what to change next time:

Leaves curling but the plant looks healthy

Often just heat or heavy pruning stress, and the plant usually grows out of it. If leaves also yellow and the plant is stunted, suspect a virus and pull it out so it cannot spread.

Black sunken patch on the bottom of the fruit

Blossom end rot, caused by uneven watering rather than disease. Water deeply and consistently, mulch to hold moisture, and avoid letting pots dry right out.

Flowers drop without setting fruit

Usually temperature: nights below 10C or days above 30C stop fruit setting. Wait for steadier weather and tap the flowers at midday to help pollination.

Leaves yellowing from the bottom up

Hungry plant or early blight. Feed fortnightly once flowering, water at the base not the leaves, and remove the lowest affected leaves.

Cracked fruit

Cracking follows a big drink after a dry spell. Keep water even and pick a touch early in wet weather.