How to Grow Tomato in New Zealand

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.

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.