Roma

Tips for success

• Select a tomato variety based on your taste and cooking preferences.
• Choose a sunny spot and prepare your soil with organic matter like compost and sheep pellets.
• Add a layer of tomato mix to plant into. Depending on your region tomato planting starts from September in New Zealand, with Labour weekend traditional tomato planting time.
• Feed your tomatoes every four weeks to replenish nutrients.
• Water your tomatoes deeply and regularly.
• As your tomatoes grow, remove the laterals to encourage bigger and better fruit. Laterals are the shoots that grow out from the side of the stem.
• To reduce the chance of blight, avoid watering plant foliage.
• Birds love juicy tomatoes – put up netting to protect yours with netting.

Planting

The best times to plant are early in the morning or late in the day, so the plants aren’t exposed to the hot sun straight away.

Directions for planting in garden beds:

• Place stakes in the soil for each tomato plant before planting to provide support and avoid damaging the roots later on.
• Before planting your tomato plants, soak in a bucket of Seaweed tonic and allow to drain. This will help prevent transplant shock.
• Dig a hole, approximately twice the depth and width of the root ball of your plant.
• Gently loosen the root ball of your plant and position in the centre of the hole.
• Press soil gently around the base of the plant.
• Tie the tomato plant to the stake.
• Water your plant well and continue to water regularly.

Directions for planting in pots and containers:

• Before planting your tomato plants, soak in a bucket of Seaweed plant tonic and allow to drain. This will help prevent transplant shock.
• Gently loosen the root ball of your plant and position the plant in the centre of the container.
• Fill your container with soil up to 3cm from the top.
• Tap the container gently on the ground to settle the mix.
• Press soil gently around the base of the plant.
• Water your plant well.