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Tomatoes are an iconic red fruit belonging to the nightshade family. They’re a household staple, commonly used in dishes like pasta marinara, Caprese salad, salsa, bruschetta, soups and much more. They’re prized for their versatility, rich flavour, and nutritional value, containing antioxidants, as well as vitamins A and C.
They can be grown both indoors and outdoors; if you have limited outdoor space or live in a colder climate, you can grow tomatoes in pots indoors, provided they get enough sun. Tomatoes also thrive in gardens, due to their adaptability to different climates and soil types, making them a popular with gardeners.
Tomato varieties fall into two main categories: determinate and indeterminate. Choosing between determinate and indeterminate types depends on factors like your gardening goals and available space.
Determinate tomatoes have a compact, bushy growth, reaching anywhere from 50cm to 1m in height. They produce their fruit within a concentrated period of time. If you like to cook in large quantities (for example, if you enjoy making large batches of sauce), this type of tomato might be the best choice for you.
Determinate tomatoes have a more predictable harvest and typically require less care than indeterminate tomatoes. They are annual plants, so once they’re finished fruiting, they’ll die off and will need to be replaced the following season. A popular example of determinate tomatoes is the classic roma tomato. They’re great for making sauces, pastes, preserves and canning due to their low moisture content and concentrated fruiting period.
Indeterminate tomatoes, often known as vine tomatoes, continue growing and fruiting throughout the season and provide a continuous harvest. This makes them ideal for people who love to include tomatoes in their weekly diet – salads, snacking, sandwiches and breakfasts, for example.
Indeterminate tomatoes need good staking support to spread their vines, which can grow anywhere from 1.3m to 3m tall. Grosse Lisse is a popular indeterminate Australian tomato that is known for its adaptability and reliability. It’s ideal for limited spaces, producing medium to large, flavourful tomatoes, perfect for use with burgers, salads, and other meals. These hardy plants are known for being resilient and disease-resistant, making them loved by many Aussie gardeners.
Tomatoes thrive in full sun and love at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. The sunniest spot in your garden is generally in the north, northeast or northwest; this will give you the best results for a large crop, due to the consistent sunlight exposure. Tomatoes can get sunburnt, however. Adding a shade cloth for protection on extremely hot days will help protect them.
The soil needs to be free-draining and nutrient-rich with a slightly neutral to acidic pH (around 6.0 to 7.0). You can help your soil along by adding lots of organic matter into it, like compost or well-rotted manure to enhance soil fertility. Good soil structure will promote healthy root development, water retention and nutrient absorption, all of which are important for growing delicious and healthy tomatoes.
It's best practice to plant your tomatoes into soil that hasn't grown a crop from the same plant family (like potatoes, eggplants, or capsicums), as this can increase the chance of spreading soilborne diseases. Young tomato plants enjoy consistent moisture when establishing, but once they begin to set fruit you can allow the soil to get dry in between waterings. Make sure you’re not taking your plants from one soil extreme to the other (dust-dry to muddy soil, for example), as this can cause the water to rush into the fruits where they’ll start to split. Be consistent: water in the mornings and don’t overdo it.
Learn how to plant tomatoes.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
