Which tomato should I plant?

Growing fresh tomatoes is easy to do in any size garden. Find out which types of tomatoes you can plant and how to grow them with these tips from Bunnings.

Growing fresh tomatoes is easy to do in any size garden. Whether you grow them in pots, a raised garden bed or your veggie patch, all you need is your favourite seedlings, well-prepared soil and a protected area with plenty of sun. But which tomato is right for you? We’ll take you through the different types of tomatoes you can grow and where they grow best.

Tomatoes to grow in pots

Most of the popular tomato varieties do grow well in pots. Apart from being a good option for growing in smaller outdoor spaces, the great thing about pots is you can move them around to find the best warm, sunny position.

Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes also grow well in pots, particularly in humid areas, and they look great cascading down from hanging baskets. You can trail cherry tomatoes along a fence or the edge of a raised garden bed.

Patio Prize
This compact bushing tomato plant grows up to 50cm tall. Growing well in full sun, with moderate watering, these are strong and vigorous tomatoes that produce high yields of medium-sized, juicy fruit around 2–4cm.

Tomatoes to grow in garden beds

If you plan to grow tomatoes in a veggie patch or raised garden bed, there are all sorts of interesting varieties to try. Prepare the soil first by digging in some organic matter, and giving it a good drink with some liquid fertiliser. Also, the best way to encourage healthy fruiting in any variety is to stake the plants while they are still young.

Gross Lisse
One of the most popular tomato varieties to grow in Australia is the Gross Lisse. Great for staking, this trusty plant produces good yields of medium to large fruits and is able to adapt to most soil conditions. This variety produces the best fruit in a protected, warm, sunny spot with deep free-draining soil.

Truss Tomatoes
Truss Tomatoes are another good option for staking in a garden bed and generally grow up to 1.8m. So called because each plant produces bunches or ‘trusses’ of tomatoes that can carry up to six medium-sized fruits. This bushing variety has a good resistance to disease and will enjoy a small amount of fertilising every few weeks once the plant starts flowering.

Tasty Slice
Tomato Tasty slice is a dwarf growing variety which produces masses of medium sized fruit. Ideal for growing in both pots or garden beds in nutrient rich soil or potting media. This plant has good hybrid vigour and disease resistance.

Big Beef
A large, beefsteak type tomato with a delicious, old fashioned flavour. Ideal for the home garden, this high yielding tomato produces large, flavoursome, bright red fruit.

D.I.Y. More Advice

Planting & Growing Must-have herbs to help you cook up a storm Turn every meal into a gourmet affair with herbs from your own pot or patch. It’s easy to get started and gives endless rewards in both kitchen and garden.

Planting & Growing Spice up your next dish with chillies Whether you prefer mild or spicy, chillies can add flavour to any dish and they are so easy to grow!

Person putting on protective edging on the raised garden bed

01:38

Planting & Growing How to build a raised garden bed Building a raised garden bed is a simple project you can do yourself. Learn how to build a raised garden bed with this guide from Bunnings Warehouse.

Planting & Growing How to grow and care for a fiddle leaf fig With lustrous, wide, violin-shaped leaves and prominent veins, this upright leafy tree will create a graceful backdrop of luxurious fresh foliage in your home or garden. But to keep it in the best health and appearance, there are some tips and trick...

Planting & Growing 10 high protein foods you can grow at home Grow these high protein vegetables and protein rich foods at home in your very own garden. Whether you’re a vegetarian or are trying to eat healthier, here’s our list of top 10 high protein vegetables to grow at home.

Planting & Growing How to control and eliminate garden pests organically Try controlling garden pests with these approaches from Eco Organic Garden.

Planting & Growing The best low-maintenance plants for your garden Low-maintenance plants are a great choice if you don’t want to spend too much time tending to your garden. Here are the best plants for creating an attractive garden that’s also easy to care for.

Planting & Growing Protect your garden from snails slugs and leaf eaters There is a wide range of highly effective and innovative products available to gardeners to help them care for and protect their plants against insects, snails and slugs.

Planning & Projects Transform your backyard with a new garden bed Well-planned garden beds can give your backyard both structure and beauty, and solve all sorts of tricky problems, from screening out your neighbours to disguising an ugly fence. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

03:28

Planning & Projects How to plan and landscape a garden makeover If you’re thinking about creating a new garden, you can save a lot by doing the project yourself.

Planning & Projects How to build a child-friendly edible garden Creating a child-friendly edible garden is an enjoyable way to get grubby with the kids as well as engaging them with the great outdoors

00:22

Planning & Projects Brighten up your place with an instant hedge An artificial hedge or plant wall is not only an attractive feature in your garden, it can also add some much needed privacy. Bunnings Greenlife buyer Katie tells us how easy it is to add an instant hedge to your outdoor area.

Planning & Projects Create an instant artificial garden Get an instant, hassle-free designer garden with Un-Real Artificial plants. Find out here how you can create a beautiful and instant private garden.

01:52

Planning & Projects D.I.Y. garden tool storage rack Garden tools can be tricky to store away neatly because of their size and shape. Find out how to create a garden tool storage rack with this guide from Bunnings.

Planning & Projects Nine plants for good luck around the home The Lunar New Year is a significant part of most Asian cultures. There are many customs and rituals that are celebrated at this time. As part of the customs, there are some plants traditionally associated with the Lunar New Year festival and thought...

02:54

Planning & Projects How to make a terrarium Learn how to make a terrarium with this handy guide.

01:04

Planning & Projects How to give your front garden a D.I.Y. makeover With some simple D.I.Y. skills, you can transform your front yard into something special that will improve your home’s street appeal.

01:04

Bedroom Refresh your master bedroom We’ll show you how easy is to transform your master bedroom into a contemporary masterpiece.

01:09

Outdoor Living How to build a D.I.Y. outdoor playground Transform an unused corner of your backyard into a fun children’s playground.

Paths & Landscaping Landscaping for any size backyard Here are some simple D.I.Y. landscaping ideas to make a great outdoor space.

Planting & Growing What to plant in spring Say goodbye to cold winter days and hello to the sun and warmth of spring. Now is the perfect time to get in the garden and start planting. But what to plant? Our spring planting guide has the answers.

01:30

Ideas & Makeovers How to renovate and modernise your kitchen Watch how we renovate an old 70s kitchen and give it a stylish D.I.Y. makeover that suits modern living.

Benchtops & Cabinets What to consider when installing an outdoor Kaboodle kitchen A kitchen is a great way to spruce up your outdoor living and entertaining areas. The team at Kaboodle share a few hints and tips on what to consider when designing your very own outdoor kitchen using their products.

02:32

Bedroom D.I.Y. copper clothes rail Create more space in your wardrobe with this easy-to-make industrial copper clothes rail.

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. 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. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.