Your Kitchen Garden

Seeds

Growing from seed offers a wider range of tomato varieties than other methods, though it requires more patience and nurturing. Tomato seeds can be sown from mid to late August in Auckland, and can be transplanted into the garden or pots once they have two to three pairs of leaves, and the risk of frost is over

Seedlings

Our range of tomato seedlings is perfect if you’re looking for a quicker start. The punnets have individual pockets to avoid any tangled roots - just pop them into your soil, and they’re good to go!

Established Plants

If you want a headstart, or you’re playing catch-up, our mature plants are available from mid- September. These plants get established quickly, and produce bountiful harvests. Want more fruit? Grafted tomatoes grow larger than standard varieties and have the capacity to hold much more fruit.

Position

Tomatoes grow well in a sunny position with good airflow. Choose a spot with at least six hours of full sun each day, and avoid planting where tomatoes, potatoes, or eggplants grew the previous year to prevent soil-borne diseases.

Planting

When growing in pots, plant with Kings Container Mix. This mix contains water storage crystals for improved moisture retention, as well as slow-release fertiliser to feed your plants. To ensure healthy root development, choose a pot with plenty of space - we recommend at least 40L for a mature plant.

When planting directly in the garden, leave at least a metre between plants and enrich your soil by digging in Kings Compost. Dig a hole twice as deep and wide as the pot your plant came in, adding Kings Organic Vegetable Fertiliser or Kings Sheep Pellets, along with a blend of Kings Compost and topsoil. Firm the soil, and water deeply.

Using a greenhouse is another option for planting. Greenhouses offer protection from insects and frost. Ensure proper ventilation to prevent fungal diseases, and rotate crops annually or replace the top 50cm of soil with either Kings Container Mix or Kings Garden Mix.

Tomato vines can become top-heavy, so they should be staked, supported by string, or tied to a trellis

Care

Tomatoes love their food! Once established, feed with Kings Liquid Tomato Food every two weeks. Keep your tomatoes growing well with regular deep waterings around the roots, avoiding the foliage to prevent leaf burn and fungal diseases.

Channel all energy into fruit and flower production by removing any side shoots or lateral branches. These are found sprouting at any angle between the main stem and an already-formed branch.

Tomatoes are ready for picking once they have fully ripened on the vine and turned red, orange, or yellow, depending on the variety. Harvest green tomatoes slightly earlier when they show a hint of colour at the base of the fruit. Leave a small stalk on the fruit and pop them in a sunny spot to ripen.