TOP OF THE CROPS

Tomato label

Common name: Tomato

Botanical name: Solanum lycopersicum

Family: Solonaceae

Aspect & soil: Sun; moist fertile soil

Best climate: All

Habit: Annual vine; fruits summer to autumn (year round in warm zones)

Propagation: Seed, seedling or grafted plants

Difficulty: Moderate

If you’ve space to grow vegies, you’re probably already thinking about planting tomatoes. They are one of the most popular edibles and highly rewarding to grow. When it comes to flavour, the homegrown tomato is in a class of its own.

Not only do tomatoes from your own garden taste delicious, they are also full of valuable nutrients. Tomatoes provide lycopene, an antioxidant found in red fruit, along with vitamins A and C and carotene, and they are packed with fibre.

TIMING

Tomatoes need warmth to grow and are not