GardenHow to grow tomato
टमाटर. When to sow it in each part of India, how deep, how far apart, what size of pot, and what to watch for.
When to sow
North and central plainsJune to August, November and December
South and coastal IndiaJanuary and February, June and July, October and November
HillsMarch to May
Green months are the usual sowing or planting time. Dates shift by a few weeks from place to place.
How to sow and grow
- Method
- Raise seedlings in a tray or small pot and move them when they have 4 to 6 leaves, after about 4 to 5 weeks.
- Depth
- 0.5 cm
- Spacing
- 45 to 60 cm
- In a pot
- One plant in a pot 30 to 40 cm wide and deep
- Sprouts in
- 6 to 10 days
- Harvest
- 60 to 80 days after transplanting
- Sun
- Full sun: at least 6 hours a day
Tips from the garden
- Tie the plant to a stake as it grows, and bury the stem up to the first leaves when transplanting. Roots form along the buried stem.
- Water at the base, not on the leaves, and keep the soil evenly moist. Uneven watering cracks the fruit.
- Flowers drop without setting fruit when days are hotter than about 35 °C, so time the crop to flower in mild weather.
What can go wrong
Curled, yellowing leaves usually mean whitefly is spreading leaf curl virus. Remove badly affected plants and use yellow sticky traps. Holes in the fruit are the fruit borer: pick off and destroy damaged fruit.
Sown around the same time
BrinjalChilliCapsicumOkra (bhindi)Bottle gourd (lauki)Bitter gourd (karela)Ridge gourd (tori)Cucumber
New to growing from seed? Read how to sow seeds and the balcony and terrace garden guide.
Questions people ask
When is tomato sown in north India?
In the plains of north and central India, the usual sowing or planting months for tomato are June to August, November and December.
How long does tomato take to grow?
Usually 60 to 80 days after transplanting.
Can tomato be grown in a pot?
Yes. One plant in a pot 30 to 40 cm wide and deep.