Should tomatoes be planted before Show Day?

Experts have weighed in on whether it is OK to plant your tomatoes before Show Day, as rare seedlings go on sale at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens’ annual sale. PRICES + ENTRY DETAILS >>

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IT’S THE age old question that plagues green-thumbed Tasmanians – should tomatoes be planted before Show Day?

Gardening experts at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens say yes, they can be – provided seedlings are given extra care and attention.

There will be more than 5000 tomato seedlings for sale at the gardens’ annual plant sale from Thursday (October 15) until Saturday (October 17).

Due to social distancing requirements, the traditional two-day sale has been extended to incorporate an additional day, while trading hours have also been extended.

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens horticulturalist Paul Hohler watering tomato plants ready for the big tomato plant sale. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

About 1500 people are expected to attend the event which is hoped to raise more than $30,000 for the gardens.

There will be more than 90 varieties of tomatoes on sale – including 20 new varieties.

Horticulturalist Margot White discovered the Wild Boar Farms tomatoes, bred by Brad Gates, at an heirloom seed expo in California in 2017 and expects most have never been grown in Tasmania before.

“He does a lot of orange, purple and black [tomatoes] as well as reds, greens and yellows … it’s something different which I think Tasmanians will really like,’’ she said.

Buying different varieties of plants means gardeners can plant seedlings in October, harvest their first tomatoes as early as December or January and still be picking tomatoes from their gardens as late as June.

Ms White said tomato seedlings could be planted immediately following the plant sale as long as they were surrounded by a plastic sleeve to act as a mini glasshouse to keep them warm and protect them from wind.

There will also be herbs and pumpkin seedlings for sale.

All plants are $5. Entry is $10 on the first day and free on other days.

More details at facebook.com/events/3701817036497073