Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Burnley Gem is an early-producing bush tomato bearing smooth, round red fruits approximately 4–7 cm across. The medium-sized fruits have good flavour and are a useful all-purpose tomato for salads, sandwiches, cooking and preserving.

An Australian variety associated with Victoria’s Burnley Horticultural College, Burnley Gem was selected for reliable cropping under Australian conditions. It is particularly noted for setting fruit well in hot, dry weather, when some tomato varieties struggle with fruit set.

The compact determinate plants produce their crop over a relatively concentrated period and require less training than climbing tomatoes. Their early production and tolerance of challenging conditions make Burnley Gem a dependable choice for warm and dry growing areas.

Seed count: approximately 250–400 seeds per gram. Approximately 25 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: February–August
Subtropics: August–April
Mild climates: August–December
Cold climates: September–December, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix or directly where conditions are warm. In cooler climates, seed can be started indoors approximately five weeks before transplanting after the last frost. Best soil temperature for germination is approximately 16–35°C.

Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart with 60–150 cm between rows. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Water at soil level where possible and avoid waterlogged conditions. Although compact and determinate, plants may benefit from support when carrying a heavy crop.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Solanum lycopersicum

Burnley Surecrop is an early-bearing tomato producing smooth, round red fruits to approximately 50 mm across. A reliable all-purpose variety, the fruits are well suited to fresh eating, salads, sandwiches and cooking.

An Australian-bred variety associated with Victoria’s Burnley horticultural breeding program, Burnley Surecrop was selected for dependable production and resistance to Verticillium wilt. Its combination of early cropping, disease resistance and strong growth made it particularly useful for Australian home gardens.

Plants are vigorous and indeterminate, reaching around 2 m high and continuing to flower and set fruit over an extended season. Strong staking or trellising is recommended to support the tall vines and developing crop.

Seed count: approximately 250–400 seeds per gram.

Approximately 40 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: February–August
Subtropics: August–April
Mild climates: August–December
Cold climates: September–December, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix or directly where conditions are warm. In cooler climates, seed can be started indoors approximately five weeks before transplanting after the last frost. Best soil temperature for germination is approximately 16–35°C.

Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart with 60–150 cm between rows. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil and provide sturdy staking or trellising for the climbing vines. Water at soil level where possible and avoid waterlogged conditions.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Solanum lycopersicum

Canabe Super is an old-fashioned tomato selection producing smooth, red, medium-sized fruits on vigorous climbing plants. The fruits have a classic tomato flavour and are well suited to fresh eating, salads, sandwiches and general kitchen use.

Dating from the 1950s, Canabe Super is a heritage selection from an era when tomatoes were increasingly being bred for dependable garden and market performance while retaining good eating quality. Today it is maintained as an open-pollinated variety for home growers and seed savers.

An indeterminate variety, plants continue growing, flowering and setting fruit throughout the season and benefit from sturdy staking or trellising.

Seed count: approximately 250–400 seeds per gram.

Approximately 40 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: February–August
Subtropics: August–April
Mild climates: August–December
Cold climates: September–December, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix or directly where conditions are warm. In cooler climates, seed can be started indoors approximately five weeks before transplanting after the last frost. Best soil temperature for germination is approximately 16–35°C.

Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart with 60–150 cm between rows. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil and provide sturdy staking or trellising for the climbing vines. Water at soil level where possible and avoid waterlogged conditions.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety.

Not available for WA.

Solanum lycopersicum

Cerise is a classic Italian cherry tomato producing abundant clusters of shiny, dark red fruits weighing approximately 20–50 g. The tomatoes are exceptionally sweet and juicy, with a rich flavour that makes them excellent for snacking, salads, bruschetta and roasting whole.

The name “cerise” means cherry in French, an apt description for these small, richly coloured fruits. Plants are highly productive, combining compact determinate growth with generous yields over the cropping period.

Although a bush variety, Cerise benefits from staking or other support as plants can become heavily laden with fruit. Regular harvesting encourages ripening of the remaining crop.

Seed count: approximately 250–400 seeds per gram.

Approximately 40 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: February–August
Subtropics: August–April
Mild climates: August–December
Cold climates: September–December, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix or directly where conditions are warm. In cooler climates, seed can be started indoors approximately five weeks before transplanting after the last frost. Best soil temperature for germination is approximately 16–35°C.

Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart with 60–150 cm between rows. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Water at soil level where possible and avoid waterlogged conditions. Provide support to prevent heavily laden branches from sprawling or breaking.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Solanum lycopersicum

Cherokee Purple is a celebrated heirloom beefsteak tomato producing large, slightly flattened fruits weighing up to approximately 300 g. The skin ripens to an unusual dusky rose-purple with darker shoulders, while the flesh is deep pink to crimson with a soft, juicy texture.

Exceptionally sweet, rich and complex in flavour, Cherokee Purple is at its best eaten fresh, sliced thickly for sandwiches and salads or simply eaten straight from the hand. Plants also show some tolerance to blight.

The variety was introduced to the wider seed-saving community in the early 1990s by American tomato collector Craig LeHoullier, who received the seed from John Green of Tennessee. Green reported that the seed had been passed down through his family and was said to have originally come from Cherokee people more than a century earlier. This origin story is part of the variety's recorded history, although it has not been independently verified.

Seed count: approximately 250–400 seeds per gram.

Approximately 40 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: February–August
Subtropics: August–April
Mild climates: August–December
Cold climates: September–December, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix or directly where conditions are warm. In cooler climates, seed can be started indoors approximately five weeks before transplanting after the last frost. Best soil temperature for germination is approximately 16–35°C.

Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart with 60–150 cm between rows. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil and provide sturdy staking or trellising for the vigorous vines and heavy fruit. Water at soil level where possible and avoid waterlogged conditions.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Solanum lycopersicum

A colourful mixture of cherry tomatoes producing an assortment of small, sweet and juicy fruits in some of our most popular colours, including red, pink, orange, black, yellow and white. An excellent choice for anyone who wants plenty of variety from a single packet.

Vigorous indeterminate plants continue growing, flowering and producing throughout the season, providing an extended harvest when regularly picked. Fruit size, shape, flavour and maturity will vary between plants, making every harvest a little different.

Perfect for eating fresh from the vine, adding to salads and lunchboxes, roasting whole or creating colourful platters. Grow several plants to enjoy the widest possible range of colours from the mix.

Approximately 60 seeds per packet

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: Autumn to winter
Subtropics: Late winter to spring
Mild climates: Spring to early summer
Cold climates: Spring after frost

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix and keep warm and consistently moist until germination. Transplant seedlings once well established and all danger of frost has passed.

Plant approximately 50–75 cm apart in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. As these are indeterminate tomatoes, provide a sturdy trellis, stake or other support and tie plants as they grow.

As this is a mixed selection, individual colours and varieties cannot be guaranteed in equal proportions.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Solanum lycopersicum

College Challenger is an Australian-bred tomato producing large, solid, round red fruits approximately 6–10 cm across. Similar in style to the much-loved Grosse Lisse, it has the advantage of cropping earlier, with firm, fleshy fruit and a classic full tomato flavour.

Bred during the 1950s at Hawkesbury Agricultural College in New South Wales, College Challenger is part of Australia's agricultural breeding heritage. Developed for local growing conditions, it was selected as a productive garden and market tomato at a time when Australian institutions played an important role in developing regionally adapted varieties.

The vigorous indeterminate vines continue flowering and fruiting throughout the season. Its substantial fruits are excellent sliced fresh, in sandwiches and salads, and for general cooking.

Seed count: approximately 250–400 seeds per gram.

Approximately 40 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: February–August
Subtropics: August–April
Mild climates: August–December
Cold climates: September–December, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix or directly where conditions are warm. In cooler climates, seed can be started indoors approximately five weeks before transplanting after the last frost. Best soil temperature for germination is approximately 16–35°C.

Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart with 60–150 cm between rows. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil and provide sturdy staking or trellising for the climbing vines and large fruit. Water at soil level where possible and avoid waterlogged conditions.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Solanum lycopersicum

Colossal Yellow is a giant heirloom tomato producing impressive golden-yellow fruits, often weighing well over 500 g. The large, meaty tomatoes have a smooth texture and rich yet mellow flavour, with plenty of flesh for their size.

Excellent sliced fresh, the substantial fruits are particularly good for sandwiches, burgers and salads, where their brilliant yellow colour makes them a standout. Harvest when the fruit has developed a deep golden-yellow colour and gives slightly when gently pressed.

Plants are vigorous and indeterminate, continuing to grow and set their enormous fruits throughout the season. Strong staking or trellising is essential to support both the vines and the weight of the developing tomatoes.

Seed count: approximately 250–400 seeds per gram.

Approximately 40 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: February–August
Subtropics: August–April
Mild climates: August–December
Cold climates: September–December, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix or directly where conditions are warm. In cooler climates, seed can be started indoors approximately five weeks before transplanting after the last frost. Best soil temperature for germination is approximately 16–35°C.

Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart with 60–150 cm between rows. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil and provide particularly sturdy staking or trellising to support the vigorous vines and very large fruit. Water at soil level where possible and avoid waterlogged conditions.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Solanum lycopersicum

Costoluto Fiorentino is a classic Italian beefsteak tomato producing large, deep red fruits with pronounced ribbing and a slightly flattened shape. The flesh is juicy and richly flavoured, with the full, savoury tomato character for which traditional Italian varieties are prized.

Originating around Florence in Tuscany, its name translates roughly as “ribbed Florentine”. The deeply fluted fruits are excellent sliced into salads and bruschetta, but are particularly valued for cooking into rich tomato sauces, passata and other traditional Italian dishes.

Plants are vigorous and indeterminate, producing their distinctive heavily ribbed fruits over an extended season. Regular harvesting and sturdy support will keep the vines productive as the large fruits develop.

Seed count: approximately 250–400 seeds per gram. Approximately 40 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: February–August
Subtropics: August–April
Mild climates: August–December
Cold climates: September–December, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix or directly where conditions are warm. In cooler climates, seed can be started indoors approximately five weeks before transplanting after the last frost. Best soil temperature for germination is approximately 16–35°C.

Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart with 60–150 cm between rows. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil and provide sturdy staking or trellising for the climbing vines and large fruit. Water at soil level where possible and avoid waterlogged conditions.

Maturity: approximately 75–80 days.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Solanum lycopersicum

Dark Galaxy is a spectacular tomato producing medium-sized fruits patterned in deep maroon, red and near-black, scattered with golden flecks and speckles that give the skin its distinctive starry appearance. The darker anthocyanin pigmentation develops most strongly where the fruit receives plenty of direct sunlight.

Beneath the dramatic skin is juicy, tender flesh with a rich, balanced flavour, combining sweetness with a pleasant tang. The colourful fruits are excellent sliced into salads and sandwiches, served fresh on platters or simply eaten straight from the vine.

The vigorous indeterminate plants continue producing throughout the season and benefit from good airflow and plenty of sun. Fruit colour can vary considerably as it ripens, with the combination of sunlight, temperature and maturity creating the characteristic galaxy-like patterning.

Seed count: approximately 250–400 seeds per gram.

Approximately 40 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: February–August
Subtropics: August–April
Mild climates: August–December
Cold climates: September–December, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix or directly where conditions are warm. In cooler climates, seed can be started indoors approximately five weeks before transplanting after the last frost. Best soil temperature for germination is approximately 16–35°C.

Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart with 60–150 cm between rows. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil and provide sturdy staking or trellising for the climbing vines. Good sunlight helps develop the darkest fruit pigmentation, while adequate spacing and airflow help maintain healthy plants. Water at soil level where possible and avoid waterlogged conditions.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Solanum lycopersicum

Daydream is a productive Australian tomato producing large, smooth, deep red fruits approximately 60–90 mm across. Similar in style to Grosse Lisse but slightly earlier to crop, the fruits are substantial, well-shaped and versatile for slicing, salads, sandwiches and general kitchen use.

Released as a commercial variety in 1954, Daydream was selected for strong production over a long cropping period. It performs particularly well in hot areas with low humidity, making it an interesting example of a tomato developed with Australian growing conditions and commercial production in mind.

Plants are vigorous and indeterminate, producing heavily over an extended season. For the best results, vines should be firmly staked and can be pruned to manage growth, improve airflow and support the developing crop.

Seed count: approximately 250–400 seeds per gram. Approximately 40 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: February–August
Subtropics: August–April
Mild climates: August–December
Cold climates: September–December, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix or directly where conditions are warm. In cooler climates, seed can be started indoors approximately five weeks before transplanting after the last frost. Best soil temperature for germination is approximately 16–35°C.

Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart with 60–150 cm between rows. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil and provide sturdy staking or trellising for the climbing vines. Prune as required to manage vigorous growth and maintain good airflow. Water at soil level where possible and avoid waterlogged conditions.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Solanum lycopersicum

Deutscher Fleiss is an old German potato-leaf tomato producing excellent small red fruits approximately 3–4 cm across. The tomatoes form attractive trusses of around six fruits, with a good traditional flavour and a useful size for salads, snacking and fresh eating.

Its distinctive potato-leaf foliage has broader, smoother-edged leaves than most tomatoes. A particularly good performer in cooler climates, Deutscher Fleiss is well suited to gardeners who find some warm-climate tomato varieties reluctant to thrive or set fruit in milder conditions.

The vigorous indeterminate vines continue flowering and setting trusses throughout the season and benefit from sturdy staking or trellising.

Seed count: approximately 250–400 seeds per gram. Approximately 25 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: February–August
Subtropics: August–April
Mild climates: August–December
Cold climates: September–December, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix or directly where conditions are warm. In cooler climates, seed can be started indoors approximately five weeks before transplanting after the last frost. Best soil temperature for germination is approximately 16–35°C.

Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart with 60–150 cm between rows. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil and provide sturdy staking or trellising for the climbing vines. Water at soil level where possible and avoid waterlogged conditions.

Maturity: approximately 105 days.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Solanum lycopersicum

Earl Of Edgecombe is a striking New Zealand heirloom producing smooth, round yellow-orange fruits to approximately 75 mm across. The tomatoes have firm, meaty flesh and excellent flavour, making them particularly good eaten fresh, sliced for sandwiches or added to salads.

The variety has an unusual trans-Tasman and British history. It is associated with the 7th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, who had lived in New Zealand before returning to England to inherit the title. The story goes that the tomato subsequently travelled back to New Zealand with him, where it was preserved and became a treasured heirloom variety.

Plants are vigorous and indeterminate, producing over an extended season, and show some disease resistance. The substantial fruits are best supported with sturdy stakes or trellising.

Seed count: approximately 250–400 seeds per gram.

Approximately 40 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: February–August
Subtropics: August–April
Mild climates: August–December
Cold climates: September–December, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5 mm deep into seed-raising mix or directly where conditions are warm. In cooler climates, seed can be started indoors approximately five weeks before transplanting after the last frost. Best soil temperature for germination is approximately 16–35°C.

Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart with 60–150 cm between rows. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil and provide sturdy staking or trellising for the climbing vines. Water at soil level where possible and avoid waterlogged conditions.

Maturity: approximately 73–78 days.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.