Tomato KY1 Vegetable Seeds

TOMATO ‘KY1’ Vegetable Seeds

Botanical Name: Solanum lycopersicum

• ‘KY1’ is a classic Australian tomato variety bred for hot climates, reliability and heavy cropping.
• Produces medium-sized, round red fruits with firm flesh and excellent flavour for slicing, cooking and preserving.
• Determinate (bush) habit, making it lower maintenance than vine tomatoes and ideal for smaller gardens.
• Uniform fruiting with strong skins and low cracking—perfect for bottling, passata and sauces.
• Performs well in warm, sunny climates and copes better than many heirlooms with heat and humidity.
• Compact plants suitable for garden beds, raised beds and large pots.

Plant Details

• Plant Type: Warm-season annual vegetable (determinate bush tomato)
• Height: 80 – 120 cm
• Fruit Size: Medium (approx. 120 – 160 g)
• Fruit Colour: Bright red
• Days to Harvest: Approx. 70 – 80 days from transplanting
• Pollination: Open-pollinated

Sowing Information

• Sow When (Australia):
  • Cool: Start indoors August – October
  • Temperate: August – November
  • Subtropical: August – December
  • Tropical: April – July (cooler, drier season)
  • Arid: August – November, avoiding extreme heat
• Germination Temperature: 18 – 28 °C
• Germination Time: 7 – 14 days
• Sowing Depth: 5 – 10 mm
• Sow Where: Raise seedlings in trays; transplant once frost has passed and soil is warm.
• Spacing: 40 – 50 cm between plants; 70 – 90 cm between rows
• Position: Full sun (6–8+ hours direct light)
• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost; pH 6.0 – 7.0

Growing Tips

• Determinate plants need minimal pruning—avoid heavy trimming to prevent reducing your harvest.
• Mulch well to stabilise soil moisture and reduce cracking in fruit.
• Stake lightly or use a small cage for support as plants become heavy with fruit.
• Water consistently at the base of the plant, avoiding wetting the leaves.
• Feed fortnightly with a balanced organic fertiliser once flowering begins.
• Choose a sunny, warm spot protected from strong winds.

Harvest

• Harvest when fruits turn fully red and feel slightly soft to touch.
• Pick regularly to encourage continuous fruiting on determinate bushes.
• Ideal for bottling, passata, roasting and fresh eating.

When to Sow Tomato ‘KY1’ in Your Climate (Australia)