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)
| Climate Zone | Sowing Time |
|---|---|
| Cool | Start indoors August – October; transplant after frost. |
| Temperate | Sow August – November. |
| Subtropical | Sow August – December. |
| Tropical | Best sown April – July. |
| Arid | Sow August – November; protect from extreme heat. |