JennyO's long growing season is to be envied, as it doesn't apply to all parts of Oz. When I lived in Melbourne I could plant out a swag of Gross Lisse in September, when things are starting to warm up, and have the first crop off by Christmas. And yes, I tipped the leaders but never bothered about when I watered; none of them split. I'd still be harvesting them until the first of the frosts in late May and the green ones remaining would go into chutney.

When I arrived in Armidale's Northern Tablelalnds, the last frost for the season was in the first week of December; "There goes any chance of growing decent tomatoes!" I thought. Well, up here there are sweepstakes held on whether the first frost of the season will precede Anzac Day (25 April) and whether the last of the season will occur after Melbourne Cup Day (1st Tuesday in November). Effectively, this is a bit too short a season for any but the keenest gardeners, who keep seedlings under glass until they think the frosts is all over (sorry) and take a punt on warmth after Cup Day. However, the coolth of the altitude means we don't have the range of insect or fungal pests that more moderate climes must deal with.

And further north (and higher) at Guyra, they have established huge glasshouses just to grow tomatoes (they do taste rather good!) based on the realisation that it's easier and cheaper to keep tomatoes warm in a cold climate that it is to look after them in a warm one.

Oh! BTW, research in the local Botany dept demonstrated that tomato plants produce better when they're played music; I think the researchers used "classical" music but I'm sure tomato plants could appreciate the tastes of their cultivators.

Cheers, Rowan