Tomatoes are the holy grail of gardens . Who can refuse all those sweet , juicy eyeball ripening in the sun every summer , fill the air with that unmistakableheady scent of tomato vine ?
Hands down , it ’s one of my favorite plant life to grow every class and I grew it without abandon in my last garden , in the ground , when space was not an outlet for these big , unwieldy plants .
But when Iuprooted to a dissimilar part of the countryand found myself in a rental home for the unforesightful term , with only a pack of cards that was suitable for gardening , I think my love apple dream were pall for the next duad of summer .
Not so ! I ’ll share what I ’ve watch — and how I grew hundreds of pound of tomatoes from just a smattering of container plants .
Benefits of growing tomatoes in pots
That first yr , I stop up growing a wide-eyed change of Lycopersicon esculentum plants in containers , easy and successfully , in my hardiness zone 6b climate . I had enough of a harvest every workweek to eat fresh and wangle with , and a final harvest at the oddment of summer for several jars ofhomemade peel - on tomato sauce .
Related : Grow Tomatoes Like a Boss With These 10 Easy Tips
I found that an unexpected welfare of container plants is being capable toprotect them more easily from critters(in my case , growing tomato on a second - history deckdeterred all the deerin my region ) , not to bring up having better resistance against pests and diseases that course experience in the garden ( since you start with fresh potting soil ) .
Growing tomatoes in Mary Jane really point the playacting discipline in the base garden secret plan , as it allows even gardener short on space ( say , a balcony or side patio ) to grow beautiful and productive plants regardless of actual estate .
How to successfully grow tomatoes in containers
So what ’s the first thing you need to know ?
The key to being wildly successful with growing love apple in pot is right planning .
First , verify you opt a location with at least 8 to 10 hours of sun ( 6 hours is the bare lower limit , but more is much full ) .
( If your pace is shadier than you ’d like , here are a few option fortomatoes that can grow in tint . )
Then , follow my test - and - true gratuity below to learn how you could maximize the minimal space you have and naturalize intelligent , vigorous tomato works in your small - infinite container garden !
Disclosure : If you shop from my clause or make a purchase through one of my links , I may receive commissions on some of the product I recommend .
1. Choose the right type of tomato.
Determinate types ( also called bush , compact , or terrace flora ) are unremarkably the best tomato plants for container , as they grow to a bias sizing — no more than 3 to 4 feet grandiloquent — and plant flowers and fruit all at once , making them honest and predictable in tight quarters .
However , you could still grow indeterminate tomatoes if you give them a large enough container and good support for their vines . ( More on my favorite love apple supports below in Step 9 . )
A good rule of ovolo is to grow determinate tomatoes if you have a short grow season , pay off a belated start in the season , or have a very limited footprint .
Where to buy
Determinate tomatoes
If , on the other hand , you have a comely growing time of year and enough blank space for a big , tall plant , undetermined tomatoes will give you abundant harvests all summer long and are altogether doable in containers !
Indeterminate tomatoes
Read more : The 30 Best Tasting Heirloom Tomato Varieties ( By Color ! )
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2. Start with a strong and healthy transplant.
Ideally , the tomato plant you commence with should have been repotted at least once , andhardened offproperly so they ’re quick to live outside in the sunlight .
( If you started your own plants from seed , follow my previous guides onhow to repot your seedlingsinto large container , andhow and why to transplant them a second sentence . )
Repotting assist your tomato plant in produce big beginning masses , which in turn helps them survive the shock of transplanting , resist plague and diseases that raven on vulnerable young plants , and grow stronger overall .
If you ’re bring transplants home from a glasshouse or garden eye , look for compact , tough stems and healthy unripened foliation free from louse equipment casualty , sunburn , and yellowing ( which indicates lachrymation issues or nutritional deficiencies ) .
I also attempt to nullify “ top intemperate ” plant on magniloquent , weedy stems , as it could be a sign they have n’t have passable sunlight or been repotted .
3. Don’t be shy with container size, and choose a fabric pot over a plastic pot.
When it comes to tomatoes , the bigger the tummy , the good .
Determinate diverseness should be planted in 10 - gal containers at a lower limit , while undetermined change need , at the very least , 20 - gallon containers to thrive .
Any littler than these sizes and your plants may not be as rich as they could be .
My favorite type of containers are fabric pots , likethese I from Root Pouch . They come in either non - degradable or biodegradable versions , but for container gardening , I choose the non - degradable Boxer line so I can recycle them class after year .
Fabric weed are beneficial for plants with all-inclusive root systems because they naturally “ melodic phrase prune ” the roots .
The effects of aura pruning in breathable textile jackpot are best seen when compared side by side with plant check in non - holey plastic spate .
When the antecedent in plastic pots mature long enough to hit the sides of the pot , they go along to grow round and round in a constricted pattern ( coil , kinking , and twisting around themselves ) , eventually becoming rootbound .
root in fabric pot , on the other hand , are exposed to breeze as they develop . This exposure “ burns off ” the tip of the roots , which stops them from growing long and lank . Instead , they branch off and constitute raw , unforesightful , fibrous feeder roots .
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Because maturation is well distributed throughout the dirt volume ( and not just on the edges of the pot ) , the impenetrable web of branched solution is able to increase the plant life ’s uptake of water , utilize all useable nutrients , and aid in its raw defence .
The permeableness of framework plenty also help to boost proper drainage of supererogatory water and improve oxygenation to the solution ( which maximize the industrial plant ’s metabolic performance and , in turn , boosts craw output ) .
In cooler climates , however , disgraceful credit card stool do serve a hard-nosed subroutine . They hold heat in and keep roots fond in late spring to early summer , when tomato transplants are most susceptible to temperature swing .
On the flip side , black plastic pots may gettoohot in the visor of summer , so they need to be shaded to forestall the rootball from overheat .
you may wrap or cover plastic pots with shade cloth , canvas , or towels to insulate against the heat ( office reaper binder cartridge clip work great for procure them ) , as well as attempt to keep them off oestrus - retaining surfaces like concrete .
Whichever form of container you use , be sure to set a threatening - duty saucer ( I usethis one ) underneath before you lade it up , and have it placed exactly where you want it — it’ll be very heavy to move later on .
Not only will the saucer protect your deck or terrace from standing moisture , it will allow your industrial plant to absorb any excess water over the path of a hot day .
4. Use high-quality potting soil.
Plants in container need a in force compounding of breathability , absorption , and moisture retention .
The surface soil from your garden ( as well as any commercially bulge premix judge as “ raised bed soil ” or “ garden dirt ” ) is generally too dense for potted plants , and it increases the risk of your love apple plant picking up a soil - borne disease that ’s otherwise easily preventable .
I recommend using a eminent - quality premium potting soil or potting admixture likethis one , and endeavor to avoid reusing pot dirt from past season if your plant life had pests or disease . you may alsomake your own potting mixwith only three component .
distribute about 3 to 4 inch of pot soil on the bottom of your container , then continue with Step 5 .
5. Feed your tomato plant well.
Tomatoes are heavy bird feeder and demand ample nutrient to bring out well and long into the season .
Before put the tomato transplantation in its final planting hole , add the observe amendments to the territory and stir them around a bit :
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Once the amendment are in , spread another 2 to 3 inches of pot soil on top .
6. Bury the stem of the tomato plant.
mildly pinch or nip off off the lowest set of folio until you ’re left with a bare radical on the bottom one - third to one - one-half of the fore .
Center the tomato plant plant in the corporation and occupy the rest of the weed with more potting soil until it ’s filled to the brim ( just below the last set of leave-taking ) . Gently shake the lot to settle the soil and add more as needed .
Top off the soil with 1/2 cup all - purpose fertilizer ( I likethis one ) and light rake it in around the base of the stem .
7. Water thoroughly and consistently.
Water the root zona thoroughly until the dirt is equally moist . I usually water the plant in , wait about 10 minutes , water again , wait 10 minutes again , and reduplicate until water run freely out the bottom of the stool .
It takes a surprisingly big amount of H2O ( at least a gallon , from my experience ) to fully impregnate the soil the first clock time . Do n’t assume that just because the water drains right out on the first lacrimation that the soil is soaked through .
Proper lacrimation is the key to success when it comes to growing tomatoes in pots . Too little or too much H2O can stunt your plant ’s ontogeny , contribute toblossom end rot , or encourage plague intimes of red-hot weather or plant stress .
For those same reasons , piddle only the root zone with a lachrymation can , garden hose , drip irrigation , orsoaker hoses(not overhead on the leaves ) so you could see precisely how much water your plant life is getting each meter .
After the initial watering , and depending on the weather , you belike wo n’t postulate to irrigate again until three days later . Check the top 3 to 4 inches of soil with your finger ; if it feels dry , give it a in effect drink .
As summer go away on , you ’ll want to tally the stain a twosome times a week to see a consistent level of moisture .
industrial plant in container incline to dry out out more promptly than those in raised beds or in - terra firma garden beds , so it ’s not strange to irrigate at least once every other 24-hour interval as temperatures climb higher . The smaller the crapper , the more often you ’ll need to water .
Remember that tomato plant like to be watered deeply , so be sure to saturate the soil until excess water drains out the bottom . Give another nice , long soakonlywhen the top 3 to 4 in of grime sense ironical .
8. Protect young transplants from frost with “walls of water.”
Generally , it ’s a right estimate to wait until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 45 ° F before you plant tomatoes outside .
But in mood with short or picky growing time of year , sometimes you just demand to get them out of doors rather ( or you never know when temperatures may dip below freezing ) . Here in Central Oregon , it ’s not unheard of to get icing well into July !
bear on : get hold First and Last Frost Dates Accurately with This Custom Planting Calendar
One way that I protect my organ transplant in tardy saltation to other summer is with “ wall of piddle ” ( also get laid as love apple tipi ) .
They keep plants nice and toasty and are super well-off to utilise ( no need to take frost covers on and off each day ) .
Walls of water system enable you to imbed your tomatoes up to six weeks before your last Robert Frost date , and keep them go up to six week after the first freeze , as they ’re rated to withstand temperatures as low as 16 ° farad .
( They have n’t failed me yet , though I ’ve personally never used mine below 28 ° F . )
They also protect against wind , so they ’re useful for delicate vernal plants that have n’t amply ground themselves into the territory yet .
“ Walls of water ” is basically a big mob of heavy - tariff plastic that ’s section off into long tubes . The tube are fill with water , and the “ wall ” are placed over the works with the weight of the thermionic tube supporting them . You terminate up with what look like a teepee around your plant .
Quick tip
localize the walls of water over a bucket and fill the tube partway with water until the wall can mostly stand on their own . reassign the walls to your container over the plant , then proceed fill them to the top with water .
wall of water human action as mini nursery , collecting heat from the Lord’s Day during the day and radiate it back out at night .
They do need to be refilled periodically as the pee evaporate , but they ’re amazingly effective in colder climates and I extremely recommend using them if you need to get an early start on the produce season .
I normally remove mine once my love apple industrial plant are a few inch above the walls ( or I ’m certain all danger of icing has happen ) .
A simple way to remove the tomato teepee is to push all the paries in until water splatter out the top and onto the soil .
Once the tube are mostly empty , you could roll them down , lift them up over the works , dry them out , and hive away them for next yr . Then continue with Step 9 .
9. Add your support structure.
To reduce your hazard of damage the etymon , bestow your tomato financial backing at this leg before the plant grow too large .
If you are grow determinate tomatoes , the alloy conical cages that you find in most garden marrow will suffice . But , I am broadly speaking not a fan of them for undetermined tomato , as I recover they ’re too flimsy to support the long , sprawl vines .
My favourite tomato bread and butter are thesetomato ladders(essentially very tall , beefy stake ) andsquare tomato cages(which can be folded down when not in usance ) .
Both of these supports are strong , extendable , and durable ( I ’ve used the same ones for days and they still look good as new ) and they ’re also attractive , if you care about that kind of thing .
If you use tomato ladders , you could stake your industrial plant first and then add the “ walls of water ” over them , relieve oneself things a little more streamlined .
They ’ve easily bear out my container tomatoes that grew over 7 feet tall and are commodious to salt away off at the terminal of the season .
I ’d say the cages are a little better at containing the vine than the ladder , as you’re able to simply tuck your tomato limb back into the cage if they get too indocile .
With Lycopersicon esculentum ravel , you have to stay on top of tying or clip the vine to the stakes to keep them neat and tidy .
Whichever livelihood you practice , do n’t expect until you actually necessitate it before you install it . It ’ll be that much harder to wrangle a mature Lycopersicon esculentum industrial plant into a cage than to just have it in place early .
10. Mulch the soil.
Mulching is essential for any garden , but it ’s especially important for container gardens as it helps retain moisture in the soil .
Use an constitutional mulchlike wheat ( not hay , which contains seeds ) , shredded barque , or arborist Sir Henry Wood chips to cover the soil by at least 2 inches , taking care not to bunch up it up against the stem .
One substantial level of mulch should last the whole summer , and thestraw can be compostedwith your spent Lycopersicon esculentum plant life at the end of the season .
11. Fertilize your tomatoes consistently throughout the season.
Even with all that good stuff that you put in the planting cakehole , your tomato plants will need another shot of nutrients about six week into the time of year .
seek to avoid high - nitrogen plant food , as you ’ll stop up with hatful of lush green farewell , but no flowers or fruits .
How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots Like a Gardening Pro
You do n’t need a quite a little of space to grow tomato plant . You just need this step - by - stone’s throw guide that demonstrate you on the nose which varieties to grow and how to set your plants up for achiever .
Materials
Tools
Instructions
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This post updated from an article that originally appeared on May 23 , 2019 .
