Growing Tomatoes in Pots and Containers

Growing tomatoes in pots is a great way to make the most of your patio or balcony garden. With a bit of care, growing tomatoes in pots can yield sweet, large and delicious fruit. Start with the right variety of tomato plants. Tomatoes can be demanding and not all varieties do well in containers. Cherry tomatoes are hardy and are an excellent choice. Other varieties of tomato plants have been bred specifically for container gardening. Some good container tomato varieties include:

All varieties of Cherry Tomatoes

San Marzano Roma Tomatoes

Big Boy Bush Tomato

Brandywine Tomatoes

Homeslice Tomato

Most reputable garden centers usually offer several different container tomato varieties. Finding one should not be a problem.

Use a Soil-less Potting Mix

Choosing the best potting soil for your pot is also very important. I recommend soil-less mixes for container gardening because they’re light. They also provide good aeration and drainage. They’re not as nutrient rich as soil based mixtures so periodic use of organic fertilizers is highly recommended when growing tomatoes in pots.

Morning Sunlight is Best

Tomato plants love sunlight and should get at least 6 to 8 hours of it per day. Morning sunlight is better than harsh afternoon sunlight. Study your space and choose a location accordingly. Pots are easy to relocate so growing tomatoes in pots makes it easy to experiment with different locations.

Water Regularly

Water tomatoes regularly and don’t let your pots dry out. Larger pots are more forgiving in this respect and many offer a self watering feature. Water your plants at the soil line because plants absorb water through the roots. Moisture on leaves can also lead to problems. Watering in the morning is most recommended.

Use a Large Pot

When it comes to growing tomatoes in pots, not all pots are created equal. A large pot will provide more nutrient rich growing mix so your plants are more likely to thrive. They’re also less likely to dry out on hot summer days. My hanging garden was designed specifically for this purpose so it’s always a good choice. There are many other large pots you can choose. Look for a large pot with good drainage.

Grow Tomatoes Upside Down

Growing tomatoes upside down offers several advantages over growing them right side up. Tomato plants are vines and vines have to be supported by staking or caging. An upside down tomato planter eliminates the need for support. Plants hang freely and are less likely to break under their own weight. Also keep in mind that tomato plants can grow very large. Growing them upside down puts them out of harm’s way. They’re far less likely to get knocked over and injured by an accidental bump, gust of wind, or a boisterous pet or child.

Growing Tomatoes in Pots

Growing tomatoes in pots is a great way to grow these delicious fruits. Following above guidelines will help you to grow large healthy plants. Using the right pots for the job will make that job much easier. Please consider my Hanging Garden Planter which was designed specifically for this purpose.