Grow juicy, ripe tomatoes no matter how small your space.
However, despite the same end product, growing tomatoes in pots requires a slightly different approach and process.
Heres what you’re gonna wanna know to grow the ripest tomatoes youll taste this season.
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Youll want to look at determinate versus indeterminate varieties.
Determinate tomatoes grow quickly but stop their vertical growth at a specific height, generally around four feet tall.
Indeterminate tomatoes produce the vines youve probably seen crawling high on trellises.
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They can grow up to six feet tall or more, and they produce fruit throughout the summer season.
Typically, indeterminate tomatoes have a richer, juicier flavor.
But, theyll require more effort to double-check you have the right support system to encourage their growth.
These are a few of thebest varieties of tomatoesfor growing in pots.
Tiny Tim
This ultra-compact determinatecherry tomatovariety is perfect for small containers or even window boxes.
Bush Tomatoes
Thewlis recommends bush tomatoes for a home gardener growing their tomatoes in pots.
These tomato plants exhibit a compact, shrub-like stature reaching a height of three feet.
A simple stake is all thats needed if this determinate tomato begins to get too heavy.
Depending on the variety, bush tomatoes can be disease resistant.
They are well-suited for slicing, canning, or making sauces.
They can thrive in containers with staking, explains Cooper.
These medium-sized, elongated fruits have a meaty texture and low moisture content.
They are perfect for making sauces, soups, and canning, says Cooper.
They are disease resistant, particularly in cooler climates.
They are perfect for snacking, salads, and adding to pasta dishes.
She recommends choosing a quality potting mix that is specifically formulated for vegetables or tomatoes.
When it comes to fertilizer, Thewlis says, Tomatoes have a voracious appetite.
Select an organic fertilizer designed to support fruit and flower production.
I look for an NPK value around 4-9-3 with calcium levels around 10-15%, explains Thewlis.
If you have a five to seven-gallon container, mix in two to three cups of fertilizer.
Once youve planted the tomato, top the pot with mulch or compost to help retain moisture.
Sunlight and Temperature Requirements
Tomatoes are sun-loving plants that want full sun and temperatures above 55 degrees.
Tomato Pruning and Support
Prune your plants!, says Thewlis.
Tomato plants should have one single stem or leader that supports the plant and maximizes fruit production.
As your plant gets heavier, you could use support systems to see to it your tomato is supported.
Cooper explains, you might use heavy stakes or bamboo to support your tomato plant.
Container grown tomatoes are more susceptible since the soil environment doesnt have the same supply that ground soil does.
To prevent this, drop an antacid in the soil once monthly.
Tomato hornwormis a common predator of tomatoes in pots.
