How To Grow Tomatoes In Pots
Growing tomatoes in pots is the perfect solution for anyone with a small space but still wants to grow fresh vegetables this summer. Whether it’s your back porch, a balcony, or even a sunny windowsill, you can enjoy fresh, homegrown tomatoes without needing a full garden.
This guide will give you tips for container gardening, showing you the easy way to grow your own tomatoes in containers—no traditional garden needed.
One of my favorite parts of homesteading is getting my hands dirty working in the soil. Having the ability to grow enough food for my entire family, starting with a tiny seed from a paper packet, giving me a bountiful harvest a few months later.
The work and the reward are both something I look forward to every year.
Today, however, things have changed and I am not able to keep up with the demands of a large garden as I once was.
Rather than stop gardening altogether, I now grow the food we love using containers so I can have that garden right outside my kitchen door.
The Benefits of Growing Tomatoes in pots
There are many benefits to growing tomatoes in containers, making it a great option for anyone who is short on space and time or is looking for a garden that is easier to take care of.
- Makes the Most of Your Space: Container gardening is ideal for those with limited space. Whether you live in an apartment or have a small porch, you can grow tomatoes in just about any sunny corner as long as you have the right container.
- Mobility: Containers are easy to move around, allowing you to reposition them as needed due to the weather. This is a game changer, especially if you live in an area that has rough spring weather like ours.
- Better Pest Control: Growing tomatoes in containers keeps them off the ground, reducing exposure to certain pests and soil-borne diseases.
- Better Soil Quality: Using containers lets you control the soil conditions. You can create the perfect mix of nutrients, drainage, and organic matter tailored to what tomatoes need to give you the best harvest.
- Easier to Care for: Container gardens require less weeding and are easier to water, making them much easier to care for overall.
Growing in containers is a great solution, allowing you to fill your kitchen and pantry with fresh tomatoes no matter where you live.
Get our EASY CONTAINER GARDENING TIPS FOR BEGINNERS to get even more help growing all the food you love in a non-traditional way.
Tips for a Good Setup
When growing your garden in containers, there are really no rules when it comes to the style of container; just be sure to follow these tips for the best outcome.
#1. Make sure you have ample drainage
Drainage means having a way for any excess water to escape so it does not pool at the bottom of the container. Pooling water can rot the root system and damage the plant, producing weak fruit. You can add in more drainage by drilling a few holes in the bottom with a drill or hammer and nails.
#2. Make sure your plants have enough room to grow
Strong, healthy plants depend on having enough space for their roots to expand and develop. For growing tomatoes, using a container that holds at least 5 gallons or more ensures enough room for the roots to grow deeply, giving a lush and productive plant above.
#3. Make sure your containers are clean
No matter if a container is new or recycled, it must be washed thoroughly with soap and water, rinsed completely, and left to dry. Placing it in sunlight afterward is an excellent way to use the sun’s natural sterilizing power.
Cleaning containers does more than just remove dirt—it eliminates lingering pests or diseases from previous plants. This will give you a healthy start, allowing you to grow a more robust plant.
#4. Make sure you choose a sunny location
Just like in. a traditional garden, the sun plays a key role in the health of a plant. Choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun. It is okay to group your plants together for easier care, but do not let the plants touch, as this can reduce air circulation, keeping leaves wet and risking issues with disease.
Growing Tip: Large containers can be heavy to move; that’s why I like to use wheelbases under my containers. This makes moving planters around much easier.
Simple Deluxe Grow Bags 10 Gallon 5 Pack Planter Pots with Handles, Thickened Nonwoven Fabric Aeration Cloth Bag, Heavy Duty Gardening for Tomoato, Potato, Vegetable, Herbs and Flowers, Black
JERIA 12-Pack 5 Gallon, Vegetable/Flower/Plant Grow Bags, Aeration Fabric Pots with Handles (Black), Come with 12 Pcs Plant LabelsVIVOSUN 5-Pack 5-Gallon Colored Grow Bags, 350G Thick nonwoven Fabric Pots with Handles for Flowers, Fruits and Vegetables
#5. Make sure you are close to a hose or other water source
Tomato plants in pots need consistent watering, so try placing your planters near a water source or somewhere a hose can easily reach. Container gardening requires more frequent watering compared to gardening in the ground. Arrange your setup in a way that makes daily care as simple as possible.
Plenty of room and plenty of drainage are your first steps when you are looking to grow tomatoes in pots or containers.
How To Grow Tomatoes In Pots
With so many varieties of tomatoes, choosing what to grow will be the hardest part of growing. Let’s look at the two most popular kinds giving you a step-by-step overview of the setup, care, and harvest.
Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes are a popular choice for many home gardeners—and for good reason. They’re an ideal plant to keep near your home, offering you a delicious, convenient snack throughout the summer.
Step #1. Pot size
You will want to look for a container that will hold 5 gallons and is around 14-20 inches in diameter. You can use a grow bag, a large planting container, or a bucket.
Remember, it is better to go bigger rather than smaller with tomatoes, as this will give the roots more room to grow. A healthy root system below means a healthier plant above.
Check the drainage of the container you choose and add in more if needed.
Step #2. Prevent Overcrowding
Stick to planting only one tomato plant per pot to avoid overcrowding. Cramming multiple plants together restricts airflow, which can invite problems like early blight.
Tomatoes thrive when they have room to grow, much like they would in a traditional backyard garden. Your aim with containers is to replicate a traditional garden as much as possible. Provide enough space for their roots to spread and stay healthy so you can enjoy a healthy crop of tomatoes.
Step #3. Planting
Start by using a high-quality soil and compost blend and fill your container about three-quarters full. Place your cherry tomato plant in the center, gently loosening the roots with your hand to promote better growth. Add more soil, gently padding things down with your hands to stabilize the plant. Add more soil to about 1 inch from the top of the pot.
When the plant begins to flower, you can apply a layer of compost or organic soil around its base. With each watering, nutrients from the compost will gradually seep into the soil, making it easier for the roots to absorb them and encouraging healthy growth.
Step #4. Support
Cherry tomato plants can get full of small tomatoes, and even though they are small, they can become quite heavy as more and more grow. Even though you are using a container, you will still need to add support for the plant.
You can use a tomato cage or a stake down the middle of the plant. Using gardening twine, tie a loop around the center stem and the stake. I like to tie both low on the plant and higher up to give the best support. When you are tying, keep it loose to give enough room for future growth.
Step #5. Water
Proper watering is key to a thriving tomato harvest. When growing tomatoes in pots, you’ll find they need to water your plants more often. if you are not sure if your plant needs to be watered, stick your finger into the soil of the pot to about 1 inch; if the soil is dry, you can water; if it is wet, you can hold off.
It’s best to water your tomatoes in the morning, as this gives the sun plenty of time to dry off the leaves as the day warms up. Watering in the evening can leave the leaves damp overnight, increasing the risk of fungus and other diseases.
Full-sized Tomatoes
You might not think you can grow a full-sized tomato plant in a confined space, but I have found they do surprisingly well. Before we start planting, there are a few terms to go over, determinate and indeterminate quickly.
Determinate tomato plants
Determinate tomato plants are often called “bush” tomatoes because they grow to a certain height and stop. The majority of their fruit matures within a month or two and appears at the ends of the branches.
These tomato plants need to be supported because of the weight of the tomatoes. You can do this with a simple tomato cage, which is a favorite of canners since all the tomatoes tend to ripen at once.
Indeterminate tomato plants
Indeterminate tomato plants are often referred to as “vine” tomatoes. They will continue to grow and produce fruit until the first frost of the season. It is not unusual to have indeterminate plants reaching 15 feet or even more, so support is a must. For this reason, a larger tomato cage may be needed. The biggest advantage to these plants is you will get fruit all season long, which is perfect for eating and enjoying.
When choosing a plant for your pots, it is best to stick with a bush-like Determinate tomato plant. This will keep the plant closer to the pot, giving it more stability.
Tomato Cages for Garden and Pots Outdoor，Tomato Plant Stakes，Support Cages Trellis for Climbing Plants Outdoor，Multi-Functional Climbing Vegetables Cages Trellis(48 inches，4 Pack)Fabulas Garden Stakes 16 Inch 70 Pack, Diy 4ft 5ft 6ft 7ft 8ft Tomato Stakes Plastic Coated Metal Plant Sticks Stakes Supports with 40 Connectors 30 Rotatable Clips for Indoor Outdoor Plants VegetablePlant Support Tomato Cages for Garden,4 Pack 18 inch Tomato Stakes Plant Stakes for Climbing Plants Adjustable Plant Trellis for Peony Support(4 Pack with 20M Garden Twist Tie)
Step #1. Pot size
The size of the container is important when growing tomatoes because, as stated above, you will want to make sure your plants have enough room to establish a sturdy root system. The health of your plant all comes from the roots, and the healthier and stronger they are, the better your plant and your harvest will be.
Choose a pot size that is at least 18 inches in diameter. A good choice is a 5 or even 10-gallon bucket that has a few holes in the bottom for drainage. Another option is to use a grow bag as they comes in a variety of sizes and can be used over and over again each year.
Step #2. Drainage
No matter what container you use, be sure you have ample drainage. This will prevent water from puddling at the base of the roots something that can damage or even rot the entire root system.
Growing tip: If you are using a bucket or other similar container, put a few rocks at the bottom of the to ensure the roots are kept up and out of any standing water. When using buckets, even with drainage holes, sometimes water takes a while to drain out. Having a layer of rocks is just another way to protect the roots.
Remember, the bigger the container, the better your plants will grow, but those big containers will also be incredibly heavy. I use bases with wheels to help me to move things when needed. This is incredibly useful if you get a heavy storm with high winds. Something that can damage tomato plants if given a chance.
Step #3. Support
Add your support to help stabilize the plant as it bears fruit. You can use a tomato cage or a few stakes down the center. Be sure to add in the support when you plant as doing so later can risk damaging the main stem or branches.
As the plant grows, you will need to guide the branches through the cage so it is well supported as the fruit begins to form. Unlike cherry tomatoes, full-sized tomatoes are quite heavy and require a full tomato cage or 2-3 stakes to help support the weight of the heavy fruit.
Step #4. Planting
Start by using a high-quality soil and compost blend and fill your container about three-quarters full. Place your tomato plant in the center, gently loosening the roots with your hand to promote better growth. Add soil, gently padding things down with your hands to stabilize the plant. Once planted you can top off with more soil to about 1 inch from the top of the pot.
Step #5. Fertilize
When the plant begins to flower, you can apply a layer of compost around its base. Each time you water, nutrients from the compost will seep into the soil, making it easier for the roots to absorb them, giving you healthy growth.
Step #6. Soil
Make sure to use the best soil possible for the best plants. This is an important step, so no scrimping here. Choose a light and fluffy potting soil that will not compact down. Please note when using fluffy soil that it may settle down quite a bit, and you will want to add more soil later on.
Step #7. Water
If you want a bountiful harvest, you will need to water consistently and correctly from day one. One of the drawbacks of growing your tomatoes in pots is you will need to water more often.
Unfortunately, there is a fine line between enough water and too much. A good rule is to always check the container before you water. Stick your finger down into the soil, and if the top 1 inch or so is dry, it’s time to give your plant a drink.
Do this for every container because one result will not be the same for each plant.
Growing Tomatoes in Pots – Tips
Tip #1. One of the best parts of using containers is how easy it is to protect your plants from weather. This includes cold snaps, frost, hail, and heavy winds.
Watch the weather, and if you see a threat, you can move your plants under a table or lightly cover them with a tarp.
Tip #2. Container gardens are still susceptible to bugs and diseases. To catch things early before they get out of hand, keep an eye on the leaves of your plant. Get into the habit of inspecting leaves weekly, touching them, and looking beneath for evidence of an issue.
If you see yellowing, spotting, eggs, or other things that are out of the ordinary, you will want to do a bit of investigating to see what’s going on. As with any illness, if you can catch it early on, you can most likely stop it before it becomes an issue.
Tip #3. Watch for weakness with your tomatoes. If you see your plant struggling under the weight of too many tomatoes you can either add in another stake or remove some of the fruits before anything breaks.
More often than not your plants can handle the weight of the fruits, but in some cases, you may need to add in more support. Tomato plant stakes are a great way to do just that and can be used in addition to tomato cages.
Tip #4. Fertilize if needed. Again, even though your plants are in containers the same rules apply for fertilizing. If your plant needs additional help, go ahead and add a fertilizer made specifically for tomatoes to the soil. You can do this with another dose of compost, mixing up a batch of compost tea, or purchasing an organic fertilizer.
Composting Tips and Guides:
Tip #5. Watch the moisture of your soil. Things tend to dry up more quickly in containers and that means you will need to monitor the soil daily. This is easy to do and you can incorporate it into your morning chore routine.
Growing tomatoes in pots is the perfect solution for anyone who is short on time, has little yard space, or is looking for an easier way to grow the food they love. Keep this Gardening 101 resource handy so you can turn to it year after year.
