Growing Tomatoes in Pots

There is no vegetable (or technically, fruit) more rewarding to grow than a tomato. The flavor of a sun-ripened, homegrown tomato eaten warm right off the vine is completely incomparable to the mealy, flavorless tomatoes sold in supermarkets.

Many people believe you need a large backyard garden plot to grow tomatoes, but that is simply not true. With the right pot, the right variety, and a little bit of care, you can grow massive, productive tomato plants on a patio or balcony.

Choosing the Right Variety

This is the most important step for container growing. Tomatoes fall into two main categories: Determinate and Indeterminate. Indeterminate tomatoes grow on long, vining stems that keep growing all season long, often reaching 8-10 feet tall. They are very difficult to manage in pots.

Determinate tomatoes (often labeled as "bush" or "patio" varieties) grow to a compact, predetermined height (usually 3-4 feet), stop growing, and produce all their fruit over a few weeks. These are perfect for containers. Look for varieties like 'Patio Princess', 'Tiny Tim', or 'Roma'.

The Container and Soil

Tomatoes have extensive root systems and are heavy feeders. Do not try to grow a tomato in a small pot! You need a container that holds at least 5 gallons of soil, but 10 or 15 gallons is even better. Ensure it has large drainage holes at the bottom.

Use a premium, well-draining potting mix. Tomatoes are very susceptible to blossom end rot, which is caused by a calcium deficiency linked to inconsistent watering. Mixing a handful of bone meal or crushed eggshells into the soil before planting can provide slow-release calcium to prevent this.

Planting Deep

Here is a secret tomato-growing trick: plant them deep! Look closely at the stem of a tomato seedling, and you will see tiny fuzzy hairs. If buried underground, those hairs will turn into roots.

When you transplant your seedling into its final pot, bury it deeply so that the bottom two-thirds of the stem is underground. Snip off any lower leaves that would be buried. This creates a massive, strong root system that anchors the plant and absorbs more water and nutrients.

Support and Pruning

Even compact determinate varieties need support once they are heavy with fruit. Insert a tomato cage or a sturdy stake into the pot at the time of planting. If you wait until the plant is large, you risk driving the stake through the root system.

For determinate varieties in pots, you generally don’t need to prune heavily. Simply remove any leaves that touch the soil to prevent soil-borne diseases from splashing onto the foliage, and trim away any yellowing or dead leaves to improve air circulation.

Watering and Feeding

Container tomatoes need incredibly consistent watering. If the soil dries out completely and is then flooded, the rapidly expanding fruit will crack and split. Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry, which might be every day in hot summer weather.

Because they are heavy feeders trapped in a pot, you must fertilize them. Once the plant starts setting flowers, apply a liquid tomato fertilizer or fish emulsion every two weeks to fuel the growing fruit. Before long, you’ll be harvesting your very own patio-grown crop!