Container Tomatoes Are Plentiful

A feature of growing tomato plants this way is the fact that that they are easier to tend when they are up off the ground.  It requires less effort to tend the plants and also to maintain the plant during the growing season when checking or tending the plant for any problems.

Most varieties of tomatoes will grow in containers, but in truth the ones that do grow better are the smaller determinate plants.  Determinate varieties are those that will grow to the small size, usually between 1 to 2 feet in height.  

Growing tomatoes in pots does mean that they will ripen all at once and to counteract this it would be a good idea to plant about 4 weeks apart so that you have a longer harvesting season.  An extended harvesting season can be obtained by choosing different varieties, so check this out when you are choosing plants to suit your climatic conditions.

Because the soil in pots does tend to dry out quicker than in the garden another useful tip is to choose plants that do not require so much water.  So that you get the best crop of container tomatoes, consistent watering is best. This will keep the soil moist.

Requirements for growing tomatoes in pots

Some suggest that growing in terracotta pots is a good idea, and in the cooler climates that does work but I have found in the more tropical climates that the terracotta pots get hot and dry the soil out too quickly.  So now that I live in a more tropical climate I now grow my container tomatoes in plastic pots.

Good drainage is essential, so make sure there are several holes about ½ inch wide in the bottom of the pot and it is best to cover these with a mesh so that the soil does not wash out as you water the plants.  

Once you have placed the fine mesh (either plastic or wire) over the holes, place some course gravel or rocks on the bottom of the pot before adding the soil.  This will provide good drainage and also prevent root rot.

Use a mix of quality soil and organic mulch to plant the tomatoes in and check the soil reasonably regularly to make sure that the required soil pH levels are right for tomato plants.  They need to be between pH 5.5 and 8.  By following these tips for growing container tomatoes you will be reaping large sweet tomatoes in a couple of months.