6 Tips for Growing Tomatoes in a Container

There is nothing quite like a fresh slice of tomato from your own garden. Tomato varieties in stores are usually chosen for how well they ship and shelf life.  Varieties grown at home have bold and satisfying flavors. There are at least 10,000 varieties of tomatoes. Over 60 million tons of tomatoes are produced each year, making it the world’s most popular fruit and one you should definitely grow at home.
 
One of the easiest ways you can add tomatoes to your harvest no matter your local is to grow them in a container.
 
Here are 6 tips for growing tomatoes in a container.

From the Ground Up

1. ​Select the right container:

Use a big container, 1 plant in a 5 gallon bucket is ideal. Use a container with an 18in - 24in diameter to ensure space for full grown seedlings.  You may also want to consider a self watering container.​

2. ​Soil

Make sure you have adequate drainage and fill your container with a nutrient rich compost.  We like Terra Zest, a premium blend of manure, sawdust, and hydroscopic fiber (wool). Terra Zest is free from chemicals and will help maintain the moisture in your soil and release a slow fertilizer to your tomatoes.

3. Plant Deep

When planting tomatoes, you want the roots to grow deeply shooting out from the main stalk.  For this reason plant your tomato starts deeply, cover two-thirds of the tomato stem, removing all leaves below the soil line.​​​

Moving on up - Water & Sunshine

 4. Water the key to success

Plants take up and use water more efficiently in the morning. water the soil, not the plants as wet leaves can encourage blight and fungus. The goal is to have the soil moist, not wet. This requires daily watering, sometimes twice daily on hot summer days. Going too long in between watering and then overwatering can cause cracks in your tomatoes. Be sure to move them to a drier location if you getting a lot of rain. You can also use a self watering container to make things easier.

5. Sunshine that makes a difference

Tomatoes should get a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight but 8 hours is better. 

6. Select the best ​ variety

Pick the best variety type
Vanessa Myers of Western Garden Centers offers these great tips when considering tomato varieties.
General types of tomatoes include:

• Beefsteak (big, great for slicing)
• Cherry (small for salads and eating out of hand)
• Plum (good for sauces and pastes)
• Salad (medium, good for general use)

Tomatoes are also divided into whether they are determinate or indeterminate. If one is determinate, it will grow to a certain height and width and then stop (these are best for containers).  One crop will be produced before the plant dies. On the other hand, indeterminate plants will keep growing throughout the season. This is important to know if space is a consideration as indeterminate varieties can turn into a jungle if the conditions are favorable (make sure to provide added support if growing in a container).
Finally, they will be labeled as either hybrid or heirloom. If a plant is hybrid, it is the result of crossing other varieties. They are not likely to retain their desired characteristics if you try to save the seeds for the next year, and they may even be sterile.  In contrast, you can collect seeds from heirlooms because they do generally keep the same genetics in their seeds.

Try Terra Zest Today!

Buy Now