Why Grow Tomatoes in Containers?

Best Tomatoes for Pots

The best tomatoes for pots are compact varieties labeled patio, bush, dwarf, balcony or determinate. They stay short and produce fruit over a shorter period:

Indeterminate varieties keep growing all season and can reach 6 feet or more. They can grow in large containers, but compact varieties are much easier for beginners.

Determinate or Indeterminate: What It Means for Pots

Seed packets and plant labels usually say determinate, indeterminate, bush or vining. For a first try at growing tomatoes in containers, choose determinate or dwarf types.

Pot Size for Tomatoes

Choosing the right pot size for tomatoes is the most important decision after the variety. A bigger pot holds more water and nutrients, so the plant is less stressed:

• Minimum: about 5 gallons (a 14 to 16 inch pot) for compact and patio varieties.
• Better: 10 gallons or more for determinate slicing tomatoes.
• Tall varieties: 15 to 20 gallons, such as a half barrel or large grow bag.
• Drainage holes are a must; tomatoes do not tolerate soggy roots.
• Color and material: light-colored pots and fabric grow bags stay cooler than black plastic in full sun.

Potting Mix for Tomatoes in Containers

• Use a fresh, high-quality potting mix, not garden soil, which compacts in containers.
• Mix in compost for extra nutrients if you like, up to about a quarter of the volume.
• Add a slow-release fertilizer at planting, following the label.
• Do not reuse last year’s mix for tomatoes without refreshing it, to reduce disease risk.

More about soil in containers: growing flowers, vegetables and greens in pots.

Start from Seed or Buy Plants?

• Young plants from a garden center are the easiest way to start. Choose short, sturdy plants with dark green leaves and no flowers or fruit yet.
• Seeds give you more variety choice. Sow indoors about six to eight weeks before your last frost date, in a warm, bright spot or under a grow light.
• Harden off seedlings by placing them outside for a few hours a day for about a week before planting them in their final pots.

Types of Containers for Tomatoes

When to Plant Tomatoes in Pots

Tomatoes are sensitive to cold. Plant them outdoors after your last spring frost date, when night temperatures stay above about 50°F. The advantage of pots: on a cold night you can move them into a garage or against a warm wall.

How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots: Planting Step by Step

Sun and Location

• Give tomatoes at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day; a south- or west-facing patio is ideal.
• Choose a spot sheltered from strong wind, or tie plants firmly.
• In very hot climates, a little afternoon shade can prevent heat stress.
• Place pots on a plant caddy with wheels if you want to move them easily.

Planning a vegetable patio? See vegetable gardening for beginners for other easy crops.

Balcony Tips for Tomatoes in Containers

• Weight: a large pot with wet soil is heavy. Check what your balcony can carry, and use lighter fabric grow bags if you are unsure.
• Wind: balconies can be windy; choose compact varieties and tie plants to a sturdy stake or the railing.
• Water runoff: use saucers so water does not drip onto the balcony below, and empty them after watering.
• Sun: south- and west-facing balconies are best; on a shady balcony, cherry tomatoes cope better than large slicers.

A short, light hose or a watering can is easiest on a balcony; see our expandable garden hose guide.

Support: Cages and Stakes

• Cages suit compact and determinate varieties.
• Stakes of 5 to 6 feet suit tall varieties; tie the stem loosely every foot as it grows.
• Put support in at planting to avoid damaging roots later.
• Anchor tall pots or place them against a wall so they do not tip over when full of fruit.

Watering Tomatoes in Pots

Watering tomatoes in pots is where most problems start or are solved. Containers dry out much faster than garden beds:

• Check daily in summer: water when the top inch of mix feels dry. In hot weather, that can be every day, sometimes twice a day for small pots.
• Water deeply until water runs from the drainage holes.
• Water the soil, not the leaves, ideally in the morning.
• Be consistent: letting the pot dry out and then flooding it causes cracked fruit and blossom-end rot.
• Use a saucer carefully: empty it after watering so roots do not sit in water.

A watering wand or a hose nozzle with a gentle shower setting makes daily watering quick; see our garden hose nozzle guide and our tips on how often to water tomatoes. On a balcony, a light expandable hose is easy to store.

Watering Tomatoes in Pots While You Are Away

• Move pots to a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade.
• Water deeply and add a thick layer of mulch on the potting mix.
• Use a self-watering container, a water reservoir spike or a drip line on a hose timer.
• Group pots together so they shade each other and lose less water.
• Ask a neighbor to check on hot days; small pots can dry out within a day.

Feeding Tomatoes in Containers

• Tomatoes in containers need regular feeding, because nutrients wash out with frequent watering.
• Use a slow-release fertilizer at planting, then a water-soluble tomato or vegetable fertilizer as the label directs, often every one to two weeks once flowering starts.
• Avoid too much nitrogen, which produces lots of leaves but few fruit.

Pruning and Care

• On tall (indeterminate) varieties, pinch out some suckers, the shoots between the main stem and side branches, to keep the plant manageable.
• Do not prune determinate varieties much; they set most of their fruit at once.
• Remove yellow or diseased lower leaves to improve airflow.
• Tap flowering stems gently or let wind move the plant to help pollination on a sheltered balcony.

Companion Plants for Tomatoes in Containers

A large pot has room for a small companion plant at the edge. Basil, parsley and chives grow well next to tomatoes and are handy to pick at the same time. Marigolds and nasturtiums add color and attract beneficial insects. Keep companions small, so they do not compete for water. More combinations: what grows well with tomatoes.

Common Problems with Tomatoes in Pots

Slugs can also nibble low fruit; see how to get rid of slugs. More on pests: garden insects and how to keep birds out of your garden.

Harvesting

• Pick tomatoes when fully colored and slightly soft, or at first blush and let them ripen indoors at room temperature.
• Harvest regularly to keep the plant producing.
• Do not store ripe tomatoes in the refrigerator if you want the best flavor.

End of the Season

• Before the first frost, pick all fruit; green tomatoes can ripen indoors.
• Compost healthy plants; discard diseased ones.
• Empty and clean pots, and store them dry for winter.

See our checklist to winterize your garden for storing pots and tools. Planting in a bed next year? Read how far apart to plant tomatoes and what grows well with tomatoes.

Frequently Asked Questions