How to Grow Tomatoes in Containers
Choose the right varieties and container sizes to grow massive tomato harvests on your patio.
Quick Takeaway
For a quick answer, check the main steps below. Always ensure proper sanitation and optimal temperatures for the best yield.
Determinate vs. Indeterminate
The biggest mistake container gardeners make is buying an "Indeterminate" tomato (like a Beefsteak or Sun Gold) and putting it in a small pot. Indeterminate tomatoes grow as massive vines that never stop growing until frost. They require at least a 15 to 20-gallon container and serious trellising.
For containers, choose Determinate (bush) or "Patio" varieties. These grow to a fixed size, set all their fruit at once, and can thrive in a 5 to 10-gallon pot.
Watering Container Tomatoes
Tomatoes are incredibly thirsty, but their roots will rot in standing water. Water deeply until water runs out the drainage holes. In the peak of summer, a 5-gallon pot may need watering twice a day. Use our Watering Estimator to understand how temperature impacts your schedule.
Preventing Blossom End Rot
If the bottoms of your tomatoes turn black and rot, it is a calcium deficiency. However, it's rarely caused by a lack of calcium in the soil; it's caused by inconsistent watering which prevents the plant from moving calcium to the fruit. Keep soil moisture consistent!