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Container Tomatoes

Filed under: — admin @ 12:18 pm


Tips for growing tomato plants in a container

Three problems you should avoid: 1. Too small of a pot 2. overheated soil 3. fluctuating moisture

Choose the largest container available (eg. whiskey barrel) to allow plenty of room for root development. Make sure you use good, well-drained potting soil. The soil mix should retain some water but allow excess water to drain freely (don’t use garden soil). If your container does not have a drainage hole, add coarse gravel to the bottom of the pot. This also helps to weight down the pot so it doesn’t get knocked over on a windy day. Container plants will dry out faster and will require more frequent watering on hot days. Water mature plants when the top inch of soil is dry and then water until it drains from the bottom. Some afternoon shade from the hot sun will help keep the soil from getting too hot. Overheated soil will stress the plant causing poor growth of leaves and fruit production. Fluctuating moisture(too much, then to little) can cause problems such as blossom-end rot.
For optimim success grow special varieties that are designed for container gardening such as a Patio Hybrid, Totem Hybrid (70 days). Both have compact vines that produce medium sized tomatoes. Tomatoes need at least 6-8 hrs of sun. They are heavy feeders and frequent watering will leach the nutrients down the drain hole. Therefore, fertilize regularily (10-14 days) with a 10-10-10. You can also add a time-release fertilizer to the soil as a suppplemental fertilizer.

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8 Comments on Container Tomatoes»

  1. I am considering growing a few tomato plants in an area that gets only partial sunlight. Would it be advisable to supplement light from a grow lamp, when natural light is not available? What about the use of mirrors to reflect sunlight to shaded areas?

    HI
    Tomatoes need 8 hrs of full sun each day, plants will be weak and spindly and may not set fruit with less than 6 hrs . You can try the grow light and mirrors to provide additional light. I would be interested in hearing what kind of results you get. My suggestion is (if you can) plant and tomato in a large pot (16inch or more) find the sunniest spot available and see what happens

    .

    Comment by Kris — 3/7/2006 @ 12:26 pm

  2. I have a porch tomato plant that has already started to fruit! Is it too early in the season to let this happen? Can you expound about early fruiting on container plants? Also give your best instructions on watering potted tomatoes? Thanks!

    When tomatoes reach a maturity level they start to produce flowers. Yours was probably started early in the season and is now ready to produce fruit. Sometimes they will fruit early as a result of stress and it triggers them to reproduce before they die. You may be the first one in the neighborhood to have home grown tomatoes! Keep your plant evenly moist during the growing season and fertilize once a week to replenish the nutrients that wash away.Time-release fertilizer also helps to feed the plant. In hot,dry spells water deeply.

    Comment by mrb — 5/11/2006 @ 5:21 am

  3. a general question i have for you…can Tomato plants be planted with other plants,such as Coleus?Or will the Coleus take all the nutrients from the fruits?

    Tomato plants can be planted with companion plantings. Be sure that they are comparable in light requirements. Coleus is a semi-shade/ shade plant whereas tomato requires at least 6 hrs. of full sun. As long as you supply enough water and nutrients both tomato and companion plants(provided they aren’t too aggressive) should grow without competing with one another.

    Comment by Betty — 7/10/2006 @ 4:04 am

  4. I have a 33 x 10 m glasshouse and a 30 X 40m shahdehouse I do not know how to use - I do not have time to grow commercially but want to use them - any tips or ideas?

    I would recommend that you grow plants that you enjoy and once you get started you will find all kinds of new interesting things to grow in your greenhouse. Try a pot of leaf lettuce, herbs and your favorite houseplants. Keep in mind there will be a maintainance expense that comes along with the greenhouse such as heating, lights, repairs. Check out a book titled Greenhouse Gardeners’ Companion by Shane Smith, it might be helpful to you.

    Comment by justin — 10/6/2006 @ 4:27 pm

  5. tips for growing tomato plants in bucket

    Three problems you should avoid: 1. Too small of a pot 2. overheated soil 3. fluctuating moisture
    Choose the largest bucket available (eg. whiskey barrel) to allow plenty of room for root development. Make sure you use good, well-drained potting soil. Add coarse gravel to the bottom of the pot for good drainage. If the soil gets overheated it will stress the plant causing poor growth of leaves and fruit production. Fluctuating moisture will add blossom-end rot. You will have better luck if you grow special varieties that are designed for container gardening such as a Patio Hybrid, Totem Hybrid (70 days). Both have compact vines that produce medium sized tomatoes. They need at least 8 hrs of sun. Tomatoes are heavy feeders, be sure to fertilize regularily (10-14 days) with a 10-10-10. You can also add a timed-release fertilizer to the soil. Hope this helps.
    Kris

    Comment by Robin — 2/18/2007 @ 9:11 am

  6. I just planted in seperate 4 gal pots, a San Diego Hybrid and a Better Boy using potting soil and 5-10-10- fertilizer. My question is how often do I water and fertilize them. I was told that chicken fertilizer made into a tea mix was good for tomatoes. Also can I use miracle grow?

    Water thoroughly when the soil feels dry and let it drain out the bottom. Maintain even soil moisture but don’t keep it too wet. In the garden tomatoes need about 1 inch of water per week. Watering will depend on the weather. On hot, dry days you may need to water twice a day. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and growing in a container will need ample fertilizer to produce fruit since a good amount of nutrients drain out of the bottom of the pot. Feed them with a higher phosphorous ( middle number) 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 formula at every other watering. Chicken fertilizer tea is high in nutrients but can be “hot” and burn the roots unless brewed well before using. For optimal production, make sure that your tomatoes plants get 6-8 hrs. of sun. Hope you get lots of tomatoes, enough to share with your friends!

    Comment by Virgil Lockhart — 3/10/2007 @ 1:23 pm

  7. My healthy looking container tomato plant has beautiful flowers, but they are drying up before setting any fruit. I had great success last year with this same container in the same location. Help—

    The fruit will not set in excessive heat,if temperatures are above 90.

    Comment by Bonnie Walling — 6/18/2007 @ 10:41 am

  8. I have planted tomatoes in large pots - one of the pots has tomatoes that has the leaves starting to curl - we water regularly and have fertilized twice - there are three plants per pot ( 10 gal pots ) - can you help me

    If your leaves are curling inward they are probably responding in self-defense to conserve water. Less exposed leaf surface will transpire less moisture. As the summer progresses and temperatures are hotter, plants will use more moisture especially when you have 3 plants in a pot that have matured and compete for water. Leaf Roll can indicate environmental factors such as uneven watering , prolonged wet soil, drought, high temperatures. Symptoms occur when the plant has a heavy fruit load. Be sure to water enough so that it drain out from the bottom of the container. In hot weather you may have to water twice a day. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) can also promote leaf roll. In addition, frequent watering leaches nutrients from the soil, therefore fertilize more often (at least every 2 weeks). Once you remedy the environmental problem, (barring viral disease) the leaves should uncurl. If the leaves are curling down- look for aphid on the underside of the leaves.

    Comment by Keith — 8/3/2007 @ 6:25 am

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