Growing Tomatoes In Containers

[Quillback]

I'm thinking about growing tomatoes in containers this year. I have heard 5 gallon buckets work good, but that seems a little small to me. Anyone done it before and had good luck?

[brownieman]

They grow fine in buckets.

I've grown em in all sorts of things. Larger the pot the better it does of course...that being said don't use black pots if ya can...they get much warmer and tend to dry out quicker. Put a good soil mix in the container and make sure it has ample drainage holes and they will do fine.

Just for a snack plant so to speak I generally plant a couple 'Sweet 100s' cherry tomatoes on my deck...cherrys are good in salads too.

Either mix your soil so it has some nutrients in it...if not use triple 20...just don't care for the chemicals myself.

Something I have done cause once the plants get a lg. root system they dry the containers out fast is use 'Extra Sorb'...sold under variuos names, little pellets that absorb water and release it back into the soil slowly...they do help with watering.

Good luck and you'll see it works fine...

[bigredbirdfan]

Just to reinforce what brownieman said, make sure they drain well and you are dealing with a smaller amount of soil so it can dry out quicker too.

[brownieman]

Forgot to mention,

Fill the bottom of your container with 2 or 3 inches of creek gravel...this will ensure good drainage, keep the drain holes from getting plugged up and help avoid root rot. Make sure your gravel and soil are sterile also...most store bought will be sterile and you can spread your gravel out and let the sun sterilize it or wash it.

If you want your soil to drain well mix some sand and a little gravel with it...you can get it from any gravel/sand bar and the sun will sterilize sand 2" deep.

I enjoy talking about gardening and plants having worked in a greenhouse setting for several years, several times.

Plants in containers have one advantage to earthen plants...if they pick up a disease it's much easier to flush the soil in a container as opposed to the ground.

Pepper plants do well like this also if ya like any kind of peppers.

enjoy...spring is just around the corner, plantin time is near...

[Quillback]

Thanks for the advice. That's why I'm going to containers for tomatoes, my garden soil seems to now have tomato fungus issues. So I'll try the tomatoes in containers and plant other stuff in the garden. I have a gravel yard, so I won't have a problem getting gravel for the containers

[snagged in outlet 3]

I know this sounds strange but it works extrememly well. I hang the containers and put the plant in the bottom hole. So it's growing upside down out of the bottom drain hole. The plant comes out the bottom and grows toward the ground. I hang them at least 5 feet above the ground and there is no reason to stake them because they hang out the bottom. Make sure that what you hang them from is stout, because they can get real heavy. Once I started doing it, my neighbors saw how well they did and everyone was doing it the next year.

Now I plant basil and oregano in the top and the tomatoe out the bottom.

SIO3

[northeastmofisherman]

I know this sounds strange but it works extrememly well. I hang the containers and put the plant in the bottom hole. So it's growing upside down out of the bottom drain hole. The plant comes out the bottom and grows toward the ground. I hang them at least 5 feet above the ground and there is no reason to stake them because they hang out the bottom. Make sure that what you hang them from is stout, because they can get real heavy. Once I started doing it, my neighbors saw how well they did and everyone was doing it the next year.

Now I plant basil and oregano in the top and the tomatoe out the bottom.

SIO3

[brownieman]

I hang the containers and put the plant in the bottom hole. So it's growing upside down out of the bottom drain hole. The plant comes out the bottom and grows toward the ground. I hang them at least 5 feet above the ground and there is no reason to stake them because they hang out the bottom. Make sure that what you hang them from is stout, because they can get real heavy.

You are right SIO,

Never have done it myself but it does work great and like you stated...no need for stakes.

Do you sucker em or just let em go?

[snagged in outlet 3]

Let em go! I just plant em and let em rip. I don't have time to mess with em much. Side benefit is, critters can't get at em either. Turtles will put the hurt on em in a hurry around my house.

SIO3