Small-space gardeners have figured out ways to createcontainer cropsof healthy, delicious tomatoes.
Here are essential tipsfor successfully growing delicious tomatoesin pots and increasing your harvest.
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Benefits of Growing Tomatoes in Containers
Growing tomatoes in pots or other containers has several benefits.
This way the water can drain out, but the soil won’t end up all over the patio.
Fill your pot withhigh-quality potting soilto about an inch from the top rim.
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Grouping them provides some shade for the roots and makes watering easier.
The support system should be added to the container when planting each tomato.
Waiting until the plant is larger may disturb the growing roots.
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Apply water directly on the soil and minimize moisture on the leaves, which can encourage blight and fungus.
The soil should be moist but not soggy to avoid root rot.
You may need to water plants twice daily during sweltering summer or hot and windy days.
Even a few tomato-bearing plants can offset what you need to purchase at the store.ChiccoDodiFC/Shutterstock
Feed your plants the primary required nutrientsnitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
A balancedNPKfertilizer, such as 5-5-5 or 5-10-5 works best when added during watering.
Tomato plants like warm temperatures.
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If temperatures drop below 50 degrees, bring the plants inside or protect them from the cold.
Acclimate them slowly to outdoor growing conditions.
Harvest Ripe Tomatoes
Every variety of tomatoes has a slightly different growth rate and harvesting schedule.
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Most produce fruit within 60 to 100 days.
When grown indoors, container tomatoes need a warm, bright spot, and often grow lights.
All you need is some seed, potting mix, bright light, and warm temperatures.
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If you have a tomato plant you love,save the seedfrom the fruit to plant next year.
Collect the seeds from fruits that are fully ripe in mid-summer to fall.
The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham
The Spruce / K. Dave
The Spruce / K. Dave
The Spruce / K. Dave
Renee’s Garden
