Growing tomatoes doesn’t require a sprawling backyard. If you have a balcony, patio, rooftop, terrace, or even a sunny corner outside your house, you may find that growing tomatoes in pots is possible. Pot growing is a great option for those without a traditional garden. You can control the soil, and move the pot if required, producing a nice little crop of fresh tomatoes in your kitchen’s vicinity. However, tomatoes aren’t as simple as popping a seed in a pot and waiting for nature to do its thing. They need to be placed somewhere sunny, in decent soil, watered, and given the room their roots require. If this is your first foray into pot-planted tomatoes, this beginner’s guide will take you through all of the steps from pot choice to harvesting your first tomatoes. Choose the Type of Tomato You Want Your first choice is which tomato you want to grow. Tomato plants range in size, from the compact grower to ones that need a full garden bed of space to flourish. For pot-grown tomatoes, search for varieties that are labelled as ‘compact’, ‘dwarf’, ‘patio’, ‘bush’, ‘container friendly’ or ‘determinate’. This does not mean you can’t grow larger tomatoes in a pot, just that it will need more love and space than you may be expecting. If this is your first go at tomatoes, it’s best to stick to the compacts. Choose the Right Container Your tomato plant is going to need a little more space than your average basil. Choose a nice large pot that allows the tomato’s roots to spread out in comfort. Exactly how large will depend on the type of tomato, so check the information that comes with your chosen variety. Also, make sure that the pot you choose has drainage holes. This will allow excess water to escape the pot. Without it, the roots of your tomato can rot, stunting its growth and risking the chances of disease. Five gallons is a good average size for many individual tomato plants, but it will depend on your variety. Choose the Right Potting Medium Don’t be tempted to fill your nice new pot with your garden soil. To give your tomato a good start in life, a potting mix formulated for pot growing is best. The mix should retain enough moisture to keep your plant watered, but not so much that nothing drains away. Compost, or suitable organic matter, can also be added for extra goodness. Avoid adding lots of fertilizer at the start as this can shock young plants and you may end up with more leaves than fruit – there are plenty of nutrients in the right growing medium. Tomato plants need a little balance not just the largest dose available. Get Some Sunlight Tomatoes are plants that crave the sun, so put your new tomato plant somewhere it can bask in the afternoon sun. Six to eight hours of sunlight is considered good for most varieties, but it can vary by type and your local conditions. Before you settle on a spot, check what sunlight you have available. A spot that looks good in the morning may be far less desirable in the afternoon, due to shade cast by buildings, walls, trees, and other structures. Not enough light and your tomato may fail to thrive, with disappointing results. Buy a Healthy Seedling If you’re new to growing vegetables, buying a young tomato plant may be a good option to help you get started. Choose a plant with healthy, dark green stems and leaves and avoid anything that looks like it’s been ravaged by bugs. Leaves that are uniformly yellow are also a bad sign. It should also be reasonably compact in growth, not tall and leggy. Of course, you can start growing your tomatoes from seed, but as a beginner it’s best to start with a seedling. If you do want to try sowing your own seeds, be sure to read the instructions for your chosen variety and provide the right conditions for germination and growth. Plant the Tomato Correctly Tomatoes have a fascinating knack of being able to grow roots along their stem. When transplanting your young plant, some growers bury more of the stem than you might with other plants, leaving leaves along the newly-buried stem exposed. This encourages extra root growth along the buried stem, helping to give your plant a good start in its new home. However, the correct method will vary depending on the plant and variety, so it’s best to do a little research or ask your local nursery. Your seedling is your friend. Handle it with care during this stressful period and give it a good drink of water after planting to settle its roots into its new growing medium. Provide Plant Support When you first put your tomato plant in its pot, it may look like it won’t need much in the way of support, but don’t be fooled. Many tomato varieties grow upwards and outwards, becoming top-heavy as they fruit. A tomato cage or stake can help to support your plant so it doesn’t end up on the ground, making your harvest a difficult and dirty job indeed. It’s best to put in supports early on, rather than trying to cram a stake into the pot once the plant has become well-established. The amount of support your tomato needs will depend on the variety. Large indeterminate varieties will need far more support than compact bush tomatoes. Water Tomatoes Regularly Tomatoes need plenty of water, especially during hot weather and when fruiting. However, constantly wet compost can also be a bad thing. It’s best to water when the top of the compost has begun to dry out, rather than giving your plant a trickle every day. Container-grown tomatoes can also be prone to drying out faster than those in the garden, especially when exposed to heat or wind. Water the roots rather than the leaves when you can. During particularly hot weather you may need to water your container-grown tomato more than once per day. Put Down Some Mulch Putting down a layer of mulch can help to retain moisture in the compost. Suitable mulch, such as straw, can be helpful in reducing evaporation, but be sure not to pile it right up the stem of your plant. There should also be space between the mulch and the leaves. Mulch can also help reduce the amount of soil that ends up on your tomato’s leaves when you water. Feed the Plant Tomato plants are heavy feeders, so a suitable tomato or vegetable fertilizer can help to give your plant the nutrients it needs. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when feeding, as too much of a good thing can often be a bad thing. Extra fertilizer won’t necessarily mean extra fruit either – it can often lead to leafy plants with little in the way of tomatoes. If you’re growing your tomatoes in pots it can also be easy for nutrients to be leached out of the compost, especially during hot weather or when using a large pot with limited growing medium. Watch Out for Pests Tomato plants are often targets for bugs. Check your leaves and stems for any unusual holes, staining, bugs, stickiness or curling. It can be tempting to reach straight for a pesticide as soon as you spot something amiss. It’s best to take a moment and assess the situation first. Identify what insect or bug you’re dealing with and whether it’s actually causing you a problem. Some bugs are completely harmless. If you do decide to use an insecticide, make sure it’s suitable for use on edible plants and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. Remove Diseased Leaves As your tomato plant grows some leaves will naturally die off and will turn yellow, but it’s also a good idea to remove any leaves that appear diseased. It’s important not to remove too many healthy leaves though, as they provide the energy for photosynthesis for the rest of the plant, and are needed for fruit production. If you’re growing an indeterminate variety there is also some debate about whether or not pruning is a good idea, as they often require a different growing system to determinate varieties. As a beginner it’s best to do a little research on the variety you’ve chosen before getting shears out. Help Out During Flowering Once your tomato plant begins to flower you’ll know it’s getting close to producing fruit. Outdoors many tomato varieties are wind-pollinated, but potted plants can also benefit from a little help. Gently shake the plant or help pollinate the flowers in whatever way you can, without causing too much damage. Once pollinated the lovely little green tomato will begin to swell behind each flower. This is when it becomes especially important to keep a close eye on your watering regime. Be Careful When Watering During Fruit Development Inconsistent watering can cause lots of problems in developing tomatoes, including fruit-splitting in certain varieties. The aim is not to keep the compost permanently wet, but to try not to have large fluctuations in its moisture content. Check your plant regularly, especially during hot weather and try to keep a close eye on your watering regime. Mulching can also help the compost to retain moisture. Know When to Harvest Your Tomatoes One of the joys of growing your own is watching a green tomato slowly change color. It all depends on the variety you’ve chosen, but most will show some kind of color change as they mature. Some will go from green to red, others from green to yellow or orange or even pink or purple. Harvest the tomato when it has reached the right color for your variety and has begun to soften slightly. Your whole crop doesn’t have to be fully mature and ready to be picked at the same time either. Handle your harvest with care to avoid bruising. What Do I Do If My Tomato Plant Has Loads of Leaves But No Fruit? This is probably one of the most common tomato growing problems. Your tomato plant has loads of healthy-looking leaves but not a single tomato to be seen. There are lots of reasons why this can happen, most commonly it can be due to lack of sunlight, too much nitrogen, extreme temperatures, pollination problems, or the variety just doesn’t like the conditions it’s in. There are many possible causes, but it’s best not to change too many variables at once. Ask yourself whether or not your plant is getting enough sunlight; are there any flowers? Has it been particularly hot or cold lately? Have you been feeding it lots of nitrogen-rich fertilizer? Common Tomato Growing Mistakes Too Small a Pot Tomato plants need lots of space for their roots to grow. Too Wet a Pot Tomato plants need good drainage or their roots can rot. No Support A tomato plant can become very heavy when it begins to bear fruit. Providing support is always a good idea. The Wrong Variety A huge indeterminate tomato is not going to suit a tiny balcony. Lack of Sunlight Tomato plants need lots of sunlight to thrive. No Inspection A little time spent inspecting your plants can save you a lot of time and heartache. Can I Grow Tomatoes on My Balcony? If your balcony provides the correct conditions, then yes. There are many tomato varieties that are particularly good at growing in pots. Make sure you give your plants the correct sunlight and support they need, and that wherever you’re putting your pot can handle the weight. If you live in an apartment you should also think about whether the water running off your pots is going to cause any problems. Final Thoughts Growing your own tomatoes in pots can be a really satisfying hobby, even if you’ve never tried growing vegetables before. The process is reasonably simple and just requires a little time and dedication. Choose a suitable variety, a large enough pot with good drainage, give your plant lots of sunlight and water it regularly. Don’t worry if your first ever tomato plant doesn’t produce a crop – we’re all beginners when we start. One year you may find that your pot was far too small; the next you may discover a new variety that’s absolutely perfect for your balcony. With a little patience and care, your humble tomato plant can grow into a surprisingly prolific crop of delicious, home-grown tomatoes. FAQs How big should a pot be for a tomato plant? The right size of pot depends on the variety you choose. Many individual plants do well in pots of five gallons or more. The soil should allow the plant’s roots to spread out comfortably. How much sunlight do tomato plants need? Tomato plants need lots of sunlight, ideally around 6–8 hours per day. How often should I water tomatoes in pots? It’s best to water when the top of the soil has begun to dry out. Potted plants can also dry out more quickly, especially during hot weather. Can I grow tomatoes on a balcony? Yes, if the conditions allow. Choose the right variety and provide the right conditions. Why are my tomato leaves turning yellow? Yellow leaves can be caused by a number of things, including pests, diseases and watering or feeding problems. Take a good look at your plant before trying to diagnose the problem. Do tomatoes need fertilizer in pots? It depends on the plant and the growing medium. Most container-grown plants benefit from the addition of a suitable fertilizer, as nutrients can be leeched out more easily. Should tomato plants have support? Many varieties of tomato do well with the addition of a cage, stake or trellis to provide support. Post navigation 10 Gardening Tips for Beginners That Actually Make Growing Plants Easier
