Growing Cherry Tomatoes in Containers

I adore cherry tomatoes. I buy them at the grocery store in the winter, and in the summer, I used to go every week to our local farmers' market and buy these little pint containers of fresh cherry tomatoes for $4.50 a pint. I'd eat them plain, just enjoying the flavor. That trip to the farmers' market was one of the high points of my week.

It always bothered me, though, that I was spending so much on them, and I got a little box of tomatoes I had to eat quickly. "Why not try growing my own?" I asked myself. And I did.

Growing cherry tomatoes in containers is a lot like any other kind of container tomato gardening, though there are some special tricks and traps to look for.

The most important step is choosing the right variety of cherry tomato. The variety you choose will depend on what kind of container you use to grow cherry tomatoes. There are two kinds of containers commonly used: you can grow cherry tomatoes in pots, or you can grow cherry tomatoes in baskets.

If you choose to grow cherry tomatoes in a basket, you need to pick a variety of cherry tomato that does well with shallow roots. Good cherry tomatoes for baskets include Florida Basket Tomatoes, Floragold Basket Tomatoes, Anmore Dewdrop Tomatoes, Ditmarsher Tomatoes, and Micro Tom Tomatoes. What you care about for basket cherry tomatoes are varieties that don't grow very tall (all of these top out at a foot or under), with good sprawling foliage and a high yield of berries.

If you have multiple baskets, it's a good idea to stagger the planting. These are all determinate tomatoes, which means that they stop growing when they begin to ripen, so you will have a big crop of tomatoes and then the harvest will end a few weeks later. If you stagger the planting a bit, they will ripen at different times, stretching the harvest. Be warned: very hot weather is bad for tomatoes. If you live in a hot climate, you want to plant early and choose tomatoes with a short time to maturity.

Be sure to keep the basket well-watered. Some people have real success with automatic watering systems, but you don't need one if you can be faithful about watering every day.

If you choose to grow your cherry tomatoes in a pot, you have more options. There are lots of varieties of cherry tomatoes which top out at under two feet and can be planted in a small pot. If you want a bigger plant, you can use a standard 5-gallon pot and plant as you would regular tomatoes. Read more about growing container tomatoes.

For smaller pots, of a gallon or so, you want a small plant that doesn't need a lot of root spread. For those who want to grow cherry tomatoes in a small pot, look for the following varieties: Early Dwarf Cherry, Anmore Treasures, Lyana, Tiny Tim, Yellow Pygmy. Early Dwarf Cherry Tomatoes are especially good for indoor gardeners, because they don't need as much light as some varieties of cherry tomatoes.

Good luck, and enjoy!

Growing Container Tomatoes

One of my favorite homegrown vegetables is the tomato. Until you’ve tried really fresh tomatoes, you can’t imagine how much better they are than standard grocery-store fare, and a day of difference is huge when it comes to freshness and flavor.

The good news is that tomatoes are actually very easy to grow on your own! You don’t even need much outdoor space. You can grow tomatoes in pots or urns on a deck or porch, or even inside. You just need to be attentive and prepare well, and you can enjoy fresh, delicious tomatoes from your own plants!

First off, you want to be sure you have a big enough pot. To grow container garden tomatoes, you want at least a 3-gallon pot, and 5-gallon is safer. There are a few varieties you can grow in smaller pots, or even baskets, but 3-5 gallon pots give a good variety of options.

Make sure the pot has sufficient drainage. If your roots get too wet, they can rot, ruining your hard work. Make sure your pot will drain if you over-water it.

Choose a good potting mix. I like Miracle-Gro Potting Mix. Keep in mind that there is a difference between potting mix and potting soil: potting mix is much better for container vegetables. Read more about potting mix vs potting soil. Fill the pot with the potting mix, and wet it slightly.

It is best to start from seedlings when growing your tomatoes in containers. You can buy seedlings from a local nursery or farmstand, or you can order them online. Companies like Burpee and Gurneys will ship seedlings directly to you. Shopping at nurseries is usually cheaper, since you don’t have to pay for shipping. However, if you order online there is a much better variety available.

Carefully plant the seedling in your container and water well. Tomatoes like to spread out and up, so with container tomatoes, you should place a stake in the container or surround it with a cage, to keep weight off the vines and help them grow straight and tall.

Be sure to put the pots somewhere with a lot of light, and water regularly. It is a good idea to get a water-soluble fertilizer and use that as directed. Be careful: overfertilizing can be as bad for plants as under-fertilizing.

Depending on your variety, in around two months, you should be enjoying delicious container garden tomatoes! Good luck!