Growing tomatoes in pots, growing bags or buckets is not new anymore. But does their size matter? What pot size should we use for tomato plants?
Of course, the size will vary depending on the tomato plant varieties. But for the best results and maximum yield, the diameter of the pot should be 18 inches/45 cm for determinate varieties and 24 inches/60 cm for indeterminate varieties.
The larger the container, the easier is to care for the plants.
However, keep in mind, that the depth of the pot/container is even more important than the diameter.
In this article, you will learn how to pick the container for your tomato plant in order to ensure it stays healthy and it gives you a high yield.
What Pot Size to Use for Tomato Plants?
This is one of the most frequent asked questions among those gardeners who want to grow tomatoes in containers for the first time.
Because obviously, the pot size is one of the most important factors that will influence the fruit production of a tomato plant.
Tomato plants need plenty of space to stay healthy and grow large enough. Therefore, the more the space, the happier the plant is.
The diameter of the pot depends on the variety of the tomato plant:
- 18 in/45 cm for determinate varieties
- 24 in/60 cm for indeterminate varieties.
The depth of the pot should be at least 24 in/60 cm.
These measures are like a rule of thumb. These are the ideal measures for a good harvest and optimal use of soil as well.
However, if you want to have a bigger yield and you have plenty of space, I advise you to use even bigger pots.
But remember, if the pot is bigger, doesn’t mean you can plant more than two plants in the same container.
I mean, you could, but it is not ideal anymore. You should provide 5-gallon of soil for each plant.
Disadvantage of Large Pots
I mentioned above that if you have space, you can use bigger pots for your tomato plants to ensure even more tomato fruits.
However, I must warn you that this comes with a few disadvantages:
- Bigger pots are more expensive and obviously, they take up more space.
- Bigger pots will need more soil, which comes with even more spending.
- If you need more soil, you will need to carry more. So, think about your back as well.
- It is much easier to overwater your plants, as the container will not dry out as quick as the smaller ones.
- If the container is bigger, many people think that if they plant only one tomato plant in it, it would be a waste of space; therefore, they plant more in it. In conclusion, it is easier to overcrowd it.
Grow Tomato Plants in Containers
When growing tomatoes in containers, they need a little bit more attention than those that grow in the ground.
Pay attention to the watering schedule, as the containers tend to dry out much more quickly than the ground.
Tomatoes like moist soil, so, you should never leave the soil to dry out completely.
On the other hand, make sure the pots have plenty of holes where the excess water can drain. This way you prevent root rot.
Also, because the soil that you put in the pot has a limited amount of nutrients, you must not forget to fertilize your plants regularly.
You should also think about the staking method. Don’t forget, that if you leave your plant to grow too high, this can become top heavy and fall over. Therefore, staking and pruning as well is essential in this case.
Conclusion
If you want to grow tomatoes in containers, it is normal if you ask yourself what size they should be.
The size will depend on the variety of the tomato plant because determinate plants will grow smaller than indeterminate ones. Therefore, a pot with a diameter of 18in/45 cm for smaller varieties and a pot with a diameter of 24in/60 cm and 24in/60 cm in depth should be enough.
However, if you are using bigger pots, that shouldn’t be a problem, but on the contrary. Your tomatoes will enjoy the extra space and will grow bigger.
