How to Grow Tomato Plants in a Container Garden

Growing tomato plants in a container garden is an excellent way to make use of limited space or supplies, producing many varieties of delicious fruit.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jiffy peat pots and pellets
• water
• tomato seeds
• gallon-sized pots
• potting soil
• Miracle-Gro or fertilizer
• Tomato stakes or cages

1. Decide which tomato plants to grow for containers. The determinate type will be easiest to maintain without having to use many stakes or tomato cages. This type of plant grows to a set point and then stops growing.
   
   The indeterminate type of tomato plant, has more vines. It will continue to grow even after producing flowers and fruit. It will need more support for its extending vines. This type does however continue producing tomatoes into the fall.
   
   The most popular dwarf/container determinates are Tiny Tim, Cherry Gold, Red Robin and Small Fry. These varieties take from 45- 70 days to produce tomatoes.

2. Start seeds early in spring, in small pots, or containers like Jiffy peat pots and pellets, which work excellent for this, as they are a pot and soil all in one. Plant the seeds according to directions on the seed packets, paying attention to seed depth. After sowing the seeds, water pots generously until soaked. Find a warm, sunny location, but not direct sun, for the pots. Moisture and warmth are ideal for starting seeds.

3. Make sure the soil remains damp but not drenched. Tomatoes take about 5-7 days to start. When the first leaves begin to show, make sure the plants have air circulating, if they were covered by plastic or a Jiffy greenhouse dome.

4. When the plants have developed their leaves fully, it is time to transplant them into the permanent containers, which will be their home for the rest of the growing season. Each plant should have about a gallon-size pot. You can plant several plants in one pot but make sure they have adequate spacing and room for growth. Dry out the small pots by ceasing water for a day or two. If the plants have become spindly, bury the stem deeper in the soil, but make sure the roots will have enough room to extend. Surround each plant with soil, patting down the loose soil.

5. Water each plant until soaked. Apply Miracle-Gro or other fertilizers if you so wish. Place the plants in a sunny location that will get regular daylong sun. Water the plants regularly, an important key to producing healthy tomatoes.

6. Make sure to provide stakes or cages for those plants that need to grow vertically.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to provide adequate stakes and cages as plants will grow vertically.
• Tomatoes need water and sun. Make sure they get enough of each.

[nybfutd]

on 5/28/2009 Some good information -- 5***** recommend

[happycamper]

on 7/7/2008 This method works great for people who don't have much yard space or have a short growing season.