How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots
Obtain a healthy tomato plant., Use a large pot with drainage holes., Be mindful about material., Scrub your pot clean., Prepare your potting mix., Mix fertilizers into the soil.
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Obtain a healthy tomato plant.
Most varieties can be grown in pots, but larger tomatoes will need larger containers.
Tomato plants are also significantly easier to grow by transplant, rather than by seed. -
Step 2: Use a large pot with drainage holes.
Most tomato plants require a 15-gallon (60-liter), 18-inch (46-centimeter) pot in order to have adequate room to develop.
Some small varieties may fit inside a 12-inch (30.5-centimeter) pot, but the roots will be restricted and your yield may not be very impressive. , Sturdy clay pots may look nice, but a pot this large will get very heavy and you will not be able to move it without some strain.
As a result, plastic pots with drainage holes and saucers may work best. , This step is crucial if your pot once held another plant, since it may have left bacteria and microscopic insect eggs behind.
At minimum, you should wash the pot out with hot water and soap.
You can also use a little bleach for a more thorough cleansing. , Never use garden soil, which may contain harmful pests and bacteria that can damage tomatoes, which are susceptible to disease.
An all-purpose potting soil provides an excellent base, but you can also mix it with equal parts perlite, sphagnum peat moss, and compost to improve drainage and provide additional nutrition.
Make sure that any compost you use has been heated to high enough temperatures to kill off potentially harmful organisms. , You can use a commercial fertilizer safe for vegetables, or you can mix in organic fertilizing components, including soy meal, blood meal, bone meal, kelp meal, and greensand.
Organic fertilizing components can purchased online, and a few common types, like blood meal and bone meal, can usually be found in big chain garden and home improvement stores, as well as specialized nurseries.
Feed stores that sell food for livestock may also carry a few organic components, like kelp meal. -
Step 3: Be mindful about material.
-
Step 4: Scrub your pot clean.
-
Step 5: Prepare your potting mix.
-
Step 6: Mix fertilizers into the soil.
Detailed Guide
Most varieties can be grown in pots, but larger tomatoes will need larger containers.
Tomato plants are also significantly easier to grow by transplant, rather than by seed.
Most tomato plants require a 15-gallon (60-liter), 18-inch (46-centimeter) pot in order to have adequate room to develop.
Some small varieties may fit inside a 12-inch (30.5-centimeter) pot, but the roots will be restricted and your yield may not be very impressive. , Sturdy clay pots may look nice, but a pot this large will get very heavy and you will not be able to move it without some strain.
As a result, plastic pots with drainage holes and saucers may work best. , This step is crucial if your pot once held another plant, since it may have left bacteria and microscopic insect eggs behind.
At minimum, you should wash the pot out with hot water and soap.
You can also use a little bleach for a more thorough cleansing. , Never use garden soil, which may contain harmful pests and bacteria that can damage tomatoes, which are susceptible to disease.
An all-purpose potting soil provides an excellent base, but you can also mix it with equal parts perlite, sphagnum peat moss, and compost to improve drainage and provide additional nutrition.
Make sure that any compost you use has been heated to high enough temperatures to kill off potentially harmful organisms. , You can use a commercial fertilizer safe for vegetables, or you can mix in organic fertilizing components, including soy meal, blood meal, bone meal, kelp meal, and greensand.
Organic fertilizing components can purchased online, and a few common types, like blood meal and bone meal, can usually be found in big chain garden and home improvement stores, as well as specialized nurseries.
Feed stores that sell food for livestock may also carry a few organic components, like kelp meal.
About the Author
Amy Diaz
Creates helpful guides on crafts to inspire and educate readers.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: