Not only can they be used to sweeten numerous dishes, but they are also often used in more savory dishes and salads, which sets them totally apart from many other fruits.
Tomatoes are also naturally filled with Vitamin C and potassium, and even have high concentrations of lycopene, which is known to help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer!
One way to make tomatoes (see also: The 11 Best Ways To Stop Birds Eating Your Tomatoes)even more incredible than usual is to grow some of your own, which can result in tomatoes that not only help to protect the environment but also have a much more fresh and vibrant flavor than the store-bought variety.
However, in order to make them taste truly amazing, you need to make sure that you grow them just right. But what are some of the biggest things you should know about growing tomatoes before you set out to grow some of your own?
Join us down below, because today we are going to find out everything you need to know about growing your own tomatoes in pots (see also: Can I Grow My Jalapeno Peppers In A Pot? A Handy Guide)so you can make them taste amazing!
1. Get The Right Pot
If you are planning on growing tomatoes in a plant pot in your home, or in your backyard, then you will need to make sure that you grab the correct pot for the job.
When choosing the correct pot for growing tomatoes, there are a few things you are going to need to look out for.
First, you want to make sure that the size of the chosen pot is just right for the tomatoes that you are growing.
You want to make sure that the pot is small enough to not take up too much space in your home or garden, so you also won’t have to use as much soil, but you will also want to make sure that there is enough room for the plant to grow and yield high numbers of tomatoes.
You also need to make sure that you grab a pot that has plenty of drainage.
You’ll notice most plant pots have holes on their bottoms, and these are to allow water to drain out of the soil so that plants do not become suffocated by too much water!
We generally recommend grabbing a plant pot that is a little larger, if you are stuck between two options so that there is room for the plant to grow.
However, in order to know what is ‘too big’ or ‘too small’, you need to consider exactly what tomato variety you are growing, (see also: Top 8 Parthenocarpic Cucumber Varieties To Grow)which brings us to secret number 2!
2. Consider Your Tomato Variety
Tomatoes can vary massively in terms of size depending on which specific variety you opt for. As well as that, the height of their stalks can vary massively depending on which variety you opt for.
As such, you will need to think carefully about the space you have available to grow your tomatoes in.
If you only have a small kitchen counter, or a small garden, then you may not want to opt for a tomato plant that will reach an immense height, as it will prove annoying for you, and may mean that the plant has some trouble exposing itself to sunlight!
Certain varieties of tomatoes may need specific types of soil or may need specific amounts of water, and this will have an impact on not only the pots you choose to grow the tomatoes in but the cost of maintaining the plants.
Some soils are more costly than others. This brings us to…
3. Choose The Right Soil
Certain soils are better for certain specific plants, and not only this, but certain soils are totally incompatible with being used in a plant pot.
If you really want to grow healthy and tasty tomatoes, you need to think carefully about the type of soil you are using.
It may cost a little bit more, but we strongly recommend opting for soil that has a mix of special ingredients that are directly intended for use within pots.
These specialized soils are formulated to not dry out quickly, which can be a common problem with many standard soils once packed into a plant pot.
As well as this, these soils also allow for more air to flow through the plant by not being quite so compact, which allows the plants to access plenty of vital oxygen to grow just right.
4. Place Your Plant Perfectly
A vital step that many people overlook when it comes to growing numerous specific plants is to carefully place the chosen plant into its specific pot.
Whether you are growing an existing tomato plant seedling (see also: Tomato Seedling Problems and Their Solutions)that you have purchased elsewhere, or you are growing directly from seeds, you need to make sure that you add them to your plant pot just right!
When adding a seedling or some seeds to the final pot, ensure that there is plenty of soil above and below. It is important that there is soil below so that the roots can spread out, allowing the plant to strengthen itself.
If putting a seedling into a plant pot, submerge it in the soil around the same depth as when you purchased it in its original pot.
You can submerge it a little bit further down, as this may allow the plant to develop more roots. This will allow the plant to grow much taller, so be sure to consider the space it may eventually take up!
5. Put The Pot In The Perfect Spot
We all know that sunlight is an important component in the healthy growth of any plant. As such, you need to make sure to place the plant and its pot in the right place.
Luckily, tomato plants love the sunlight and generally need six hours of exposure to it to get the energy to bear fruit. This means you can easily leave it near a window facing the sun, or allow it to sit on a balcony, or in your backyard.
If you can also expose the plant to plenty of natural warmth, then even better. Allow the plant to sit in exposed sunlight during the summer months, and you’ll be blessed with loads of juicy fruits!
6. Give The Plants Some Support
As we mentioned earlier, tomato plants can grow to some massive sizes, and as such, they may need a little bit of support to maintain their structure safely.
This is important because, once taller tomato plants bear fruit, the weight of the fruits can cause the branches to snap!
You can either use stakes, which are long, often bamboo, sticks that are dug into the soil, and that help to provide support to specific points higher up the plant, or you can use cages, which offer all-around support for the plant.
You can buy pre-made stakes and cages, but if you want to save a little bit of extra money, you can easily make some of your own by following some of the many guides online!
7. Use The Right Amount Of Water
Watering your plants is another vital part of helping them to flourish, but you need to be careful not to water your plants too much and risk drowning them. It’s more common than you think!
When tomato plants in pots are left in the sun the soil may dry very quickly so be sure to check the soil multiple times throughout the day, to make sure it’s not suffocating the plants.
Give the soil a quick pat to see how moist it is before you set out to pour more water.
On hotter days, make sure to do this more frequently!
8. Add Some Mulch
Mulch is the hero of many a gardener and has helped to make it easier for so many people to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
Mulch is a layer of dead plant material that is laid lightly over the top of the soil, which helps to protect the soil underneath from direct sunlight. This means the plant can get plenty of sunlight, but the soil won’t find itself drying out too quickly.
This helps to ensure the plant can stay hydrated throughout the day, which means you can spend a little less time having to constantly monitor it throughout the day.
We recommend adding a layer of mulch that is around 2 inches thick.
9. Keep Fertilizing
Fertilizer helps to keep plants fed with nutrients and tomato plants use up a lot of nutrients to grow large yields of the beloved fruit.
As well as this, the frequent need for watering of tomato plants means that the fertilizer can be quickly flushed away.
When you are growing tomato plants in pots, you will want to make sure to use plenty of slow-release fertilizer, which helps to keep the tomato plant fed throughout the day, and helps the plant to grow well.
To Wrap Up
There we have it! Following these tips can help you to grow tomatoes (see also: The 3 Wise Ways To Grow Tomatoes Through Winter)of your own that taste so good you’ll have trouble going back to the store-bought variety!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Fertilizer For Tomatoes In Pots?
It is difficult to claim that any specific fertilizer is better for potted tomato plants, but there are many specially formulated fertilizers for growing tomatoes in pots to choose from!
Are Eggshells Good For Tomato Plants?
Definitely. Egg shells are full of nutrients that help tomatoes to grow. Crush some up and add them to fertilizer!
Should Potted Tomatoes Be Watered Daily?
Absolutely! Tomato plants use a lot of water and need a lot of sunlight, thus the soil could dry up quickly!
Hi, my name is Amelia Haslehurt and I am a food blogger. As you can guess, I am passionate about what I eat, but what is most important to me when reviewing is high quality, fresh, organic, delicious ingredients.
I wanted to create an online space where others could sample some of my favorite recipes, and share in my passion for home-grown produce.
Whether you are looking for vegan recipes, easy recipes, healthy recipes or your favorite yummy snacks to brighten your day, I can help you out here at LocallyGrownGardens.com
