How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots
How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots
If you’re ready to learn how to grow tomatoes in pots, you’re in the right place. Whether you’ve got a sunny patio or a window that gets a decent amount of light, growing tomatoes in containers is one of the easiest ways to dip your toes into gardening. It’s beginner-friendly, space-saving, and honestly kind of addictive. Once you’ve tasted a tomato you grew yourself, store-bought never taste the same.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through every step of how to grow tomatoes in pots—from choosing the right tomato variety to watering tips and indoor vs. outdoor growing. Let’s get started.
Choose the Right Tomato Variety for Pots
Not every tomato variety thrives in a pot, but there are plenty of great options for container gardening. A few reliable choices for pots include Tiny Tim, Patio Princess, and Bush Early Girl—especially if you’re working with a small space. These compact, determinate types are easygoing and don’t need as much wrangling as their bigger, vining cousins.
If you’ve got room for a larger container (think 10–20 gallons), you might try your hand at indeterminate types like Sungold or Cherokee Purple. They need more space and support but reward you with a longer harvest season.
To help you choose the best tomato for your setup, check out my full guide to tomato varieties where I break down determinate vs. indeterminate, heirloom vs. hybrid, and cover the best container varieties more in-depth.
Pick the Right Pot for Tomatoes
Tomatoes like room to stretch their roots. A container that’s too small leads to stunted growth, no matter how lovingly you care for the plant.
- For dwarf or compact types, go with a 5–7 gallon container.
- For indeterminate or larger types, aim for 10–20 gallons.
Stick to one plant per pot, even if it’s a big container. Crowding leads to competition for nutrients and smaller yields.
And don’t forget drainage holes—this isn’t optional. No one wants soggy roots and root rot.
If you live in a hot climate or know you might sometimes forget to water, you can get self-watering containers.
Reusing containers? Give them a good wash and disinfect them with a diluted bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water), then rinse and dry thoroughly. It’s a quick step that helps prevent leftover diseases from moving in.
Use the Right Soil (Not Just Dirt From the Yard)
Skip the garden soil. What works in the ground is too heavy for pots and can invite pests or diseases.
Instead, grab a high-quality potting mix that drains well. Mix in compost or worm castings for extra nutrients. You can also add perlite or coarse sand to improve drainage if needed.
Plant Tomatoes Deeply
Once you have all your supplies ready, you can transplant your tomatoes.
Tomatoes are one of the rare plants that love being buried. When transplanting your seedling:
- Gently remove the lower leaves.
- Bury part of the stem so only the top few leaves are above the soil.
Tomatoes grow roots along their buried stems, so this helps anchor the plant and support healthy growth.
After planting, water the soil directly at the base. Try to avoid getting the leaves wet—this helps prevent diseases and issues like tomato blight.
Keep the Pot in a Sunny Spot
Tomatoes are sun lovers.
- Outdoors: Aim for 6–8 hours of direct sun. Patios are great for this!
- Indoors: Use a sunny south-facing window or a full-spectrum grow light. Keep it a few inches above the plant for best results.
If you’re in a particularly hot climate, a little afternoon shade can keep things from getting too intense. It helps prevent blossom drop and sunscald on ripening fruit.
If you’re growing other vegetables in pots, grouping the containers together provides some shade for the roots and makes watering more efficient.
Add Support Early
Even compact plants benefit from support. Add a cage, trellis, or stake when you plant—trying to do it later often leads to broken stems and headaches.
Larger or indeterminate varieties will need taller, sturdier supports. Don’t wait until they start flopping over to figure it out.
Mulch and Water Tomatoes Like a Pro
Even in containers, a layer of mulch helps hold in moisture and keep soil temperatures steady. Straw and old newspaper both make good options. (Here’s a complete guide to mulching.)
Check your containers daily, especially during hot spells. Stick your finger in the soil. If the top inch feels dry, it’s time to water. Always water at the soil level, not over the leaves. Here’s a complete tomato watering guide.
Tomato Fertilizing Schedule
Tomatoes grown in pots burn through nutrients faster than in-ground plants. Feeding them regularly helps keep the plant healthy and productive.
Start fertilizing about 2–3 weeks after planting, once the plant has had time to settle in. Use a balanced tomato fertilizer. Look for something with an N-P-K ratio that supports both leafy growth and fruit development (like 5-10-10 or similar).
Apply fertilizer every 2–3 weeks throughout the growing season. You can alternate between liquid and granular formulas if you prefer.
Here’s how to do it:
- Always water the plant first if the soil is dry. Fertilizer can burn dry roots.
- Apply the fertilizer according to the product instructions—more is not better.
- Water it in well to help the nutrients reach the root zone.
As the plant starts to flower and set fruit, you can switch to a bloom-boosting formula with slightly more phosphorus (the middle number) to support fruit production.
If the leaves start to yellow, or the plant seems sluggish, it might be time to feed again. But don’t overdo it—excess nitrogen can lead to tons of foliage and few tomatoes.
Growing Tomatoes Indoors: What’s Different?
Growing inside has its perks—fewer pests, easier climate control—but it does require a few tweaks. Here are a few tips for how to grow tomatoes in pots indoors:
- Grow lights are key unless your windows get strong light most of the day.
- Use a small fan nearby to encourage airflow and mimic outdoor breezes.
- Since bees won’t be helping with pollination, you’ll need to step in. Gently shake the plant or use a small brush to transfer pollen between flowers.
Common Tomato Growing Problems
- Yellowing leaves? Might be overwatering or a lack of nutrients.
- Lots of leaves but no flowers? Probably not enough sun.
- Flowers but no fruit? Try hand pollinating, and check your temps—too hot or too cold can mess things up.
- Getting too big and bushy? You’ll want to prune indeterminate types.
FAQs on How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots
Choose the right-sized container (5–7 gallons for compact types, 10–20 for larger ones), use high-quality potting mix, and stick to one plant per pot. Add mulch, water at the soil level, and feed every few weeks with a balanced tomato fertilizer.
Start with drainage holes—absolutely essential. Then fill the pot with potting mix; there’s no need for rocks or gravel at the bottom (this can actually interfere with drainage). Compost or slow-release fertilizer can be mixed into the top layers.
Both work! Pots are great if you’re short on space, dealing with poor soil, or want more control over watering and pests. Ground planting usually offers bigger harvests, but requires more weeding and soil prep. If you’re a beginner, pots are often the easier way to start.
Happy Growing!
Tomatoes in pots are a beginner gardener’s best friend—easy to start, quick to reward, and surprisingly versatile. Whether you’re lining up pots on the patio or setting up grow lights in your kitchen, you’ve got options.
Keep it simple: one plant per pot, water regularly, feed every couple of weeks, and give them the sun they crave. With a little care, you’ll be harvesting your own tomatoes before you know it.
Looking for more tomato tips? I have a complete tomato care guide, along with How to Grow Tomato Seeds, Tomato Companion Plants and Why Do Tomatoes and Marigolds Work Together?
