Grow Tomatoes in Containers for an Extended Season
By J Ruppel
A Guide To Container Gardening - A complete guide to getting started in container gardening, from the containers themselves to soil, feeding and watering considerations
One big advantage to growing tomatoes in containers is that you can grow them just about anywhere with lots of sunlight. You can move them to protect them from bad cold spells, and sneak a few extra weeks into the growing season. With a little extra attention to watering, you will be rewarded with a bumper crop of tomatoes.
The Keys to successful tomato container plantings include:
The container: A standard type pot with a diameter of at least 12 inches is recommended is a good choice. It must have drainage holes in the bottom to avoid root rot. Half whiskey barrels and and bushel baskets can be used too.
A Guide To Container Gardening - A complete guide to getting started in container gardening, from the containers themselves to soil, feeding and watering considerations
Choose Your Tomato: Most varieties of tomato will grow in a container, but make sure that the variety that you choose fits the area you've chosen. Choose smaller tomatoes like cherry tomatoes for hotter climates since they will set fruit longer. Sweet 100 is always a favorite.
Getting Started: The easiest way to start the plants it to buy them from the nursery. If you can't find what you want at the local nursery, you may want to start your own using peat pellets or pots.
Plant Potting Secrets - How you pot your plants is vital to the success of your container gardening
Your container soil: In a container you can mix the soil as you wish to give you the best yields. Always use lots of organic matter to improve drainage. A soil mix of one part each of potting soil, perlite, sphagnum peat moss and compost is good. Tomatoes usually require some type of fertilizer. Make sure that it's a fertilizer for tomatoes.
Planting in the container Fill the container most of the way with your soil mix. Put the soil mix around the plant up to the first set of true leaves. Water and add more soil until it comes close to the top of the container.
Container Gardening When You Don't Have A Garden - You don't need a garden to enjoy gardening - containers are great for brightening up your patio, terrace or balcony.
Staking your tomatoes: Some tomato plants will need to be staked. Do this when you plant so you don't damage the roots inserting the stakes later. Tomato cages or stakes can be used.
Water your tomatoes at least once a week, make sure they are staked properly, add fertilizer again when needed, and enjoy your tomatoes. Put them in the garage for that first freeze of the fall, and hope for an extra week or two in your growing season.
You can read more on this and other gardening articles including information on
Tips For Growing Vegetables In Containers - Did you know that many vegetables a actually more successfully grown in containers? Even so, there can be problems which this article outlines and gives...
Compost Tumbler Reviews and Container Vegetable Gardening Tips at
Tips For Growing Vegetables In Containers - Did you know that many vegetables a actually more successfully grown in containers? Even so, there can be problems which this article outlines and gives solutions for.
© Information Warehouse 2007