Growing Tomatoes In Pots: 2025

Growing Cherry Tomatoes




Growing Cherry Tomatoes

How to Grow Cherry Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes are one of the easiest, most productive tomatoes you can grow. They thrive in containers, gardens, balconies, and warm climates.

1. Choose the Right Variety

Great beginner-friendly options:

2. Planting Conditions

Sunlight

  • 6–8+ hours of full sun daily

  • More sun = more fruit and better flavor

Soil

Temperature

  • Best growth at 20–30°C (68–86°F)

  • Don’t plant outdoors until nights stay above 13°C (55°F)

3. Planting

Starting Seedlings

  • Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before moving them outside

  • Transplant when seedlings are 15–20 cm (6–8 in) tall

Plant Deep

  • Bury 2/3 of the stem when transplanting

  • The buried stem grows extra roots → stronger plant

Spacing

  • Determinate (bushy) varieties: 45–60 cm apart

  • Indeterminate (vining) varieties: 75–90 cm apart

4. Watering

  • Keep soil consistently moist, not soggy

  • Water deeply 2–3 times per week

  • Avoid splashing leaves (reduces fungal problems)

  • Mulch to hold moisture

Sign of underwatering: wilting midday
Sign of overwatering: yellowing leaves, swollen stem base

5. Support / Staking

Cherry tomatoes grow fast and heavy with fruit.

Use:

Tie loosely with garden tape.

6. Feeding

Start feeding 2 weeks after planting:

Best Fertilizers

Avoid too much nitrogen → leafy plant, little fruit.

7. Pruning (optional but helpful)

For indeterminate varieties:

  • Remove bottom leaves touching the soil

  • Pinch off suckers growing between main stem and leaf
    This increases airflow and boosts fruit production.

Determinate/bushy varieties generally do not need pruning.

8. Common Problems & Solutions

Blossom End Rot

  • Black, sunken spots

  • Caused by irregular watering

  • Solution: water consistently, add calcium if needed

Cracking

  • Happens after heavy rain

  • Harvest early and let ripen indoors to avoid splitting

Leaf Spots / Fungal Issues

  • Improve airflow

  • Mulch

  • Water at the base, not overhead

Pests

9. Harvesting

10. Growing in Containers

Cherry tomatoes love containers!

Container Size

  • Minimum: 5 gallons (19 L)

  • Bigger = better

  • Drainage holes are essential

Soil

  • Use potting mix, never garden soil

  • Add compost and perlite

Fertilizing

  • Container plants need feeding more often (every 1–2 weeks)

OTHERS

Most cherry tomato varieties grow to be huge plants, so they’re generally not suitable for container gardening. Determinate cherry varieties are exceptions however, as they're almost bred exclusively for container gardening.

When transplanting cherry tomato plants into the garden, remove all but the top set of leaves on the plant and bury the entire stem all the way up to those leaves. This is step is important in growing cherry tomatoes, because it will establish a bigger root formation for the yet-to-be-huge plants. The entire stem that was burrowed will develop into one big root from which side roots are spawned. This will allow the plant to gather additional nutrients in the ground as well as make it stronger.

Tomato cages are recommended for growing cherry tomatoes because they will help capitalize on plant size and fruit production. A primitive cage can be homemade from fencing material or PVC pipes. A properly sized cage should be at least two feet across and six feet tall. Other types of support like stakes could also be used, but whatever you do use, be sure to set them up early- driving stakes into the plant roots right when they're about to fruit is not a very good idea!

Most cherry tomatoes varieties are extremely prolific, so fertilize often and regularly, about every 2 weeks or so. Water-soluble fertilizers like MiracleGro penetrate deep into the ground to maximize nutrient uptake from the roots. Thus they’re the easiest fertilizers to use when growing cherry tomatoes. Increase fertilization when the fowers first set to increase fruit production.

Preserving Your Harvest
We all know that cherry tomatoes make fabulous snacks when picked fresh out of the garden, but they also taste great when preserved. Dried cherry tomatoes are prepared by cutting each tomato in half and adding salt and seasoning (if desired). The tomato halves are then dried in a dehydrator, after which they could be stored for quite a while.

Dehydrators take the water content out of the tomatoes to make them preservable. The process also condenses tomato flavor, making dried tomatoes intensely flavorful. If you think fresh tomatoes taste good, then just wait until you taste them dried!

Regular dried cherry tomatoes can be preserved in olive oil and are great for Italian cuisine. Super sweet varieties like Sun Gold and Sweet Hundred taste almost like raisins when dried and are great for snacking. All in all, the experience of preserving your own harvest makes all serve to make growing cherry tomatoes more enjoyable.
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Why Grow Heirloom Tomatoes?






Why Grow Heirloom Tomatoes?

Why Grow Heirloom Tomatoes?

1. Incredible Flavor

Heirlooms are famous for their rich, complex taste.
Unlike many commercial hybrids bred for long shelf life or uniform color, heirlooms are preserved for flavor first — sweet, tangy, juicy, and aromatic.

2. Stunning Variety

Heirloom tomatoes come in a rainbow of shapes, sizes, and colors:

You get far more diversity than in typical grocery stores.

3. Open-Pollinated (You Can Save Seeds)

Heirlooms breed true.
If you grow a variety you love, you can save seeds and plant them the next year — no need to buy new plants. It also helps preserve rare varieties.

4. Better for Biodiversity

Growing heirloom varieties keeps older genetic lines alive.
This protects against the loss of diversity caused by modern commercial farming, which relies on relatively few genetically similar hybrids.

5. Unique Stories & History

Many heirlooms have been passed down for generations and come with:

Planting them connects you to gardening heritage.

6. Great for Home Gardens

Heirlooms thrive in backyard conditions where flavor and quality matter more than transport durability.
They’re perfect for gardeners who want:

  • Fresh eating

  • Big harvests

  • Interesting varieties

7. Often More Nutritious

Some heirlooms contain higher levels of antioxidants and phytonutrients, especially darker varieties like purple or black tomatoes.

8. Fun to Grow

Their quirks — unusual shapes, unpredictable sizes, and amazing colors — make gardening more fun and rewarding.

OTHERS

Growing Tomatoes in Pots
The most appealing feature of heirloom tomatoes is their complex flavor, which hybrid varieties tend to lack. Because the point of growing tomatoes is to eat them in the end, many gardeners value the highly prized taste of heirlooms over their shortcomings .

Starting Heirloom Tomato Seeds
You will most likely be starting heirloom tomato plants from seeds, because few stores carry heirloom plants for sale. Hybrids on the other hand, are overwhelmingly popular because of their reliability and productivity. You might find some heirloom varieties in your local nursery, but chances are that they do not carry the specific varieties you would like.

Because heirloom tomato varieties are not as disease resistant as modern hybrid varieties, care should be taken to minimize the exposure to diseases and harm in all steps of the growing process.

Heirloom tomato seeds should be sown in a soiless growing medium to minimize the risk of bacteria. After they are at least 6 inches tall, heirloom tomato plants must be hardened off before transplanting outside. The process of hardening involves a gradual, increased exposure of the plants to the outdoors. Hardening is needed because the plants are reared indoors and they are not used to the harsher conditions outside. Plants that are transplanted into the garden too quickly risk getting sunburns and windburns.

Hardening Off
To start the hardening process, choose a nice, calm day and leave the plants outside for two hours before bringing them in. After doing this for a few days, gradually increase the hours of exposure outside until the plants look ready. If done correctly, the plants should have grown a little bigger after this process. If at any time the plants receive burns (whitish marks on the leaves), bring them in for a few days before starting the process over again.

Transplanting into the Garden
Before transplanting heirloom tomato plants into the garden, remove all but the top two sets of leaves. Dig a deep hole for the plant and pad the interior with compost and if you want, add a few tablespoons of slow-release fertilizer. Set the plant in and bury the stem all the way up to the top two sets of leaves. This practice encourages root formation from the stem, resulting in a better root system that can take in additional nutrients.

Fertilization
Fertilize regularly (every 2-3 weeks), but do not overdo it. Organic fertilizers are preferred because they tend to bring out the best of heirloom tomatoes’ rich flavors. Most growers agree that the natural ingredients in organic fertilizers improve flavor more than chemical fertilizers, and flavor is what we’re looking for when growing heirlooms.

Watering
Watering plants should be best done in the morning when it’s cool. Hold the hose low and water the ground so as not to splash mud on leaves. An automated drip irrigator is a terrific watering system.
Pruning
Pruning the plants maybe something you should consider when growing heirloom tomatoes. Pruning off suckers is a tradeoff between decreased overall fruit production and increased fruit size and quality. Because flavor is such an important part of heirlooms, pruning might be worth it, especially for big-sized tomatoes. If you’re not satisfied with the fruit size or want to hasten fruit formation, then you should prune.

Saving Heirloom Tomato Seeds
If you want to save heirloom tomato seeds for next year from this year’s fruits, then different tomato varieties should be separated as far as possible to minimize cross-breeding, which can produce unexpected results.

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Growing Tomatoes in Containers



Growing Tomatoes in Containers

🍅 How to Grow Tomatoes in Containers

A Complete, Beginner-Friendly Guide

1. Choose the Right Container

Tomatoes need room for roots!

✔ Recommended container sizes:

✔ Container options:

Make sure the pot has several good drainage holes.

2. Pick the Best Tomato Varieties

Tomatoes for containers should be compact or high-yielding.

Best types:

● Determinate (bush) varieties

Grow to a fixed size and don’t sprawl as much.
Examples: Roma, Celebrity, Bush Early Girl, Patio, Tiny Tim

● Indeterminate (vining) varieties

Can still grow in containers but need strong support.
Examples: Sungold, Black Cherry, Sweet Million, Better Boy

3. Use High-Quality Potting Mix

Tomatoes love light, fertile soil.

✔ Use:

4. Planting Your Tomatoes

  1. Fill the container 1/3 full.

  2. Plant deeply—bury 2/3 of the stem. Tomatoes grow roots along buried stems!

  3. Fill soil to 1–2 inches below the rim.

  4. Install a cage or stake at planting time so you don’t disturb roots later.

5. Sunlight Requirements

Tomatoes need a lot of light.

✔ Ideal:

  • 6–8+ hours of direct sunlight daily

  • Warmth (21–29°C / 70–85°F)

If growing indoors, use a full-spectrum grow light.

6. Watering

Container tomatoes dry out fast.

✔ How often:

  • Daily in warm weather

  • Twice daily during heat waves

  • Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy

✔ Watering tips:

  • Water at soil level, not over the leaves

  • Mulch the top with straw or coco coir to slow evaporation

  • Self-watering pots are excellent for hot climates (like Indonesia)

7. Fertilizing

Tomatoes are heavy feeders.

✔ Feeding schedule:

Good options: tomato fertilizer, fish emulsion, seaweed extract.

8. Support & Pruning

  • Use cages, bamboo stakes, or trellises

  • For indeterminate types: prune side suckers to control growth

  • For determinate types: minimal pruning (don’t over-prune)

9. Troubleshooting Problems

🍂 Yellow leaves?

Overwatering, underwatering, or lack of nitrogen.

🟡 Blossom end rot?

Calcium imbalance + inconsistent watering. Water regularly.

🟠 Flowers but no fruit?

Too hot (>32°C), too little sun, or poor pollination.

🐛 Pests:

Aphids, whiteflies, caterpillars—use neem oil or insecticidal soap.

10. Harvesting

Pick tomatoes when:

  • Fully colored

  • Slightly soft to the touch

  • Easily twist off the vine

Container tomatoes often produce earlier because containers warm soil faster.

OTHER SOURCES
There are a lot of upsides to growing tomatoes in containers. With containers, you can to grow tomatoes almost anywhere. They provide additional flexibility in that you can control the growing medium, which will protect plants from pests and diseases. Not to mention that you can achieve amazing results that you could not have achieved otherwise.

All tomato varieties can be grown in containers. But the bigger the plant size, the more maintenance is required to upkeep the plant.

Choosing the Right Container
The minimum size container you should use is 5 gallons. Although you could go as small as 3 gallons for varieties like 4th of July, smaller containers mean more watering and more fertilization. Bigger containers are better in reducing the frequency of these needs.

You might ask, where do you find these containers? Look around the house and see if you’ve got any 5-gallon buckets lying around. If not you could always buy some containers at the store. 18-gallon Rubbermaid storage boxes are inexpensive ($3-4 at Walmart) and are big enough to fit up to 2 plants.

You may also look toward plastic grow bags as a cheap and convenient alternative to conventional containers. These are basically foldable bags that can stand upright when filled with soil. They come in all sizes from 5 to 20 gallons. They work well and are easy to clean up after the growing season has ended.

And if you’re desperate looking for containers, you could always grow tomato plants in bags of compost. No I’m not joking… just lay the 40lb bag flat on the ground, cut a square opening on the top surface, and poke some drainage holes underneath. Obviously this method is not suitable for indoors. Outdoors, set up a cage around the bag after the plant has been set in. If you desire, you can bury the bag with leaves or some other mulch for appearance and protection.

Container Growing Medium
There are a lot of options as to what growing medium can be used in containers. Regular garden soil and potting soil will work, but you can and should do much better than that. Many gardeners use professional growing mixes, such as those made by MiracleGro and ProMix. 

These are usually pricey, so the alternative is to make your own. The basic formula for a good mixture is 40% peat moss, 40% compost, and 20% perlite. The peat moss and perlite greatly enhances drainage, which is very important for container gardening. These ingredients come cheap when bought in big packages, especially at end of the season sales.

Watering
Growing tomatoes in containers is notorious for watering needs. Water evaporates faster in containers and need to be replaced constantly. Mulching will greatly reduce your watering needs. Grass clippings and red pine bark can be used for mulch. You can also set up a container watering kit to automate the watering process.

Fertilization
Fertilization is crucial for container success. Tomatoes grown in containers need to be fertilized more often, as much as once per week for the smaller containers. Chemical fertilizers like MiracleGro are ideal, because they work efficiently and reduce damage to your garden soil if used in containers.

Staking and Pruning
Stakes for container tomato plants should be set up on the outside (if that’s possible) where they could be set firmer into the ground, for wind protection. Pruning might be necessary if the plants are growing way too big.
Growing Tomatoes in Pots
Growing tomatoes in pots: how-to-grow-tomatoes-upside-down.

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How to Grow Tomatoes Upside Down


How to Grow Tomatoes Upside Down

🌱 How to Grow Tomatoes Upside Down

A Step-by-Step Guide

✔ Why Grow Tomatoes Upside Down?

  • Saves space in small areas

  • Reduces soil-borne diseases

  • Prevents pests like slugs from reaching fruit

  • No need for staking or cages

  • Creates great sun exposure and airflow

🪴 What You’ll Need

Best tomato varieties for upside-down growing:
Cherry tomatoes • Roma • Grape • Patio hybrids • Tumbling varieties

🔧 Step 1 — Prepare the Planter

If using a bucket:

  1. Drill a 2–3 inch hole at the bottom center.

  2. Drill 4–6 small side holes near the top edge for drainage and hanging.

  3. Install a strong hook or chain—your plant will become heavy.

🌿 Step 2 — Insert the Tomato Seedling

  1. Turn the bucket upside down.

  2. Gently feed the tomato seedling stem-first through the bottom hole.

  3. Have someone hold it in place OR place a piece of newspaper/cardboard around the stem to stabilize it.

✔ The leaves should hang outside; the root ball stays inside the bucket.

🧱 Step 3 — Add Soil

  1. Carefully turn the bucket upright while holding the plant in place.

  2. Fill with a light potting mix (avoid garden soil).

  3. Mix in a handful of slow-release fertilizer.

  4. Leave 2–3 inches of space at the top.

💦 Step 4 — Hang and Water

Hang the planter on:

  • A strong hook

  • A pergola or balcony beam

  • A sturdy metal stand

Water thoroughly until it drips through.

🌞 Step 5 — Give it Full Sun

Tomatoes need:

  • 6–8+ hours of sunlight daily

  • Warm temperatures

  • Protection from strong wind

🌸 Step 6 — Maintain the Plant

  • Water daily, sometimes twice in hot weather

  • Add liquid fertilizer every 1–2 weeks

  • Prune any suckers if the plant gets too bushy

  • Harvest regularly to encourage more fruit

🍅 Tips for Best Results

  • Choose lightweight soil to avoid compacting.

  • Don’t overwater—ensure good drainage.

  • Add a small herb (basil, parsley) on top of the soil—it helps shade and retain moisture.

  • If stems curve upward, that’s normal; tomatoes always grow toward the sun.


One of the newer, more innovative approaches to the art of growing tomatoes have been growing tomatoes upside down. Tomato plants grown this way have been observed to bear increased yields when compared to plants grown the "normal" way (right side up) in containers.

This increased productivity is due to increased air circulation to the leaves when the plant is hanging in midair, more disease resistance from avoiding contact with garden soil, and improved nutrient absorption from watering and fertilizing from the bottom of the plant. But the best thing about growing tomatoes this way is that staking is not needed! Growing downwards, the entire weight of the plant will be evenly distributed through all its branches.

You can grow any variety of tomatoes upside down. However, smaller fruited varieties are preferred, for obvious reasons. But with any variety, if the plant gets too big and starts to touch the ground, simply cut off the growing tip to stop vertical growth, and the plant will develop laterally. A few varieties that are more suitable for being grown upside down are Early Girl, Sun Gold, Bush Celebrity, and Pink Ping Pong.

Some pruning may be needed to keep plants under control. Thankfully, pruning is an easy task when the plant is grown upside down, as the branches are more accessible. Very large plants that bear a lot of fruits all at once are not desirable for growing tomatoes upside down. 

The last thing you want is to have the container collapse from the weight of all the fruit, which is really, really bad for the plant. Unless you have a very solid container, it's preferrable to prune the plants to a manageable size. Yes you won't see maximum fruit production via pruning, but you will be maximizing the efficiency of the tomato plant. A well-pruned plant will bear less fuits at one time, but the fruits will ripen faster and be of higher quality than a plant that's not pruned.

Building an Upside Down Planter
The ideal planter for growing tomatoes upside down is a 5 gallon bucket with a metal handle. Studies have shown that 5 gallons is the ideal container size to maximize the space/production ratio of tomato plants.

A light growing medium should be used. A good mixture would be 50% sphagnum peat moss, 30% compost, and 20% perlite. Here are the steps to building an upside down planter for growing tomatoes upside down:

1. Drill a hole about 3” in diameter on the bottom of the bucket
2. Prepare your tomato transplant by removing all but its top set of (big) leaves.
3. Hang the bucket right-side-up with its handle somewhere low so you can reach to the bottom. Remove your transplant from its container and carefully stick the plant through drilled hole so that the plant is sticking out from the bottom of the bucket. Hold the plant in place so that there is about an inch of stem sticking out of the bottom.
4. With one hand holding the plant, start packing peat moss inside the bucket around the stem all the way up to its roots. Evenly distribute the moss around the bucket, and carefully let go of the plant, making sure that it’s securely anchored inside the bucket.
5. Fill the bucket with the tomato growing mixture until about an inch from the top.
6. Hang the bucket at its final destination where it will reside and water thoroughly. Note that most varieties will grow to at least 5 feet, so keep that in mind when choosing where to place the plant. Once the plant has grown to a respectable size, it's not advisable to move the planter around, as that will disrupt root formation and possibly break a few branches.
7. About 5 days after transplanting, fertilize from the top with a water-soluble fertilizer.

And there you have it, a good-to-go tomato plant grown upside down. Like all container vegetables, make sure to water and fertilize it regularly. Mulching the opening of the planter is also recommended to prevent evaporation and water loss. 

Red pine mulch is the most popular, but you can also cut up a black garbage bag and use that cover the opening of the bucket. Tie the bag around the bucket with a piece of string, and cut an opening on the bag where water and fertilizers can enter.

An automated container drip watering system can also be set up with your upside down planters. This reduces the hassles of watering.
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HOW TO GROW TOMATOES



HOW TO GROW TOMATOES

🍅 How to Grow Tomatoes (Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners)
(Everything you need to know to grow strong, healthy, and high-yielding tomato plants — whether in pots, raised beds, or garden soil!)

Tomatoes are one of the most popular garden crops for good reason: they’re easy to grow, incredibly productive, and taste far better when homegrown. Here’s a complete guide to help you grow perfect tomatoes — from seed to harvest!

🌱 1. Choose the Right Tomato Variety

Select the best type based on your space and needs:

🍅 By Growth Type:

  • Determinate (Bush Type):
    Compact and ideal for containers; fruits ripen all at once.
    Examples: Roma, Celebrity, Patio Princess

  • Indeterminate (Vining Type):
    Tall, requires staking or caging; produces tomatoes all season long.
    Examples: Big Boy, Sweet 100, Better Boy, Brandywine

🍒 By Fruit Type:

  • Cherry tomatoes – small, sweet, and great for salads

  • Roma tomatoes – meaty, perfect for sauces

  • Beefsteak tomatoes – large and juicy for sandwiches

🌿 2. Start with Healthy Soil

Tomatoes love rich, well-drained soil packed with nutrients.

  • Use loamy soil with pH between 6.0–6.8.

  • Mix in compost or aged manure before planting.

  • If using pots, use quality potting mix, not garden dirt.

💡 Healthy soil = strong roots = more fruit.

🌞 3. Choose a Sunny Spot

Tomatoes need at least 6–8 hours of full sunlight per day.

  • More sun means sweeter tomatoes!

  • If growing indoors, use LED grow lights for at least 12 hours daily.

🌱 4. Plant Deep for Strong Roots

When transplanting seedlings:

  • Remove the lower leaves.

  • Bury two-thirds of the plant into the soil — tomatoes can form roots along their stems.

This encourages a stronger root system and a healthier plant overall.

💧 5. Water Deeply and Consistently

Tomatoes need steady moisture to thrive:

  • Water deeply 2–3 times per week, not shallow daily sprinkles.

  • Keep soil evenly moist — not soggy.

  • Use mulch (straw, leaves, or compost) to retain moisture.

🚫 Avoid overhead watering — wet leaves can lead to disease.

🌿 6. Feed Regularly

Tomatoes are heavy feeders:

  • At planting: mix in slow-release fertilizer or compost.

  • During growth: feed with liquid tomato fertilizer every 2–3 weeks.

  • Once fruit appears: switch to a fertilizer high in potassium and phosphorus for better fruiting.

💡 Too much nitrogen = lots of leaves, few tomatoes.

🌼 7. Support and Prune

Tomato plants grow fast and need support to stay upright.

  • Use stakes, cages, or trellises.

  • Prune suckers — small shoots between the main stem and branches — to focus energy on fruit.

  • Remove lower leaves touching the soil to prevent fungus.

🐝 8. Encourage Pollination

Tomatoes need pollination to produce fruit:

  • Grow flowers nearby (like marigolds or basil) to attract bees.

  • If indoors, gently shake the flowers or use a soft brush to spread pollen.

🐝 More pollination = more tomatoes!

🌡️ 9. Watch the Temperature

Tomatoes grow best in 70–85°F (21–29°C) days and above 55°F (13°C) nights.

  • Protect from frost or cold winds.

  • In very hot climates, use shade cloth during the peak afternoon sun.

🍅 10. Harvesting

  • Tomatoes are ready when fully colored, firm, and fragrant.

  • Gently twist or cut them off the vine.

  • For more production, pick regularly — this encourages new fruiting.

💡 If frost threatens, pick green tomatoes and ripen indoors in a warm place.

🌿 Bonus Tips for Big Harvests

✅ Rotate crops yearly to avoid soil diseases.
✅ Mulch to conserve water and prevent weeds.
✅ Companion plant with basil, garlic, or marigolds to deter pests.
✅ Avoid planting near potatoes or corn (they share diseases).

🌻 Quick Summary

StepKey ActionWhy It Matters
1Choose right varietyMatch size & climate
2Use rich soilBoosts root health
3Full sunlightSweet, flavorful fruits
4Plant deepStronger stems & roots
5Water regularlyPrevents cracks & rot
6Feed properlyEnsures steady growth
7Prune & stakeImproves airflow & yield
8PollinateMore fruit set
9Manage temperaturePrevents blossom drop
10Harvest oftenEncourages new growth

ANOTHER SOURCE

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Buy tomato plants at the nursery for planting after all danger of frost has passed. Otherwise, start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last expected frost.

  2. Step 2

    Choose a site that gets full sun and has soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Tomatoes need plenty of warmth to taste their best, so provide shelter from chilly breezes, whether with a windbreak of trees, a garden wall, or a vine-covered trellis.

  3. Step 3

    Amend the soil with plenty of compost; tomatoes need soil rich in organic matter.

  4. Step 4

    Harden off seedlings, whether store-bought or homegrown, and move them to the garden when nighttime temperatures remain above 50 degrees F.

  5. Step 5

    Dig a hole the size of a basketball for each plant. Add a shovelful of compost and a handful of crushed eggshells (for needed calcium) to each hole.

  6. Step 6

    Set the plants 12 to 18 inches apart depending on variety (see the seed packet or plant label). Plant them deeply - up to the fourth branch from the top - to encourage new root development.

  7. Step 7

    Place a paper collar around each plant to deter cutworms, and cover the plants with cloches or floating row covers to protect them from insects and cool temperatures.

  8. Step 8

    Remove the covers when the weather has warmed, mulch the soil and install any supports the plants will need as they grow.

  9. Step 9

    Make sure plants get between one and two inches of water every week, and to ensure a bumper crop, spray them with compost tea or seaweed extract four times: two weeks after transplanting, after the first flowers appear, when the fruits reach the size of golf balls, and when you spot the first ripe tomato.

  10. Step 10

    Pick tomatoes when their color is glossy and even, and their texture midway between soft and firm.

  11. Growing tomatoes in pots....9-tomato-growing-tips

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