Growing tomatoes in pots is perfect for small-space gardens like patios or balconies. “Can I grow that in a pot?” is one of the gardening questions I get asked most often. The answer is always “yes” for tomatoes!
The Top 10 Best Tomato Varieties for Growing in Pots
Tomatoes are a beloved crop for container gardens and small spaces. With the right variety that suits pot culture, you can grow tomatoes anywhere from a patio to a balcony with delicious results. Here are the 10 best tomato varieties for growing in pots and containers.
- Black Krim
This heirloom tomato variety produces medium-sized, deep reddish-purple fruits with a rich and complex flavor Black Krim is an indeterminate variety but it stays relatively compact With some pruning and staking, it can thrive in a 12-14” pot. The flavor is fantastic and it’s a good yielder.
- Celebrity
Celebrity is a classic determinate tomato variety that only grows 2-4 feet tall, making it perfect for containers It produces good yields of medium to large, bright red round tomatoes This disease-resistant tomato has great traditional flavor. Celebrity is one of the most popular pot-grown varieties.
- San Marzano
San Marzano is a compact indeterminate tomato prized for making sauce and paste. The slender, bright red fruits grow in clusters and have tons of rich flavor. With pruning San Marzano can produce abundantly in a large container or bucket.
- Marglobe
Marglobe is a sturdy, compact heirloom variety with medium-sized, deep red globular fruits. It has a nice acid to sugar balance and minimal cracking. Marglobe stays under 4 feet, so it’s easily managed in a pot. This disease-resistant variety yields well.
- BushSteak
As the name suggests, BushSteak is a dwarf tomato bred specifically for container growing. It stays compact at around 2 feet but produces large beefsteak-type fruits up to 1 pound. This variety yields meaty, delicious tomatoes in pots on a small patio.
- Sun Gold
For a sweet, flavor-packed cherry tomato, Sun Gold is a fantastic pot variety. These bright tangerine-colored fruits are super sweet and make a pretty, cascading display in hanging baskets. Sun Gold is indeterminate but can be contained with pruning.
- Red Robin
Red Robin is a true dwarf tomato variety, only growing 10-12 inches tall. It’s perfectly suited to small space gardening. The abundant clusters of bright red cherry tomatoes offer nice acid flavor. Staking isn’t required for this tiny plant.
- Patio Hybrid
Patio Hybrid is a compact, determinate cherry tomato bred for container growing. It only reaches up to 2 feet tall but produces tons of small, sweet red tomatoes all season long. It’s very easy to grow and widely adapted.
- Tiny Tim
An extreme dwarf tomato variety, Tiny Tim tops out around 10 inches. It produces impressive yields of bright red cherry tomatoes for its miniscule size. Tiny Tim thrives in windowsill pots and very small container gardens.
- Window Box Roma
As a compact, determinate Roma-type, Window Box Roma is ideal for pot culture. The plants grow only 16-20 inches tall. Plum-shaped red fruits are borne in abundance for sauces and salsa. It’s a neat, tidy patio tomato.
Tips for Growing Tomatoes in Pots
- Use at least a 12” diameter container with drainage holes. Bigger pots equal bigger plants and harvests.
- Use a quality potting mix formulated for vegetables and tomatoes.
- Ensure 6+ hours of sun exposure. Move portable containers to optimize sunlight.
- Use cages, stakes or trellises for support. Prune heavily.
- Water when soil dries out. Check soil moisture daily in hot weather.
- Fertilize regularly with a water-soluble fertilizer made for tomatoes.
- Watch for pests like aphids. Inspect leaves and stems frequently.
With the right compact variety and ideal growing conditions, you can successfully grow tomatoes on decks, patios and in any small sunny space.
The best tomatoes to grow in pots
There are two types of tomatoes that do really well in containers: determinate varieties, which don’t get too tall, and cherry tomatoes, which mature quickly and have small fruits. When compared to a big juicy 2 lb heirloom tomato, cherry tomatoes need less water to grow fruit. They also tend to mature quickly, which makes them one of the best tomatoes for containers.
Here are some of my favorite varieties of tomatoes for pots:
The best containers for tomatoes
Tomatoes can absolutely thrive when grown in a variety of containers. You can grow tomatoes in everything from food-safe 5 gallon buckets, tomato grow bags or (the best in my opinion) self-watering containers.
Tomatoes need a lot of water, and plants grown in pots dry out faster than plants grown in the ground. Self-watering containers solve both of these problems at once by giving the plants even and regular water from the bottom. This makes the tomato plants very happy.
My favorite container for growing tomatoes is the Oasis Self-Watering Container from Gardener’s Supply Company. It’s the perfect size for tomatoes and comes with some really great features:
- Strong trellis with an extension that can be added for tomato varieties that grow very tall
- You can move the light planters around with the Roller Ball Kit (um, game changer!)
- It water itself and has a water indicator that tells you when to water.
- You can pick from three cute colors (I have three in green).
: Gardener’s Supply Company Oasis Self-Watering Tomato Planter with Trellis
7 Best Tomatoes to Grow in Containers
FAQ
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