If you want to plant tomatoes in a pot, you need a sufficiently large container. The right location is also important so that you can harvest many tomatoes.
There is hardly a gardener who doesn't plant tomatoes in his garden. Outdoors, however, the plants can be quite susceptible to diseases, with various fungal infections in particular troubling the mostly red fruits. That is why many hobby gardeners choose to grow on the terrace or balcony. You have such a good alternative in a pot or bucket.
In order to be able to cultivate the plants in the pot, however, a few important points must be fulfilled. Upright stick tomatoes or small cocktail tomatoes are best suited for cultivation in pots.
Tomatoes in a pot - the right container
It should be obvious that a conventional flower pot is not suitable for growing tomatoes. The plants are deep-rooted and only thrive if they can develop their roots sufficiently.
Choose vessels with a minimum diameter of 30 cm. With a diameter of 45 cm, there is even space for two plants at the same time. The capacity should be at least 15 liters for one tomato plant and 40 liters for two plants. A drainage hole in the bottom of the pot is also extremely important, because the plants do not tolerate waterlogging at all. It is best to place clay discs over the hole so that it is kept clear.Planting tomatoes in a pot - step by step
❶ Prepare soil
Normal potting soil is not so good for planting tomatoes in pots. Tomato plants are heavy feeders and therefore need a lot of nutrients. It is best to use potting soil and mix it with some compost or stable manure. If you don't have any organic fertilizer at hand, you can also use a special fertilizer for tomatoes.
The soil should be nicely loosened, so adding a little expanded clay or fine gravel is recommended.
❷ Inserting the plants
Put the young plants so deep in the ground that the first leaves just stick out of the ground. This is particularly important so that the tomato plant has as many roots as possibleforms. The plants can only be placed on the balcony or terrace from mid-May at the earliest, when there is no longer a threat of frost at night.
❸ The right location
At the beginning you should not place the tomato plants in direct sunlight. The plants have to get used to the new climate first, so the best time outdoors is on a cloudy day. Later, tomato plants need more light and sun so that they can grow well and produce lots of fruit.
Until the plants have properly rooted, you should only protect them a little from the hot midday sun. The ideal place for the tomatoes is directly on the wall of the house, which reflects heat and offers protection from the wind. Of course, a roof is also ideal, because downpours are not so good for the tomato plants - the wetness encourages late blight.
Here again all the steps in the video tutorial:
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Caring for tomatoes in pots - 3 tips
Tip 1: Water regularly
Tomatoes need a lot of water, so you can even water them twice a day in midsummer. Only water directly at the roots. If the leaves get wet, fungal infections can occur.
Tip 2: Fertilize every now and then
During the growth phase you should fertilize the tomato plants regularly with a tomato fertilizer. It is best to use liquid fertilizers, slow-release fertilizers are not recommended.
Tip 3: Use up tomatoes
About once a week, you should pinch out your tomatoes - that is, the side shoots are removed or thinned out. So the fruits get bigger and the plant grows taller. From a height of about half a meter, you should tie the plants to a stick so that they have sufficient stability and do not buckle.