I've got a Roma tomato plant and a mystery tomato plant, both in their own 5 gallon buckets. I read online that I won't get a good yield unless I use a 10-gallon container. I was hoping to harvest enough tomatoes to make some pasta sauce for my friends. Is there any solid advice on this?
9 Answers
Last year I took a chance and tossed a grocery store tomato into a 5-gallon bucket filled with potting soil. Surprising as it sounds, I ended up having more tomatoes than I could handle all summer! So go ahead, give it a shot despite what Google says.
The space for roots really makes a difference! While 5 gallons seems sufficient, a tomato plant will appreciate more room to grow its roots. Just make sure your watering and fertilizing game is strong.
Meh, for tomatoes, it’s all about nutrients. They’re not deep-rooted plants. Just keep providing support for them as they grow tall!
It's crucial to recognize the limitations of using a 5-gallon bucket. To maximize your output, you’ll likely need to invest in a larger number of plants and maybe even a greenhouse.
If possible, go bigger! I use a 20-inch barrel for my tomatoes and find that 7 to 10 gallons work really well. Tomatoes are much larger plants and appreciate more space.
I’ve had good success with tomatoes in 5-gallon pails, but it really helps to keep your fertilization routine on point. Don't underestimate the power of good nutrients in smaller pots!
For best results, cherry tomato varieties thrive in small pots like 5 gallons, but generally, tomatoes are better suited to ground planting.
Just a heads up, if you’re targeting a lot of tomatoes for sauce, you’ll need quite a few plants. They don’t all ripen at once! I grew 6 San Marzano tomatoes in the ground and still had to buy extra from the market. The more roots the plant has, the better your yield.
I guess I’ll freeze them as they come in then!
It really depends on the variety. I grew a type of Roma called Inca Jewels, bred for containers, and my yield was nearly the same as in-ground — about 10 pounds per plant from 3-foot tall plants!
From my experience, tomatoes don't yield as much in smaller containers compared to in-ground gardening. I used to grow them in larger pots but found the output disappointing, so I decided to move on from that approach.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing your experience.
That's hilarious and totally unexpected!