The Best Pot Size for Growing Tomatoes??? (Big or Small)

Growing in Vista, CA (Zone 10a) - Elevation 397ft - Latitude 33N

Podcasts by Diego Footer:

[tcwaterdrill]

Growing up 60 years ago, my dad had a green house and we had a garden about 5 acres for family to come and pick. Dad found out if you grew the tomatoe plants in the green house untill they were about 10 inches tall, that we would lose a lots of them trying to keep them watered when it was dry. We went to about 4 inch tall plants and had a better return and growth rate because the plant for some reason would just jump once being transplanted in the field.Dad decided the shock that the larger plant took, took longer for them to overcome.

[titanlurch]

Last year I started tomato seeds in a hydroponic germination system I developed. At 3 inches tall I moved them into 3 to 4 inch pots to harden off for a week before planting directly in the ground. They grew rapidly and produced abundantly in compost rich raised beds.

[brianseybert]

I am coming to the same conclusion on transplanting large VS small tomato plants. My 4" tomato plants not only caught up with, but some of them out performed the transplants that were up to 32" tall. I am going to switch up my potting mix this year. The last two years I purchased potting mixes, peat moss, coco choir added blood and bone meal, everything has done well. Then you plant them in your soil and it takes a while for the soil biology to get started on the root systems. This year I am not spending a dime on anything. I produced over 50 gallons of finished leaf mold and my worms have given me about 15 gallons of very high quality worm castings. these will be the main ingredients in my potting soil, then when my plants go out into the garden they will find similar and more soil biology to welcome them. At least that's the plan.

[larrymckinley]

Your experimental approach to gardening is very helpful.
This potting up experiment was very interesting.
But I found your recommendations to be even more helpful.
However, I was disappointed that you did not take the experiment all the way to harvest.
Last year I started more tomato seedlings than I needed.
After giving away most of the excess, I still had 6 puny Roma seedlings that I was too embarrassed to give to friends.
Instead of trashing them, I stuck them in a new spot with lousy soil.
I was amazed at how much they produced.
Diego, how about an experiment on how seedling size affects productivity?

[ButterflyLullabyLtd]

Thank you for this brilliant video. I'm sharing with my small gardening group and Dad. I've just killed approx 6 tomato seedlings because they were too leggy so I repotted. Only one survived. I'm trying your method now. I thought about potting in bigger pots so thank you so much for making this wonderful video. Greatly appreciated. ☘️🦋🐝☘️

[SARJENT.]

Kool vid. I usually seed in solo cups then go to 1 or 2 gal pots. I skip the cells all together. The cells with plugs are better though. I find them to be a hassle with filling with soil, seeding, and removing plants. Then I transplant into the ground or into 30 to 100 gal pots. 20 was the smallest pot that seem to give me good results with tomatoes. All are fabric pots. Plastic stretch wrap like the stuff from U-Haul can be used to help prevent the pots from drying out. Place wrap at the bottom. Bands can be wrapped around the pot in addition to the bottom. Coco coir can be used to help your potting mix go further and help with water retention etc. I have found that transplant difficulties can be reduced with transplanting at the right time to ensure sufficient root mass exists and using a good heavy shovel for the huge hole. In addition, I have noticed that soil type and moisture can increase or decrease transplant difficulties. I have found that larger medium sized are easiest to transplant. Have you used the trans planter pot from Smart Pot? They make removing the root ball simple; however, they cost more than solo cups or 1-2 gal nursery pots. I'm excited for more testing videos.

[Well_I_am_just_saying]

After watching your video, I am thinking about using soda bottles. Using a one liter or 2 liter soda bottle would give good long roots while not taking up a huge amount of space under my grow lights. I would get the benefits of a large pot and not take up a huge amount of space. I will probably go straight from the small 6 packs right up to 2 liter bottles. My main problem is that I very rarely ever drink soda. I guess I need to start asking around to get get some bottles within a few months.

[prettyblack]

I’m outside planting tomatoes in a bigger container. So glad I came across your video.

[dianepurcell]

Would like to know what type of pot you recommend for someone who will be growing on a deck rather than in a garden!

[Bluexin_]

Interesting ! Especially the part about not potting up at all. I would still pot them up because colder climate so I'd rather have them grow for longer inside to get a headstart on the season. I'm also wondering what the results would be if you let them go for longer (maybe to grow tomatoes in containers, not going in the ground at all)

[tezzi]

My tomatoes are in a pot very similar to the orange pot you use. They seem to have hit a growth stunt, the tomatoes have bloomed but are taking a long time to grow larger and ripen. I'm watering 2-4 times a day and it's been a very hot and sunny summer. I'm wondering if I need to pot up or if they've received too much sun.

[moonhunter]

I find the 5L common sized bucket works best for me. The Tomato plants can get really big and give me loads of tomatoes. I've tried smaller pots but it just wasn't worth the trouble.

[LtPinback]

This year I did not pot up. A freak cold night killed all but one tomato. Then replacement seedlings got almost decimated by slugs and snails due to their small size.
So while it is more work to pot up it gives you more control and flexility over the plants and when and how to plant them on their final destination.

[charissay]

Thanks for the video, but what if i want to keep my tomatoes in the pot?? I have 2 kinds of tomatoes, Cherry and Beef...

[lisaaustin]

@ 11:33. "I am really into these types of things". I can relate. :) Thanks for sharing. My question is, if I were growing in containers rather than the ground, what size container would give a tomato plant optimal conditions throughout the growing season.

[chesterhobbs]

I look forward to each of your videos. Always informative, right to the point, no fluff. Here in Texas, zone 8A.

[PIESvcs]

Using flats/trays in the John Jeavons method ("How to grow more vegetables") produces a stronger seedling with less inputs in my opinion. Seed at 1 inch spacings, prick out to two inch spacings in a deeper, tray from free pallets. Best dollar value. The challenge is always the hardening off / planting out. I still think best results are to stay smaller in diameter and deeper. Old one quart milk containers were perfect back in the day when we used paper packaging. So I like the person's idea of the soda bottles, even if they are cut down. Not as pretty on a video, but what are we trying to achieve. Sometimes the old ideas (how to grow more with less) trump preferences for convenience (the busy people mandate). Look at all the cylindrical vessels that are thrown away and 'upcycle'?

[yooperlooper]

Very informative and practical. On our small patio I'm going to use a smaller pot for my grape tomato plants. Thanks!!!

[ColoradoTodd]

Thanks Diego! I like the idea of the 5 inch (or so) pot. The resulting plant is spindly, but so what? I'm going to either bury it deep or sideways in a trench anyway so that I'll get more root growth. I also like the 30 days direct to ground model, but I probably won't do that unless I have a cold frame or low hoop tunnel, just in case.

[KFlyguy]

I pot up 30 days + - into my garden. I just put a cage around them and wrap the cage with plastic shrink wrap for a greenhouse kind of thing. I wait a bit longer to be certain of interesting weather and it all works. I am in south eastern Wisconsin so frost dates are important.