Choosing the right planters for tomatoes is very essential when you determine to start container gardening.
You can grow both indoor and outdoor plants in these containers or planters.
So, if you want to grow healthy tomatoes, you should know the followings before growing tomatoes in containers-
- Type of planters that suit best for your tomato plants
- Measures of a good planter for tomato plants
- Planter size and shape according to the tomato varieties
1. Type of Planters For Tomatoes
Plant type is very important to measure the growing performance of your container tomatoes. It controls the moisture, air circulation, and temperature of your potting soil.
Besides, it also helps to determine how many plants care your tomato plants need.
However, you may classify the tomato planters into two major types –
- Commercial planters
- Homemade DIY planters
Commercial Planters
Commercial planters are available in your local gardening store or online store. You may find them in different materials, prices, shapes, sizes, and designs.
The planter’s material is one of the most important keys to determining the best planters for tomatoes. However, some other factors also need to consider for picking the best planters.
1. Ceramic Planters
Ceramic planters are attractive and available in various designs, sizes, and colors. They are suitable for both indoor and out gardens.
However, they are very expensive, heavier, fragile, and have poor drainage and aerating system.
2. Terracotta or Clay Planters
Terracotta planters are the most attractive traditional planters. They have a good drainage system, and the soil will get enough air circulation.
These types of planters dry out quickly due to porosity and good drainage. So, you need to water them more frequently than other planters.
The price is comparatively affordable but quite heavy. Besides, they are easily breakable and difficult to move more often.
3. Plastic Pots
Plastic planters are the most common growing medium of all kinds. You can find them in different shapes, sizes, and colors in your local gardening stores and online stores.
Plastic containers are long-lasting, low-priced, lightweight, and less breakable than ceramics and clay pots.
These planters have less porosity but a good drainage system. So, plastic planters can save soil moisture longer.
However, plastic containers are thinner and lighter. So, they heat up earlier and are less fit for large plants.
4. Wooden Planters
Wooden planters have excellent drainage and good air circulation and protect your potting soil from overheat. They are inexpensive and may find in different shapes and sizes. Besides, you can make your custom wooden planters as you need.
On the other side, wooden planters are a little bit heavier and need to replace every 1 or 2 two growing seasons due to rotten problems.
5. Metal Planters
Metal planters are found in many different sizes, shapes, designs, and materials. So, the price should vary according to your demand.
These types of planters have a poor drainage system and heat up earlier.
6. Rolling Planters
Rolling planters can be easily moved from one place to another without any risk of damaging plants and planters.
There are different designs and sizes of rolling planters are available in the gardening store.
So, you can easily move your tomato plants to protect them from the extreme heat of the day or cold at night.
7. Caging Planters
There are some built-in caging planters available in the gardening store. This helps your tomato plants grow upwards with good support.
So your plants get enough airflow and stay away from soil-borne diseases.
8. Self-Watering System
Self-watering planters benefit you more if you have a busy schedule. Besides, it can provide a water supply to your tomato plants when you are on vacation. Moreover, this also helps to control soil moisture during hot weather conditions.
9. Geo Fabric Grow Bags
Geo fabric growth bags ensure the perfect condition a tomato plant needs. It releases overheating and aerates the root zone. As a result, the soil never gets soggy.
Besides, they are comparatively durable and cheaper than plastic planters and easy to move because of their handles.
On the other side, grow bags consume more water than conventional garden planters. It can’t hold water for a long time, so you need to water your tomato plants more often.
Homemade Planters
Homemade planters save you money to purchase commercial planters. People usually use unused or wastage household materials or anything that contains soil and have a drainage system for growing plants. such as-
1. Unused Large Household Container
If you have a large size of unused or waste containers at your home, you can easily turn them into garden planters for your tomato plants. Make some holes at the bottom of your containers and fill them with good-quality potting soil.
But keep in mind to avoid transparent or black color containers. They heat up earlier than other containers.
2. Bucket Planter
An unused bucket is a great source of growing medium for home gardeners. You can easily grow your tomatoes in buckets and save some money.
3. Old Bathtub Planter
Your old bathtub can be a great planter for your tomatoes. You can easily grow some indeterminate tomato varieties in this type of tub.
4. Old Tires
Old tires work like a raised bed for your tomato plants.
5. PP Woven Fabric Bags
This type of bag is lightweight and stronger, ensures good aeration, controls soil temperature, and, best of all, you can find it at home. But keep in mind you need to water more frequently once you start growing tomatoes in woven fabric bags.
6. Potting Soil, Compost, Or Fertilizer Bags
You can easily turn your potting soil, compost, or fertilizer bags into growing bags for your tomato plants.
2. Measures of Best Planters for Tomatoes
There are several measures to choose the right planters for tomato plants. Such as –
Good Drainage
Planters or pots should have a good drainage system. So, make sure the planters you pick have some holes at the bottom of them.
Clay pots, wooden planters, and grow bags have a good drainage system than plastic or ceramic planters.
Holding Soil Moisture
Usually, plastic and ceramic pots can hold more moisture compared to clay, wooden pots, and grow bags. So, your planters help to determine how often you should water your tomato plants.
Protect from Overheat
A plastic container is cheaper as well is thinner than other types of pots. So, it heats up earlier than other pots.
On the other hand, clay and ceramic pots are heavy and protect your tomato plants from overheating and strong wind.
Grow bags are durable, control soil temperature, and ensure proper aeration. But they need water more often than other types of planters.
Self-Watering System
A planter with a self-watering system can supply the required water your tomato plants need when you have a busy schedule. Besides, it also supplies water to your plants during hot weather or when you are unable to water your tomato plants more often.
Plant Support System
Some planters have a built-in plant support system. So that your tomato plants can grow upwards easily.
Besides, you can manually set up a stake or cage in your tomato planter for a better harvest.
Planters Weight
For medium to larger tomato plants, you need bigger and heavier planters. A heavyweight planter can save your plants from falling from strong wind.
But this type of planter is not suitable for small spaces, balconies, rooftop gardens, or a place with load capacity problems.
Porosity
The porosity of a planter has both positive and negative effects. This ensures proper air circulation in the soil and a good drainage system.
On the other side, it can dry out the soil quickly inside the planters. So, you need to water your soil more often.
Planters Color
Usually, black color planters absorb more head than other planters as well as transparent planters also heat up earlier.
Materials of Planter
Materials determine a planter’s-
- Affordability
- Longevity
- Weight
- Hardiness
- Usability
- And overall performance.
So, you should carefully choose the right material for planters for growing tomatoes considering the above measures.
3. Planter Size and Shape
There are several factors to determine the right size and shape of a tomato planter. Based on the following factors, you may choose the right planter for tomatoes.
Tomato Varieties
Usually, determinate tomatoes need a small pot than indeterminate tomatoes.
Determinate tomatoes grow for a certain height, around 2-4 feet. So, they need a planter for growing on that level.
Indeterminate tomato plants can grow around 6-9 feet or above. They need extra large planters for growing tomatoes.
Learn more about Tomato potting size.
Space
If you have space limitations, you should choose smaller planters with suitable tomato varieties.
Geo Location
Windy places, extreme heat, greenhouse, extreme cold, and other factors also vary the size and shape of a tomato planter.
Temperature
Small planters heat up earlier than large planters.
DIY Homemade Planters
There is no certain size for homemade planters. It may depend on the available resources and the tomato variety you pick up for your homemade planters.
