You may know or even have seen several homes having one or two tomato plants grown on the patio. It is not surprising because tomato plants are known to grow in small places requiring very little care throughout their life. Ideally, you can grow compact or bush tomatoes as these are the most common and best bred especially for container growing.
However, there are several risks associated with growing tomato plants in a container. Without proper irrigation and care, you may not get the right kind of growth in the plant, let alone get fresh, fabulous, juicy red tomatoes. These risks include:
- The bottom of the tomato plant may rot in the containers if the irrigation is not precise and the watering is not precise
- The plant may not be strong enough to grow to its maximal height if the depth of the planter box is not adequate to hold enough soil to provide adequate support and
- The plant may not develop properly if the spacing between to plants in case of multiple plants grown in one container is not enough to ensure proper sunshine and air.
Therefore, you will need to know the right type of garden container to use in your home so that it does not affect your mobility or the functionality of the plant adversely in any way. Whatever be the type, it must have proper drainage holes at the bottom because tomato plants rot easily and quickly in poorly drained and soggy soil.
Using Porous Containers
You may wish to choose porous containers to grow tomato plants in your home. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when you use such a container. The most common type of porous container used in homes is the clay planter as it provides several benefits for growing tomatoes, such as:
- Clay containers are attractive
- The neutral color complements the bright green and red color of the tomato plants
- As clay is heavy, these pots will not blow or tip over easily
- The porosity of clay is greater, and it will, therefore, allow more air to circulate around the plant roots and
- As clay pots are thick, it will moderate the soil temperatures.
However, more porosity of clay can also result in faster drying of the potting mixture and will, therefore, require irrigation more frequently.
You may use semi-porous wood and pressed-fiber containers for growing black tomatoes that will provide several benefits of clay planters but will not hold up well when you fill them up with damp soil. They are not only visually striking but also packed with rich flavors and antioxidants.
Using Nonporous Containers
You may also use nonporous containers to grow tomatoes. Plastic planters are the most common type of nonporous planters, but it has both positive and negative qualities. Read the self-watering tomato planter reviews to make your final choice.
Plastic planters are less expensive, come in a wide range of colors, light in weight but can easily tip over or blow away. It is less durable and lacks air circulation.
Glazed ceramic planters are breakable and lack drainage holes much like metal and glass containers that may even become hot in the sunlight.
