Confused about how many tomato plants can go in one container

[tulsanurse1]

I have read where several people here will grow a tomato plant in a 5 gallon container. I have 2 containers that are 22 gallon-20.5"W X 12.0" H and I have been advised to only place one tomato plant in these containers. Why is that?

Here is the container

http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...309757.1260342

[Zana]

I have a number of containers that size. The dwarf or determinate varieties work better in that size....but I've had some determinates too (just not the monster ones). If it was me, I'd go with varieties golf ball size and smaller, that don't grow enormously tall. However, if it was also up to me, and you hadn't actually bought the containers yet, I'd try to find some that are 2 to 4 inches minimum deeper (height). That way you have room to put your weights in the bottom (whether that's broken crockery/terracotta or rocks), plus a good amount of potting mix, as well as 2-4" of mulch. Without room for root growth you'll diminish the production of the plant and it probably won't reach its production or growth potential.

You might get away with 2 dwarf size plants...that have cherry size tomatoes., but otherwise I wouldn't go with more than 1 in that size pot/container.

Zana
~ who has grown tomatoes in up to 160 pots/containers in a year....sighhhh

[tulsanurse1]

I'm thinking I am going to return these or just buy some more containers that are bigger/deeper. I paid like 15.00 for these containers but they have SPF protection so maybe they are worth it. I am going to go to the Dollar Store but I don't know what's safe to plant in and what isn't.

[Zana]

These containers my work well for the smaller plants as mentioned. But you could still get a few larger containers for the larger plants, depending upon how many you want to grow your first year....and how much space you have to do it. The SPF protection is nice, but not all that necessary. Mine sit in a south facing backyard on a concrete patio in full sun from about 0900 to about 1700 each day...I've had more breakage from leaving them out over the winter than from breakdown in the sun. Go figure...but its all up to you.

Try freecycle.com or fullcircles.com for containers/pots and other gardening tools/stuff for free. Try craig's list for possible free or cheap stuff. And then also keep your eyes peeled while driving around on day when rubbish/garbage pick up is scheduled.....I think I've gotten half of my pots/containers that way...curb shopping is what I call it. And allot of them are huge. I've gotten some that were the heavy black plastic that were big enough for small tree saplings....as much as 36" diameter and about 24-30"high....all for free at the curb.

[akgardengirl]

Try the tree nurseries for deeper containers. I got mine almost free last year...made a small donation for a whole bunch of them plus they help load them.
Sue

[Vince]

From my humble experience, you can put three large plants in one 15 gallon and get great production. Fruits well over 1lb depending on variety. However, the primary reason I do this is for maximizing my # of plants during breeding projects. If I were growing in a container for production as apposed to #s I think 5 gallon is to small for non-dwarf plants, and 15 or bigger is perfect. Another reason you may not want to bunch up plants in one pot is if disease rears its ugly head. If the plants are seperated 1 per pot you are much less likely to spread funk. You can also segregate individual plants if there is only one to a pot. My advice is to experiment and see what works for you. Either way you are going to harvest maters.

[casserole]

Try to get ones that are 12 inches deep or more . I use many 5 gallon buckets from Home Depot ,etc . for < $ 3 each .I plant one per pot . This works ok for determinates,I have plants over 6 feet in 5 gallons right now .I am going to try some indeterminates in 10-20 gallon pots and the 5 gals this year .bigger pots are expensive to fill and a problem if they need to be moved . Even If i plant indeterms in 5's I wont be disappointed if they dont get 6 feet