Help me choose which of my tomatoes for containers

Jonnyhat · April 15, 2017

I have 10 5 gallon containers that line my patio in which I grew tomatoes last year; I plan on emptying them, remixing some new organic soil and planting again this year but my grow list is completely different with the exception of about 10 varieties I grew last year or in previous years. I was wondering if any of you container aficionados cold make some recommendations from my list as to which would do best in these 5 gallon pots and which to steer clear of; any help would be greatly appreciated.

1884
Wisconsin 55
Liz Birt
Brandywine from Croatia
Sungold '16 Sungold '15
Paul Roberson '16 Paul Roberson '15
Cheerokee Purple Black
Raspberry Giant
Copper River GWRT
Neves Azorean Red
German Johnson Brenton Strain
Magila Rosa
GGWT '16 GGWT '15
Lithium Sunset
Kelloggs Breakfast
Solar Flare
Seek no further Love Apple
SOTW
Eli
Daniel Burson
Rozovyi Myod
Mayo's Delight
Rebecca Sebastians Bull Bag
Linnie's Oxheart
Chapman
Marizapan Gold
Togo Trefele
Brandyberry Pink
Casey Pure Yellow
Orange Russian 117
Bursztyn Amber
Red Barn
Rebel Yell
0-33
Precoce Marmande
Vorlon
BW Yellow
Beaverlodge Slicer
German Giant
Mortgage Lifter
Fish Lake Oxheart
Orange Jazz
Taxi
German Red Strawberry

jtjmartin · April 15, 2017

Maglia Rosa is described as a semi-determinate that does well in pots.

Jonnyhat · April 15, 2017

i grew it last year in pots and it did well, probably going to do Taxi, and maybe 0-33 as well

greenthumbomaha · April 15, 2017

If you do not prune to 1-2 stems (I don't , more the merrier for me, I like an old fashioned tomato jungle), save these for the ground or 15 gal min imho:

any Brandwine
German Johnson
Sungold
Vorlon
Mortgage Lifter
Orange Russian 117

Although it's doable, I would also skip the compact indets like SNFLA, SOTW and Chapman in 5 gal pots. Others may disagree, but I think they would reach their potential inground.

Yes:
Beaver Lodge Slicer

- Lisa

Cole_Robbie · April 15, 2017

You have selected a great list of varieties, but from what I see, other than Maglia Rosa, none of them are meant for 5-gallon buckets. You want dwarfs if you are growing in containers that size.

AlittleSalt · April 16, 2017

I'm growing 1884 purple in a pot full of fireants, so far, it looks good. I'm new to growing in pots/5 gallon buckets/containers. It will be interesting to see how your plants do growing in 5 gallon pots in PA.

I have Indigo Ruby, Indigo Sun, and Anna Aasa growing in 5 gallon pots here in Texas. I expect them to burn up, but who knows? It is worth experimenting with.

Andrey_BY · April 16, 2017

Patio "must have" list:
Burzstyn (Polish variety which means Amber in English)
0-33 (excellent early variety from Russian amateur Pavel Saraev)
Maglia Rosa
Taxi
Rozovyi Myod is quite compact as well

Jonnyhat · April 16, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrey_BY

Patio "must have" list:
Burzstyn (Polish variety which means Amber in English)
0-33 (excellent early variety from Russian amateur Pavel Saraev)
Maglia Rosa
Taxi
Rozovyi Myod is quite compact as well

Nostrovia!

Dark Rumor · April 17, 2017

I have 3 pots with Beaver Lodge Slicer. Last year I had 2 pots of Beaver Lodge and they were the first tomatoes of the season and they were also the last tomatoes of the season. They produced all summer long and they are very good.

greenthumbomaha · May 9, 2017

I'm deciding on how to site Copper River. Suggestions? Height?

Tatiana lists as determinate, a well known seed seller indet.
Looks very tasty and pretty.

- Lisa

zipcode · May 9, 2017

From that list, Taxi seems suitable at first glance.
Of course, any of those indeterminates pruned to one stem will also do well in 5gal. Don't forget to always keep the soil moist, even short period of dry will make the roots grow too much for that size.
One maybe for next year is Maskotka, in my opinion the ultimate determinate in terms of taste, and it's compact even for a determinate.

AKmark · May 9, 2017

I have grown many on your list in containers, we put two plants in a 5 gallon container. If you can water and feed them correctly, and can keep them supported, and pruned, you can get amazing results. You can grow any variety you want.

Gerardo · May 9, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKmark

I have grown many on your list in containers, we put two plants in a 5 gallon container. If you can water and feed them correctly, and can keep them supported, and pruned, you can get amazing results. You can grow any variety you want.

hear hear Sir

April 15, 2017	#1
Jonnyhat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 337	Help me choose which of my tomatoes for containers I have 10 5 gallon containers that line my patio in which I grew tomatoes last year; I plan on emptying them, remixing some new organic soil and planting again this year but my grow list is completely different with the exception of about 10 varieties I grew last year or in previous years. I was wondering if any of you container aficionados cold make some recommendations from my list as to which would do best in these 5 gallon pots and which to steer clear of; any help would be greatly appreciated. 1884 Wisconsin 55 Liz Birt Brandywine from Croatia Sungold '16 Sungold '15 Paul Roberson '16 Paul Roberson '15 Cheerokee Purple Black Raspberry Giant Copper River GWRT Neves Azorean Red German Johnson Brenton Strain Magila Rosa GGWT '16 GGWT '15 Lithium Sunset Kelloggs Breakfast Solar Flare Seek no further Love Apple SOTW Eli Daniel Burson Rozovyi Myod Mayo's Delight Rebecca Sebastians Bull Bag Linnie's Oxheart Chapman Marizapan Gold Togo Trefele Brandyberry Pink Casey Pure Yellow Orange Russian 117 Bursztyn Amber Red Barn Rebel Yell 0-33 Precoce Marmande Vorlon BW Yellow Beaverlodge Slicer German Giant Mortgage Lifter Fish Lake Oxheart Orange Jazz Taxi German Red Strawberry

April 16, 2017	#7
Andrey_BY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Minsk, Belarus, Eastern Europe (Zone 4a) Posts: 2,278	Patio "must have" list: Burzstyn (Polish variety which means Amber in English) 0-33 (excellent early variety from Russian amateur Pavel Saraev) Maglia Rosa Taxi Rozovyi Myod is quite compact as well __________________ 1 kg=2.2 lb , 1 m=39,37 in , 1 oz=28.35 g , 1 ft=30.48 cm , 1 lb= 0,4536 kg , 1 in=2.54 cm , 1 l = 0.26 gallon , 0 C=32 F Andrey a.k.a. TOMATODOR

April 15, 2017	#2
jtjmartin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Williamsburg VA Zone 7b Posts: 1,110	Maglia Rosa is described as a semi-determinate that does well in pots.

April 15, 2017	#4
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	If you do not prune to 1-2 stems (I don't , more the merrier for me, I like an old fashioned tomato jungle), save these for the ground or 15 gal min imho: any Brandwine German Johnson Sungold Vorlon Mortgage Lifter Orange Russian 117 Although it's doable, I would also skip the compact indets like SNFLA, SOTW and Chapman in 5 gal pots. Others may disagree, but I think they would reach their potential inground. Yes: Beaver Lodge Slicer - Lisa

April 15, 2017	#5
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	You have selected a great list of varieties, but from what I see, other than Maglia Rosa, none of them are meant for 5-gallon buckets. You want dwarfs if you are growing in containers that size.

April 16, 2017	#6
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I'm growing 1884 purple in a pot full of fireants, so far, it looks good. I'm new to growing in pots/5 gallon buckets/containers. It will be interesting to see how your plants do growing in 5 gallon pots in PA. I have Indigo Ruby, Indigo Sun, and Anna Aasa growing in 5 gallon pots here in Texas. I expect them to burn up, but who knows? It is worth experimenting with.

May 9, 2017	#10
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	I'm deciding on how to site Copper River. Suggestions? Height? Tatiana lists as determinate, a well known seed seller indet. Looks very tasty and pretty. - Lisa

May 9, 2017	#11
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	From that list, Taxi seems suitable at first glance. Of course, any of those indeterminates pruned to one stem will also do well in 5gal. Don't forget to always keep the soil moist, even short period of dry will make the roots grow too much for that size. One maybe for next year is Maskotka, in my opinion the ultimate determinate in terms of taste, and it's compact even for a determinate.

May 9, 2017	#12
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	I have grown many on your list in containers, we put two plants in a 5 gallon container. If you can water and feed them correctly, and can keep them supported, and pruned, you can get amazing results. You can grow any variety you want.