On DTM, growing Indeterminates in Pots, and success

[nctomatoman]

What an interesting season this has been - already. Today I started picking some of the large fruited indeterminates that are growing in 10 gallon pots in my driveway.

First, days to maturity - based upon what I am seeing for tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, I really am convinced that the higher temperatures experienced by the roots when planted in pots leads to significantly advanced ripening times. Today I picked a Lillian's Yellow Heirloom (14 oz), a German heirloom sent to me by someone in central NC (16 oz), and tomorrow I expect to pick Stump of the World and Cherokee Purple (both will be at least 16 ounces - the ChP is likely to be 20 oz or more). These are from plants set in their final resting place on April 29...so we will be at about 70 days from transplant. This is pretty amazing for some of these varieties - esp. Lillian's Yellow.

Now I have been very attentive to the plants this year - watering typically twice per day (we have been very hot and dry), and fairly frequent feedling. I've not sprayed with anything - and in general, the indeterminates are very healthy (Only a few show a hint of yellowing foliage). These are being grown unpruned and staked - I estimate that on most plants there are at least 15-20 good sized tomatoes, so I expect 15-25 pounds of fruit per plant - this is on a par with tomatoes grown in the ground when I lived in PA and had good soil.

So, this has demonstrated a few worthwhile things - that you can grow anything in a pot (the 60 or so dwarfs in 5 gallon grow bags look quite incredible - the yield on those will be very good for the most part). That you can really advance maturity dates by growing in pots....that fruit size for pot grown plants will be equivalent for the most part to those grown in soil. And, judging from the few we've tasted, pot grown tomatoes lose nothing in flavor over garden grown equivalents.

Oh yes - and they are quite labor intensive.....a good drip irrigation system would certainly be a worthwhile addition!

Just a pic to share - you can see the 16 oz German heirloom and 14 oz Lillians in this shot - I've taken individual pics, but have yet to download them.