How to Grow Tomatoes in Containers on Your Deck, Patio, or Porch

Tomatoes are not only one of the most popular and delicious summer staples, but they lean on the easier side of growing and can produce hundreds of fruits depending on the variety—even when grown in containers.

For tomato lovers who lack garden space, you’ll be happy to know you need nothing more than a large pot and soil, a sunny spot, some fertilizer, and a little know-how to grow your very own tomato plants. With the right variety, you can grow and harvest tomatoes on your patio, deck, balcony, driveway, or any outdoor living space that offers full sun. Growing tomatoes in containers comes with plentiful benefits, such as the ability to relocate the plant to meet sunlight requirements or to provide shelter from an incoming storm. 

Container-grown plants are space-efficient and offer an earlier start to the growing season by allowing you to start them in pots when outdoor soil temps aren’t quite ready. Ahead, we spoke to experts who share perfect-for-the-patio varieties and helpful tips to ensure healthy, ripe, flavor-packed tomatoes. 

Opt for 'Determinate' Tomatoes 

Before we cover container-thriving tomato varieties, it’s important to know the difference between the terms indeterminant and determinant. Understanding the distinctions between the two can make or break your container crop experience.

"When selecting tomato plants for container gardening, opt for 'determinate' plants, which are bush-type plants that don't require pruning and usually don't need support,” says Lisa Colburn, author of The Maine Garden Journal, master gardener, and editor of ‘Maine Grows.' This compact variety grows to a predetermined height and width and tends to produce its fruit all at once. 

Indeterminate tomatoes, on the other hand, are vine-like plants that bear fruit continuously throughout the season. "Because of their ongoing growth, managing them becomes challenging in small spaces, and they require sturdy supports, with some growing as tall as 5 to 10 feet tall."

Select a Variety That Thrives in Containers 

These smaller determinate and semi-determinate varieties pack big flavors and produce an abundance of fruit. When shopping for tomato varieties, be sure to look at the plant information tag to ensure its determinate variety.

• Baby Boomer: This compact plant can produce over 300 bright red sweet cherry tomatoes that provide a burst of big flavor. It grows to a height of 20 to 25 inches.
• Patio F Hybrid: The taller of the dwarf variety, this determinant plant is compact, matures around 65 days, and often produces tennis ball-sized fruit. It grows to a height of 2 feet.
• Glacier: A semi-determinate plant that produces two-inch flavorful fruits early in the season and continues to produce all season long. It grows to a height of 30 to 48 inches.
• Cherry Roma: A dwarf and bushy "paste" tomato variety that offers the flavor of traditional Roma paste tomatoes. Cherry Roma grows 2 to 3 feet tall.
• Bush Early Girl: Produces high yields of extra-large 4-inch sweet-tasting tomatoes. This plant can produce up to 20 pounds of tomatoes. Bush Early Girl grows 18 inches tall.
• Tiny Tim: A dwarf heirloom that produces bright red cherry tomatoes with a sweet-tart flavor and is ready to harvest within 45 to 55 days. Its mature height is 12 to 18 inches tall.
• Better Bush: A classic slicing tomato with dense yields and a beefsteak-type tomato. Better Bush grows up to 4 feet tall.
• Celebrity: Disease-resistant and bred for growing well in containers, this variety produces five to eight tasteful red tomatoes. It grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet.
• Patio Choice Yellow: A compact plant that produces bright yellow cherry tomatoes that are 1.5 inches wide. It grows 15 to 18 inches tall.
• Bush Steak: This determinate variety bears 6 to 8-ounce deep red slicer tomatoes that are juicy and nearly seedless. It grows up to 3 feet tall.
• Small Fry: The determinant plant reaches maturity around 70 to 80 days and produces many small red cherry tomatoes. It grows 2 to 4 feet high.
• Legacy: A hybrid variety that performs well in humid conditions, this variety produces large to extra-large tomatoes with a deep red, flavorful interior and is ideal for canning. Legacy grows about 4 feet high.

Follow These Steps for Growing Tomatoes in Containers 

"Container growing is different from growing in the ground," says Emily Scott of Scott Farm, as the soil can dry out quickly. Once you have selected your plants, follow our experts' tips to help your container growing experience be successful (and delicious!). 

Select a Sunny Spot

Opt for a location that provides 6 to 8 hours of sun per day. If your sunlight conditions change throughout the season, move your plants into a spot that will ensure adequate sun exposure.

Choose a Large Pot

Choose a large container (18 to 20 inches wide and at least 2 feet deep). Tomato plants have big root systems that need ample space. "If the containers are too small, the plants will dry out quickly, causing stress and susceptibility to problems," says Colburn. Plant one tomato plant per container and avoid terra cotta pots, as they can dry out too fast.

Make Sure Your Pot Has Good Drainage

"It is important to select a pot with holes at the bottom to ensure proper drainage and prevent root rot," says Scott, who shares that placing small rocks at the bottom of your pot and adding potting soil will provide plenty of drainage.

Choose the Right Soil

Use high-quality potting soil with perlite to keep it fluffy for proper aeration. "Avoid heavy soils that lead to compaction and possible root rot," says Colburn,

Support Your Plant

Place a tomato cage or stakes in the garden pot as soon as possible. "Most determinate tomatoes will benefit from tomato cages when they start setting heavy fruit,” says Colburn. Waiting until the plant is larger to add support can disturb the root system or cause the pot to tip over.

Water Frequently

Tomatoes love water. "Water tomato plants frequently, especially in hot summer temperatures, where they should be watered daily," says Scott. Watering in the morning provides the plants with all-day hydration, enabling damp soil enough time to dry out but not enough where the plant wilts, as this can stress the plant.

Fertilize Regularly

Tomatoes are heavy feeders. Colburn suggests using a fertilizer designated for tomatoes. Nourish your plants with fertilizer every few weeks. Tomatoes also enjoy acidic soil and a high, acidic pH level. "You can sprinkle a tablespoon of Epsom salt in the soil before transplanting your tomatoes," says Scott.

Keep an Eye Out for Pests

Hornworms, in particular, are very common on tomato plants. "If you find them on your plants, you’ll need to remove them by hand and put them in soapy water," says Scott. "To prevent them from returning, sprinkle cayenne pepper around your plants."  You can also spray neem oil on your plant once a week to help prevent unwanted pests.

Purposely Prune

Pruning the leaves on the very bottom of the plant will help prevent disease. Scott recommends removing any yellow leaves immediately to help prevent the spread of any disease.