Tomatoes in Pots vs. in the Ground

If you enjoy growing tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) or are thinking about giving it a try, you can harvest luscious fruits from plants grown in the ground or kept in containers. Both approaches to tomato growing work well and require only some basic care and attention, but there are a few differences to consider before beginning. Whether in the ground or in pots, tomatoes are grown as annuals in all parts of the U.S.


Tomatoes grow in any well-drained garden soil, but you can improve its organic content before planting by adding compost, mixing several inches into the ground with a garden fork. Also add some fertilizer, but choose a low-nitrogen formula such as 8-32-16 to avoid too much green growth at the expense of flowers. Add 1 pound per 100 square feet of planting area, mixing it into the top 6 inches of soil. For potted tomatoes, use a commercial potting soil, but improve it several months before use by adding 1 cup of dolomitic limestone per 40-quart bag, along with 1/2 cup of a commercial mix that provides iron and trace minerals. When you're ready to plant, add 4 cups of soy meal, 2 cups of blood meal, 3 cups of bone meal, 2 cups of kelp meal and 4 cups of greensand to each bag. These additions provide slow-release nutrients throughout the season.


Set tomato plants into the ground once soil and night-time air temperature stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. You can start potted plants earlier if you have a warm, sunny indoor spot; keep them there until outdoor air temperature stays above 60 degrees F. A tomato plant becomes extra strong by developing roots along any part of its stem that's underground, so set seedling plants into the ground or into a pot several inches deeper than they were in their nursery pot. When planting in the ground, add 1 cup of a fertilizer solution to each hole; make this by diluting 2 tablespoon of a high-phosphorus, 15-30-15 water-soluble formula per gallon of water. For potted tomatoes, don't add additional fertilizer at planting; choose a pot with one or more drainage holes and don't use a saucer outdoors, because it collects water and can keep roots soggy.

Sun and Water

Tomatoes require at least 8 hours of sun daily and produce best when they get full sun for most of the day, so choose a sunny garden area for best results. If you're growing potted tomatoes, keep them in a warm, sunny spot such as on a south-facing patio or deck. Tomatoes need regular and consistent amounts of water, so give supplemental water during dry spells, aiming for 1 or 2 inches per week, including rain. Soak the soil well each time you water, because light, frequent watering can lead to a poor root system. Although you can use any type of container for tomatoes, porous pots such as unglazed terra cotta ones that lose water readily can dry out quickly, so monitor their soil closely and water plants whenever the top 2 or 3 inches feel dry to the touch.

Other Differences

Tomato plants in the ground need periodic side-dressing with fertilizer to keep fruits coming. When first fruits are one-third grown, add 5 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100-foot row, then repeat two weeks after first fruits ripen and again one month later. Tomatoes in pots don't need fertilizing if you've added slow-release nutrients to your soil, but you can supplement these by watering plants with compost tea every few weeks. Make this by mixing 1 pound of compost per gallon of water, then age it for five days with daily stirring, strain it through cheesecloth and use in place of water for a regular watering. An almost endless choice of cultivars with different types and colors of fruits grow well in the ground. But for pot-grown plants, it's best to use more modest-sized, determinate types that stop getting taller in mid-season, or choose dwarf or miniature cultivars to keep plants to a manageable size.

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