How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots

Updated June 2026

A tomato plant fruiting in a large pot on a sunny balcony

With a big enough pot and steady water, a balcony tomato crops as well as one in the ground.

New Zealand note: Choose short-season varieties in the south, and gain weeks by standing the pot against a warm north-facing wall.

Tomatoes are the most popular container crop for good reason. Give them a large pot, full sun and consistent water, and a single plant on a balcony can keep you in fruit all summer. The two things people get wrong are using too small a pot and letting it dry out, so get those right and the rest is easy.

Pick the right pot and variety

Go big. A tomato needs at least a 40 litre pot, the bigger the better, with good drainage. Small pots dry out fast and stress the plant into dropping flowers and cracking fruit. For pots, dwarf and bush (determinate) varieties and compact cherry types are the easiest, though tall indeterminate types work in a big pot with strong support.

Soil, position and support

Fill with a quality potting mix enriched with compost. Place in the sunniest spot you have, tomatoes want at least six hours of direct sun. Put the stake or cage in at planting time so you do not damage roots later. Plant tomatoes deep, burying the stem up to the first leaves, as they root along the buried stem for a stronger plant.

Water and feed

This is where pot tomatoes are won or lost. Containers dry quickly in summer and tomatoes hate the dry-then-flood cycle, which causes blossom end rot and splitting. Water deeply and consistently, often daily in hot weather, aiming to keep the mix evenly moist. Mulch the top of the pot to slow drying. Feed weekly with a tomato fertiliser once flowering starts.

Self-watering pots help a lot: a pot with a water reservoir, or sitting a pot on a saucer you keep topped up in peak summer, evens out moisture and prevents the swings that crack fruit and cause blossom end rot.

Care through the season

For indeterminate types, pinch out the side shoots (laterals) and tie the main stem to the support as it grows. Bush types need little pruning. Tap the flower trusses to help pollination on still balconies. Keep picking ripe fruit to encourage more.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What size pot do tomatoes need?

At least 40 litres per plant, and bigger is better. Small pots dry out too fast and stress the plant into dropping flowers, cracking fruit and blossom end rot. Choose a deep pot with good drainage.

What is the best tomato to grow in a pot?

Dwarf, bush and compact cherry varieties are the easiest in containers because they need less space and support. Tall indeterminate types also work in a large pot if you give them a sturdy stake and prune the laterals.

How often should I water tomatoes in pots?

Keep the mix evenly moist, which often means daily in hot weather. The biggest cause of cracked fruit and blossom end rot in pots is uneven watering, so consistency matters more than volume. Mulch the pot to slow drying.

Do tomatoes in pots need feeding?

Yes, more than in the ground, because frequent watering flushes nutrients out of the mix. Feed weekly with a tomato fertiliser once flowering begins, and keep the mix rich with compost at planting.

Can you grow tomatoes on a balcony?

Absolutely, as long as it gets at least six hours of sun. A large pot, a compact variety, steady water and weekly feeding will give a heavy crop in a small space. Tap the flowers to help pollination in still air.

See also: How to Grow Tomatoes and Why Tomatoes Split

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