Cherry tomatoes are the perfect container crop. They produce abundantly in small spaces and taste infinitely better than store-bought.
## Choosing the Right Container
- **Minimum**: 5 gallons for determinate varieties
- **Ideal**: 10-15 gallons for indeterminate types
- **Material**: Fabric pots for drainage; plastic retains moisture longer
- **Drainage**: 4+ holes with saucer
## Best Varieties for Containers
### Determinate (Bush)
- **Tiny Tim**: 18 inches, no staking, prolific
- **Patio Princess**: Bred for containers, disease-resistant
- **Tumbling Tom**: Trailing, perfect for hanging baskets
### Indeterminate (Vining)
- **Sun Gold**: Gold standard for flavor
- **Sweet 100**: Classic red, extremely prolific
- **Black Cherry**: Rich, complex flavor
## Soil Mix
- 1 part potting mix
- 1 part compost
- 1 part perlite
- Add slow-release fertilizer
## Planting
1. Fill container, leave 2 inches from rim
2. Bury stem to first true leaves (roots along stems)
3. Water thoroughly
4. Add straw mulch
## Watering
- **Early season**: Every 2-3 days
- **Peak summer**: Daily, possibly twice
- **Best time**: Early morning, at base
- Self-watering containers or drip on timer eliminate daily chore
## Fertilizing
- At planting: slow-release fertilizer
- Every 2 weeks: liquid fish emulsion
- At fruit set: phosphorus-rich side-dress
- Avoid high-nitrogen after flowering
## Support and Pruning
- Determinate: small cage, minimal pruning
- Indeterminate: tall cage, remove suckers, tie every 8-12 inches
## Expected Yield
- Determinate: 100-200 fruits over 4-6 weeks
- Indeterminate: 300-500+ fruits over the season
