Are these containers too small for tomatoes?

[CrazyConure]

I got these green containers for free. Are they big enough for tomatoes? It's about 11-12 inches in diameter.

 

[SydneyGee]

I would say they are a bit small, my tomatoes like to grow huge and busy, I can't imagine them in anything smaller than what you have on the left there.

 

[Chuck]

I got these green containers for free. Are they big enough for tomatoes? It's about 11-12 inches in diameter.

You could grow smaller varieties like Tiny Tim or Patios but for regular tomatoes, too small. Actually a 5 gallon bucket is minimal for indeterminate types and determinates should be ok in a 5 gallon container. Watering becomes a problem in your climate.

 

[MaryMary]

CrazyConure, you should be able to ask at a bakery, and get 5 gallon buckets for free. The flour and frosting come in them, so you'd just have to rinse them out.

I've gotten a ton of them! Next year, I'm going to cut a hole in the bottom of a couple, and try hanging them. Like the "Topsy-Turvy" tomato planter!

Keeps them out of the landfill, and did I mention... FREE !!

 

[CrazyConure]

Ok guys. Since this thread, I bought more containers. I didn't buy that huge one on the left because it was way too expensive for the amount of pots I was buying. It was the next size down. It says on it that it is 16". I have no clue if that's too small. I'm going to post pictures of comparisons today, so please be on the lookout on this thread.

 

[marlingardener]

CC, it is not the width of the container, it is all about the depth. Tomatoes put out an amazing root system, and need to go down, down, down. The advice about 5 gallon pots with holes in the bottom is very good--one 5 gal. pot, one tomato, and you have a container tomato!

 

[CrazyConure]

Ok. It says it's 16x16. These pots are for INTERDETERMINED tomatoes. Obviously too small.

Containers are SOOO expensive. The only reason I actually bought the smaller ones were because the large ones are poop expensive.

Does anyone know where to get cheap to free containers for tomatoes?

 

[MaryMary]

CrazyConure, you should be able to ask at a bakery, and get 5 gallon buckets for free. The flour and frosting come in them, so you'd just have to rinse them out.

I've gotten a ton of them! Next year, I'm going to cut a hole in the bottom of a couple, and try hanging them. Like the "Topsy-Turvy" tomato planter!

Keeps them out of the landfill, and did I mention... FREE !!

See post # 4

 

[CrazyConure]

But that's only 5 gallons. Do they also have 10+ gallons?

 

[MaryMary]

Actually a 5 gallon bucket is minimal for indeterminate types and determinates should be ok in a 5 gallon container.

The advice about 5 gallon pots with holes in the bottom is very good--one 5 gal. pot, one tomato, and you have a container tomato!

Why do you need a 10 gallon pot?

 

[CrazyConure]

Oh. I remember reading that I needed 10 gallons for tomatoes. Well, in that case, how can out if the containers I have now are 5 gallon?

 

[CrazyConure]

Here's the link to the containers they are in right now: http://m.homedepot.com/p/Dynamic-De...rv_mobileweb_rr-3-_-204597555-_-203629927-_-N

 

[MaryMary]

Well, in that case, how can out if the containers I have now are 5 gallon?

Umm...what?

 

[CrazyConure]

Umm...what?

Sorry. I meant to say "how can I find out if...

I typed too fast and autocorrect messed my text up.

 

[Chuck]

Sorry. I meant to say "how can I find out if...

I typed too fast and autocorrect messed my text up.

Volumn = 3.14 x radius squared x height. In your case the height is 1/2 the total height of the pot. This will give you the total cubic inches of volumn. Divide the total cu. inches by 144. This will give you the number of cu. ft. in the pot. A cubic ft. is about 7.5 gallons. This formula will give you a good knowledge of gallons in the pot.