Container gardeningis all about making the most out of the limited gardening space you have . Several fruit craw work well in containers including tomatoes .
I ’ve been learning more about growing Lycopersicon esculentum in garden and wanted to cognize if multiple plants can fly high in a single pot . So , I did some research and created this post to answer that interrogation .
you could grow multiple tomato works in one pot by using a pot that is at least 12″ deep and wide . This size is undecomposed enough to grow two Lycopersicon esculentum plant that wo n’t compete for nutrients and resources . There is enough aloofness for good air travel circulation and prevent fungal disease .
Is It Possible To Grow Multiple Tomato Plants In One Pot?
It is potential to grow more than onetomato plant in a individual pot . That said , it ’s not always the best approximation .
Like any other plant life , tomatoes postulate way to take a breath . Many cultivar will spreadtwo to three metrical unit wide . Not only that , but they often have deep roots that cause trouble in a crowded container .
Grouping several tomato plant plants together could becounterproductiveto their development . Overcrowdingis a large hazard . When Lycopersicon esculentum set bunch up , they ’ll contend for resourcefulness . Some will support while others flourish . Either way , your plants are n’t going to contact their full potential drop when planted too snug together .
at last , whether you ’ll see success in a single pot look on many factors . love apple are in full open of flourishing when develop together . But , you call for a large container and the right tomato plant varieties to pull it off . It involve a lot of careful planning to get correct .
Otherwise , you ’ll encounter a litany of problems .
Problems When Growing Multiple Tomato Plants in One Pot
Before you start make arrangements to plant tomatoes together , there are some things to see . You need to weigh the potential vantage and disadvantage .
On one hand , planting multiple plants in one pot could increase your yield . you’re able to maximize growing potential without take up a ton of space .
But , your industrial plant could run into some issues . Here are the most common problems that arise when tomato plants are grown in close proximity .
Small Containers
There ’s no denying that tomatoes do best when planted in theirown container . Even midget form want space . Most gardener recommend keeping single love apple works in pots with a 12 to14 - inchdiameter .
Bigger is always betterwhen it comes to container size of it . large pot allow for more soil . This results in better urine keeping and stronger root .
When you plant multiple plants in a small smoke , the roots can entangle and fight for resources .
Too Much or Too Little Water
As a good rule of pollex , tomato flora call for about aninch or twoof H2O every week . If you live in a particularly live mood , you may demand even more .
Having more than one plant life in a pot could lead to piddle issue .
Because the flora are close together , it ’s difficult to figure out how much water they need . You could overcompensate and provide too much hydration . This leads toblistered or crackedfruits . The industrial plant could also experienceroot rot .
In some cases , you might terminate up under - watering the works . With more plant sipping up the moisture , the grime with ironic out much faster . Under - watering pencil lead tolimp stem , discoloration , and more .
Overcrowding
As I stated in the first place , overcrowding is a cock-a-hoop problem when you satiate multiple plants in a individual mountain .
You have to remember that industrial plant needair circulationto ride out healthy . Proper airflow prevent fungous diseases .
On top of all that , there ’s the affair ofsupport . Many assortment take the support of a trellis or cage . There are some exceptions , but standard tomatoes can not thrive without support .
Tomatoplant heightranges from 6 in tall to upwards of 20 feet tall .
When the plants are too close , there ’s no way for a cage . As a event , the plant life will likelyfall over and breakunder the weight unit of the fruit .
Not Enough Sun
Tomato plant love the sunshine . They necessitate betweensix and eight hoursof sunlight every day to delay sizable . When you overcrowd them , the plant will vie to get some exposure .
This will lead to a leggy plant life withthin branches .
Under-Fertilizing
Proper fertilization is difficult when keep multiple plants together . Tomatoes are heavy feeders and need unvarying fertilization throughout the growing season .
you may do this withslow - release fertilizersor fast - acting fluid fertilizers .
Whatever the vitrine may be , tomatoes postulate a lot of it . Your fertilizer must reach12 inchesbelow the open . But even if you manage that , the nutrients are n’t infinite .
There are only so many of thekey nutrientsto go around . In a small space , your flora will use those nutrient up speedily . As a solution , your reliance on fertilizer will increase . You could undertake to compensate , but that may contribute tofertilizer burn . For many gardeners , keeping multiple tomato plant fertilized in a single pot is a losing battle .
Fungal Diseases
Several factor will cause fungous issues to toss off up . Everything from overcrowding tooverwateringwill avail fungal spores take hold .
In a single pot , tomato plant miss right air circulation . This foreclose any excess wet from evaporating .
Your plants could stomach fromblight . This disease causes the plant to wilt until it finally die . Blight fungus thrives in moist condition .
There ’s alsobuckeye decomposition , which affects the yield . The fungus create large dark-brown spots on the tomato plant , rendering it uneatable .
folio moldis vernacular as well . touch plant will wilt and decrease your takings .
Those are just some of the potential fungal infections and diseases your plants could experience . There are many more . An overcrowded pot will only increase your works ’ risks .
How Many Tomato Plants Can You Grow Per Pot?
Now that you empathise the risk of exposure , let ’s go over what ’s potential .
keep multiple Lycopersicon esculentum works in a individual muckle is tough . But , it ’s still doable .
How many plants you could keep will look on several factors . These include the variety you pick out and the required spacing .
Tomato Plant Spacing
To annul overcrowding , you must give your industrial plant sizeable room to grow . wrong spacing will reduce air circulation . Plus , it increases your risks of encountering some of the job we discuss earlier .
Ideally , there should be about24 to 36 inchesof place between tomato plant plants . That ’s the best - case scenario . Most gardener will utilise that space when planting in the ground . In modest gardens,18 to 24 inchesof space will work out , too .
But , neither of those are executable in a pot .
At the very least , love apple in containers should have12 inchesof quad between them . That apply to all container - grown mixture .
This spatial arrangement should help you debar problems . But even then , you must keep a watchful eye on the plant and do some pruning to head off issues . It seems like a lot of space when you ’re first planting , but the Lycopersicon esculentum will spread soon enough .
Varieties
There are15,000known tomato varieties . About 3,000 of them areheirloom .
The variety you choose is go to touch its performance in the pot .
gravid measure tomatoes are n’t going to work for a little or even medium - sized pot . If you want to grow several plants together , you ’ll call for to stick with smaller cultivar .
Determinate, Indeterminate, and Dwarf Varieties
Tomato varieties come down into three distinctcategories . These let in determinate , indeterminate , and dwarf .
The eccentric of tomatoes you require to avoid for your container are indeterminate . Indeterminate tomatoeswill continue to develop throughout the growing season . They ’re vining plants that need a trellis or John Cage . On fair , they strive elevation of6 to 20 foot tall .
They will rapidly overcrowd your locoweed . So , they do n’t make good container tomato .
Determinate tomato are a far better pick . You might see these plants with a “ Bush Tomato ” label . That ’s because they arise in a confined physique . There are no drawn-out vine to worry about . Most will only turn over heights of3 to 5 feet .
Determinate tomatoes work well for container . But , dwarf tomatoes are even better . With a maximal tiptop of only2 to 3 foot , they ’re perfect for container growing .
you’re able to also findmicro gnome tomato plant , which do n’t even get a foot marvellous .
The cool thing about dwarf variety is that the recording label pertain to the works . and not the tomato . They can producefull - sized fruitwhile take on up only the fraction of the space as larger plant .
What Should Be the Size of the Pot?
If you need to keep multiple love apple plant life in a single pot , you ’re exit to need a very great container . Chances are , you ’re not move to find a worthy pot at your local garden center .
The tummy needs to be large enough to accommodate the spacing and grime need of each flora .
Dwarf tomatoes need about2 and a half gallonsof soil . Other variety need5 gallons .
Furthermore , tomatoes require at least 12 inches of depth and 12 inches of space between them .
When you factor in all of those requirements , you ’re look at an enormous container to keep several plant together .
Go for a container that looks more like a bring up bed . You have to focus on the dimensions of the dope rather than the volume it can hold .
in high spirits - bulk pots are n’t difficult to find . you may well pick up a 100 - congius pot for a tree diagram . But , those bay window have too much depth and not enough surface space for multiple industrial plant .
Instead of looking for traditional sess , aim for planter box seat alternatively . They offer copious elbow room to raise your tomato plant plant life without having to interest about overcrowding .
Fact Checked , Written , and Published by Kevin Rodrigues
Kevin is the founder of Gardening Mentor , a website that point to learn people to grow their own food in a limited outer space . As a ego - taught nurseryman , Kevin has spent several class growing plants and make gardening content on the internet site . He is certified in Home Horticulture and Organic Gardening from Oregon State University . He has a Post Graduate Diploma in Horticulture and Landscape Gardening from Mumbai University . Read more
