I have tried for the last three years to grow tomatoes, among other vegetables, in containers. They just won't grow. I'm not much of a gardener to begin with, but this is getting ridiculous. I will grow 'starters' in the house and they will do great. Then I transplant them into the containers and they never grow. They don't die, they just stay 4" to 8" tall and green, but never get any bigger. And dang sure don't produce any fruit. What am I doing wrong???

Do you have potting soil in your containers
I do very well with my tomatoes in containers

I use top soil mixed half and half with compost. I think the important question is; what size container are you using? Tomatoes need at least 5 gallon containers. Tomatoes also need at least 8 hours of sun.

I'm fairly new with containers. Year before last was my first time growing tomatoes in a container. They didn't grow like they should have and had someone tell me to fertilize them. I did and they took off. I thought with the potting mix having fertilizer in it I wouldn't need to fertilize as much, but you may need to sidedress more often than when in the ground.

Yes, I think that's right. Remember, in a container you're probably watering more. So you need to fertilize more! I do.

Oh, and I never use the potting mix with the fertilizer in it. I don't like the percentage of the three elements. I prefer to use plain soil and an organic fertilizer specifically formulated for tomatoes.

I fixed up a couple of self wicking 5 gallon buckets I saw on internet. It didn't work for me.

Never tried that. I water the old fashioned way, with a hose. This summer it looks like I may have to worry about too much water.... we are on track for a lot of rain all summer......

I grow squash, cukes, and tomatoes in containers. Mine have been hit and miss for last 3 seasons, but I just started learning. Lots of water is required when in containers. Mine are doing great this year-so far. I use plastic 55 gallon cans cut in half. I use a mixture of course sand, peat and compost. I also add lime and a osmacote. Water every day. Good luck.

This year it is just tomatoes and peppers in containers. Next your may try squash and cucumbers. Do you have good luck with squash in container?

I've had good and bad luck with squash in containers. Squash borers are a big problem here.

Rutgers in 5 gallon bucket

Oooh, very nice! Full, healthy plants! And a good choice of varieties. My go to for a round red slicer. It's a no crack tomato for me.

Are you planting them out too soon? They might be too cold and getting set back. I agree that they need a special tomato feed.

Our lows have been in 60's last couple weeks and highs in mid to high 80's. We've been getting rain almost everyday for last 2 weeks. Rain has helped them a lot.

Tomatoes like HOT, full sun all day no shade, and lots of room for roots. They're also sneaky lying #$&*, lol. They will sprout anywhere... fruiting is totally different..

Common problems are:
Crowding. 1 plant per 5 gallon minimum size container. Healthy tomato plants ready to give you tomatoes, especially indeterminate varieties, are huge. 10ft tall and 3ft wide in their cages.
Cool temps, Even one night in the 50s can stunt them, and they may never recover in time to produce fruit.
Less than full direct sun All day

Nothing is more disappointing than spending an entire summer trying to coax 3-4 anemic fruits off a plant you've babied for months. If you don't have the sun, heat and root space it's going to be disappointing.

You can purchase determinate varieties that are made specifically for containers that May produce better outcomes,

Speaking of which, there is a very entertaining book I believe it's called the $64 tomato.. it's a great read and you'll feel much better after reading it.