Viewing post #2732792 by Weedwhacker

BigBill said: Tomato plants in my experience do not produce a root system large enough to reach the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket. I find when I dig them up at the end of the season, the root system is 8-10" round at most. I use large containers or pots that are 16" across. If I notice that it holds too much water, I drill 1/2" holes an inch up from the bottom of the container. Perhaps 6-8 per container.

It is a very dense and fibrous root system.

But Christine makes a good point, tomatoes do not like wet feet!

This might be a little off track - but I'm wondering why the roots stay so compact when grown in a container? I plant my tomatoes in the ground in my hoop house and when I pull them out in the fall the roots are easily 6 feet long - or more!