Hello everyone,

Beginner gardener here. I just moved my tomato plant to a larger pot recently because it was outgrowing its old one. And now I'm worried I'll need to move it again. Is this too big for this size pot? And what size would you recommend (this plant is around 3 weeks old)


Edit: These are 100 hybrid super sweet tomatoes just for reference. They are the tiny grape tomatoes

Hello! Typically when gardening in containers you would place one tomato plant by itself in a 5 gallon pot. If you are extremely careful you can probably split them apart into more manageable clumps.

That looks like multiple tomato plants! In any case, a tomato needs at least a 5 gallon pot, as they get large.

ctcarol said:That looks like multiple tomato plants! In any case, a tomato needs at least a 5 gallon pot, as they get large.

So if this is multiple, would you recommend a 10 gallon pot instead?

samman said:

So if this is multiple, would you recommend a 10 gallon pot instead?

Every one of those tomato plants ideally needs its own pot. I could count 20 specimens, so that means 20 5-gallon pots if you plan to keep all of them.

Tip the pot on its side and gently and very carefully tap/shake it to get the block of soil out. Then gently again - using your hands - pull the soil block into manageable chunks with several plants. These in turn will again be divided up so you're left with individual plants for potting on. (don't pull too hard on the stems though because of they break at the soil level that's the end)

with all what @sumire @ctcarol @Arico said

you will also need stakes or cage for each of those 20 plants ......if using stakes you will need something to tie the plants to the stakes

good luck ...you will have *a lot* of tomatoes .....

You do need to cull or separate all of those small plants. Each plant needs it's own pot.

When you transplant them do so deeply. They will root along the stem and give you huskier plants.

If a few don't make it, just save what you can and snip off the ones that don't separate well. You will still have plenty.

Okay but I only have a small apartment and balcony. I can get maybe one or 2 pots, but definitely not 20. Is there any way to grow multiple of them together?

The short answer is NO. These are large plants, with large roots. Plant the strongest looking plants, and snip off the rest, or give some to neighbors.

ctcarol said:The short answer is NO. These are large plants, with large roots. Plant the strongest looking plants, and snip off the rest, or give some to neighbors.

But they all look strong? How do I pick the strongest one?

if I had to choose ...would pick only the fattest stems with the healthiest, darkest green leaves

Each plant (if they are happy and not crowded) will produce several hundred fruits per season. Two plants (in two pots) will keep you more than happy.

How many tomatoes can you eat? I hope you have a freezer or like to can. You should plant a couple Jalapena plants in the other 5 gallon pot. Then you can make salsa!

DaisyI said:Each plant (if they are happy and not crowded) will produce several hundred fruits per season. Two plants (in two pots) will keep you more than happy.

How many tomatoes can you eat? I hope you have a freezer or like to can. You should plant a couple Jalapena plants in the other 5 gallon pot. Then you can make salsa!

Eating them isn't a problem. I go through 1lb of grape tomatoes every other day (its why I wanted to grow my own).

Just wanted to state, so I looked up the 5 gallon pots, and its exactly whats displayed in the picture. So I need one of those, for every single plant (instead of 20 in one)

Yes. That's what you need.

5 gallons is displayed in what picture? Not the one you posted, right? Unless the railing they are sitting on is a14" wide board, You are mistaken. Perhaps 5 quarts, but you want 5 gallons.
There is a volume calculator here https://www.omnicalculator.com...

I know it's tempting to think more plants=more fruit but that is not the case. Two overcrowded tomatoes will give you less fruit than 1 with room to grow.
I know it feels terrible to toss an otherwise "healthy" plant, But you don't want to grow a dense green tomato plant forest, you want to grow fruit and that means lots of space.

No I meant the one I posted in my original post. I'm comparing it to this: https://www.google.com/search?...

Mine looks about the same size

I AM referring to your original post. A 5 gallon pot is 16"+ diameter.

A pot that can sit ontop of a railing can't be 5 gallons unless your railing is 60cm/2ft wide. Measurements just arent that flexibile. It is what it is.
You have the link. Please Measure your pot, plug the # into the calculator and move forward from there.

Ive spent many seasons growing huge 8ft tall tomato plants in less than ideal pots.. and got crap harvests despite daily watering and regular fertilizer.
You may need to experience this for yourself- I certainly did, but your pot in the first pic is probably 90% smaller than you think it is