The flavor of a homegrown tomato is indescribably delicious, and way better than a grocery store tomato. Even if you don’t have room for a big garden, you can grow perfect tomatoes in a pot on your back patio.

Use a large pot

Use a container that’s at least 14 inches in diameter. If you have a 5-gallon pot that’s 20 inches in diameter, that’s even better. A big pot can hold more water and offers more room for root growth.

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Choose the Right Varieties

Some tomato varieties were developed specifically to be grown in containers. Often called patio or bush types, they tend to stay compact and they're easier to manage than vining tomatoes, which can grow quite large.

Use a Vegetable Potting Mix

Choose a potting mix that is specifically designed for growing veggies in containers. These mixes have additives that allow the soil to drain quickly, so you don’t end up with waterlogged roots. They also provide nutrients that your plants need.

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Water Often

Container plants tend to dry out quickly, and tomatoes are particularly thirsty. Your best bet is to water your tomatoes early in the morning so they’re well prepared to take on the day’s heat. On really hot days, you may need to water them again in the afternoon. Water until you see water draining out of the holes in the bottom of the pot.

Fertilize Regularly

Tomatoes are heavy feeder that burn through nutrients fairly quickly. They can rapidly deplete the food sources contained in a pot of soil, so you’ll want to add fertilizer about every two weeks. When the plants start setting fruit, you may need to fertilize weekly.

Don’t Crowd Plants

If you have several potted plants on your patio or balcony, space them out as much as you can. The plants need ample air circulation to thrive.

Give them Plenty of Sunlight

As with all tomatoes—wherever they’re grown—container tomatoes need plenty of sunlight. In fact, they need at least 6 hours a day, so be sure to place your containers in an area that gets lots of sun. The south or west side of a building will get the most direct sunlight.