Can You Plant Cherry Tomatoes in the Same Container?

Cherry Tomatoes

• Cherry tomato plants maintain smaller, bushier forms, and grow more successfully in container situations than their larger cousins. Choose quick, hardy cherry tomato cultivars like cherry Gold, Pixie Hybrid II, Small Fry and Tiny Tim. Plant two to three different cultivars for fruit variety.

Space

• When you plant multiple plants in a single container, consider space for root growth, space for vegetative growth and soil availability. A good rule of thumb is to give each cherry tomato plant at least 5 gallons of soil for growing. A 10-gallon container, then, supports two cherry tomato plants. Use containers at least 6 inches tall for root growth, and give each plant 20 to 24 inches of space for growing. Crowded plantings affect growth, blooming and fruit production.

Soil and Nutrition

• Tomatoes of all types need rich, moist soil and consistent nutrition. Use a combination of 1/2 quick-draining potting soil and 1/2 organic compost to plant the cherry tomatoes, and mix in 8-32-16 or 6-24-24 granular fertilizer for nutrition. Fill the containers 3/4 full of your soil mixture to leave room for planting and watering.

Site and Care

• Put the pots in an indoor or outdoor spot with full sunshine and good air circulation, and keep the tomatoes in temperatures over 70 degrees F. Pots dry more quickly than outdoor garden soil, so water the tomatoes with 2 inches of water every three to four days. Feed the plants with tomato-specific, water-soluble plant food once a week starting in mid-season, at flowering. The Ohio State University Extension recommends 20-20-20 or 15-30-15 fertilizer for potted vegetable growth.