March 24, 2026, 9:52 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Tomatoes are an extremely popular vegetable for home gardening. However, you don’t necessarily need your own garden, as tomatoes can also be grown in pots. myHOMEBOOK gardening expert Franka Kruse-Gering explains what to keep in mind.
Round, crisp, healthy—that’s a quick summary of tomatoes. Growing them yourself is usually not difficult if you pay attention to a few care tips. Especially when planting tomatoes in pots, there are some pitfalls to avoid.
Choosing the Right Variety
Not every tomato variety is suitable for pot cultivation. Some tomatoes can grow very tall or sprawling. For balconies, terraces, or house entrances, smaller, compact-growing varieties are more suitable.
If space is limited, I would always opt for bush tomatoes. They don’t grow very tall but produce many side shoots. Nowadays, garden centers are very accommodating by specifically labeling tomatoes that are particularly suitable for limited spaces. These are often called “balcony tomatoes.”
Don’t Neglect Pot Size
Just because tomatoes don’t grow very large doesn’t automatically mean their roots need little space. The difference from growing tomatoes in a bed is that the space in a pot is limited. If tomatoes don’t get the space they need, it will result in a lower yield.
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For pots, the rule is: “Better too big than too small.” It should hold at least 15 liters to allow the tomato plant to thrive.
Tip: When planting tomatoes in pots, it’s important to ensure proper drainage. Tomatoes don’t tolerate waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. This, in turn, can make the plant more susceptible to diseases and pests. In the worst case, the plant may die.
Using the Right Soil
Tomatoes are heavy feeders, meaning they need a lot of nutrients to grow well. I wouldn’t rely on regular garden or balcony soil. It’s advisable to use proper tomato or vegetable soil to ensure the tomato initially has everything it needs. You can also mix in some compost and horn shavings to enhance and prolong the nutrients.
Once the plant develops its first flowers, it needs an extra boost, as fruit formation is demanding. During this time, you should give the plant some liquid fertilizer about once every two weeks.
Three Important Aspects of Tomato Location
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The Right Location
Tomatoes love warmth and sun. They don’t tolerate rain and wind well. This should be considered when choosing the pot’s location if you want to grow tomatoes. I would place my tomatoes against the warm house wall. There, they are not only protected from wind and rain but also benefit from the stored warmth.
Tomatoes Need Support Even in Pots
Whether in a bed or a pot, tomatoes need support. Even if the tomatoes in the pot don’t grow very tall, it’s still sensible to provide them with support so they don’t collapse under their own weight.