Growing cherry tomatoes in a pot: an honest timeline

A cherry tomato is the plant most people picture when they think of a balcony garden. It is worth growing, as long as you know two things up front: it needs a lot of sun, and it takes longer than the quick plants.

How long it really takes

Early varieties ripen about 55–65 days after you set out a young plant. From seed, count 90–130 days. That is why, in our kit, tomatoes and peppers sit outside the 60-day plan as your “next harvest”, while radishes, lettuce and herbs feed you first.

The basics

• Container: one plant per pot. Sources range from 2 gallons for cherry types to 8–10 gallons; most say 5 gallons, 12 inches deep or more. A 5-gallon bucket with drainage holes works.
• Sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun, 8 is better.
• Start from: a transplant. Starting from seed means 6–8 weeks indoors first.
• When: set it out 1–2 weeks after your last spring frost, when the mix is above 60°F.

Choosing a variety

Look for “patio”, “bush” or “balcony” in the name, and check the height on the label. Determinate and dwarf types are less likely to outgrow the pot. “Cherry” alone does not mean compact: some cherry vines reach 7 feet.

Planting and care

• Choose a stocky plant 6–10 inches tall, and bury the stem so only the top two or three sets of leaves show.
• Put a cage or stake in on planting day if the variety grows taller than 2 feet.
• Water daily in summer, sometimes twice, and never let the mix dry out completely.
• Feed with a water-soluble fertilizer every 1–2 weeks once the plant is growing.

The classic container problem

Watering in fits and starts is behind blossom end rot (a dark, sunken patch on the bottom of the fruit) and cracked fruit. Even watering prevents both. Fruit also stops setting when nights drop below about 55°F or days pass 85–95°F; it resumes when the weather settles.

Sources

Every fact in this guide comes from the publications below. None of them reviewed or endorsed Balcony Bounty.

• Iowa State University Extension. Growing Tomatoes in Containers. yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-tomatoes-containers
• University of New Hampshire Extension. What is the best way to grow tomatoes in a container?. extension.unh.edu/blog/2020/01/what-best-way-grow-tomatoes-container
• Clemson Cooperative Extension. Tomatoes in Containers. hgic.clemson.edu/tomatoes-in-containers/
• NC State Extension. Extension Gardener Handbook, chapter 18: Plants Grown in Containers. content.ces.ncsu.edu/extension-gardener-handbook/18-plants-grown-in-co…
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. E-545: Vegetable Gardening in Containers. aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2011/03/E-545_…
• University of Maryland Extension. Growing Tomatoes in a Home Garden. extension.umd.edu/resource/tomatoes
• University of Illinois Extension. Home Vegetable Gardening: Tomato. extension.illinois.edu/gardening/tomato
• Utah State University Extension. How to Grow Tomatoes in Your Garden. extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/tomatoes-in-the-garden
• University of Maryland Extension. Blossom End Rot on Vegetables. extension.umd.edu/resource/blossom-end-rot-vegetables
• Iowa State University Extension. My tomato plants are flowering but aren't setting fruit. Why?. yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/my-tomato-plants-are-flowering…
• University of Maryland Extension. Poor Blossom and Fruit Set of Vegetables. extension.umd.edu/resource/poor-blossom-and-fruit-set-vegetables