1. They can stay in the container they are in, but if temps are 90F or so consider some means of shading the container. This could be as simple as leaning a board against them to block the sun.

2. To prune or not to prune. If they are determinate (bush type) plants don't prune or you will lose yield. If they are indeterminate types you can prune away all the suckers. Suckers are found in the crotch between the main stem and a branch. If not removed early on they grow into entire plants. They will also set fruit so it is hard to remove them once there is fruit. Pruning to reduce plant mass may also reduce their water needs.

3. You need to make sure the plants never lack for water or you will get BER (blossom end rot) which looks like rot on the bottom of the developing fruit. A 5 gal container for a large plant will likely need daily watering and perhaps more frequent waterings at it's peak. Generally leaving a container in a saucer of water is a bad idea as it makes the bottom of the mix too soggy, but for established tomatos it's probably OK as they use a lot of water.

4. Drip irrigation with a timer is fine if you know you won't be able to water often enough or are planning to be away from home for a few days and don't have someone to water for you. To evenly moisten the mix either use multiple emitters attached to a 1/4" hose wrapped around the surface of the container or use an inverted mini sprinkler so it sprays downward at the surface of the mix. You may also be able to find 1/4" hoses with emitters built in at 6" spacing. Just join those to 1/4" hosing (with no emitters).

Personally I find drip a pain in the butt as there is always some part popping out or leaking, reducing the overall effectiveness, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Make sure you use a filter and pressure reducer if you go this route to reduce problems.

I wonder if you may have trouble using Al's mix in such a small container for tomatoes. Tomatoes use a ton of water. I am new to Al's mix, but since tomatoes will only be in the pot for a few months I don't think there is much of a reason to use it for them (could be totally wrong here just my opinion). I grow all my tomatoes in jungle growth potting mix and they do great. I think your main problem will end up being your pot size and not which potting pix you are using. Are you growing determinates or indeterminates?

I am in hot country most of the growing season here in Florida so my container tomatoes are about done for now. I had a fairly good yield from all my plants. Mine are in self watering 5 gal. buckets of my own design (I think) as I havent seen any just like them. The soil is composted oak leaves with a little grass trimmings from my lawn. They only had some 10-10-10- guano for food and I got a nice yield in numbers but they were all a little smaller than average but had the best taste I have ever tasted. Next week I will take some limbs from these plants and try rooting them for a fall crop in the same buckets and soil and see what I get. I will be using the same oak leaf soil for the 4th time and in the same buckets. Wish me luck, Ill need it.

Glad that you are having luck with your container tomatoes. I grow tomato plants in containers in arid and hot southern Nevada (see my blog linked below for pics and discussion). You should be fine with leaving them in 5 gallon containers, just give them some shade and keep a close eye on the watering. You will most likely have to water twice daily during the hottest periods. As the poster above said, you shouldn't prune the determinates but it's good to pinch the suckers off of indeterminates. I use a drip irrigation system when I leave town and have had lots of luck with it. For the tomato plants, I construct a ring of 1/4' hose around inside of the container with adjustable drip emitters spaced about 4 inches apart.

Here is a link that might be useful: Container Gardening in the Desert

jsvand, what is "jungle growth potting mix"? I am growing determinates in containters.

dangst_grow, can you share your design for self watering 5 gal buckets? Luck to you with rooting tomatoes. This spring i broke one tomato bush when was doing planting, saved lower part and rooted top in water. Now i have two plants.

It is just the a prepackaged potting mix that lowes sells.

Well hello again, I went out this AM and was surprised to see a lot of new growth on my toms, and a lot of new blooms all over the new limb tips so I decided to give them a good feed and water and wait to see what they are going to do. If they set fruit good if not I still have time to try rooting a few.
DAN

dangsr_grow, what about sharing design of self-watered bucket? No desire to share?

galcho do a google on diy earthbox. you wont be sorry. bill

galcho, I want to share my bucket plans with all as soon as I can but, thats with a big but right now so just don't give up. I am 89 years young and don't how to post the plans but will try to find someone to help me. I hope by this time next week I can find a younger person to help me. PATIENTS PLEASE. DAN.

justaguy, thanks for your advice. I have put saucer under my containers, so far they are doing OK.
Only just i have realized that i could use wicks in these containers. Next time.

I have found how to do self-watering container out of two buckets on internet and only then realized that this is such an old idea, in home i have several dwaft plants that are growing in tiny double layer containers that work on the same principle. Don't know why i did not think about this when i was planting tomatoes in containers this spring.

Dangsr,

Click on the link below to get instructions on posting pictures. The hardest part for you may be joining a photo posting website like Photobucket or Picasa. This all requires that you get the pictures loaded in your computer, them move copies to one of these websites. After that you'll then be able to post them here.

I can't wait to see your setup....

Here is a link that might be useful: Easy (oxymoron) Photo posting instructions