Yep.

Care to elaborate? If it's doing fine without drainage holes, why would I need to put them in?

There are a number of reasons.

First, the water which is undoubtedly accumulating in the bottom of the container is preventing root growth. A heavy summer rainstorm will probably require you to tip the containers to empty them, or the plants will die.

Second, if you're having blossom drop, the plants aren't "doing fine." It may be the heat, and it may be the excess water in the container.

Third, when your fruit starts to ripen, excess water will cause undue cracking and splitting in the fruit.

Fourth, inadequate root development and excess moisture will make the plants more susceptible to a variety of diseases, like mildew.

Tomatoes aren't bog plants. They require drainage. Drill the holes. If, in the future, you decide you want to store your lingerie in these containers, I'll tell you how to patch the holes.

No, you don't require drainage holes, but growing success is easier with them.

If you really don't want drainage holes and your plants are doing well then... don't fix what isn't broken I guess.

You may be just fine, tomatos at their peak can consume 2 gallons of water per day and seem to not mind excessive water in containers as much as most.

At the same time you might find yourself with a rainstorm that floods your containers and the plants end up suffering. And you might not. Drainage holes are an insurance policy.

Fifth, you can't water properly unless the excess water is able to drain from a container. Fresh oxygen-rich water needs to infiltrate throughout the entire root/system on a regular basis, or root death is likely to occur.

Additionally, tomatoes are heavy feeders so if you're supplying adequate nutrients, residual salt build-up in an undrained container is almost certain to create/cause fertilizer burn. It's just a bad idea (no drainage) all 'round & will simply add to your efforts & concerns.

Al

donn,

re: I'll tell you how to patch the holes. LOL

vabreeze

collect rain water and use only rain water and you will be fine. Do not use chemical fertilizers.

The wrong water and chemical fertilizers cause a build up of SALT. and salt kills plants.

rain water is naturally soft with no salt.

chemical fertilizers are SALT. they are 100% pure salt. The plants can not use it all and the salt builds up. If you need ferts use organic fertilizer like manures etc.

If the plant gets too salty then you need to drain lots of clean rain water down through the soil and dissolve the salt and then out the holes in the bottom.

One advantage or disadvantage is that with holes in the bottom the roots can grow down into the soil below. this can be good or bad depending on if your soil is bad with disease and nematodes. good in the sense that if the roots grow down into good soil they find more moisture and usually the plant will grow bigger.