Yes, plants will do much better in containers if you use a good quality, soil-less container mix. Nothing with soil or dirt in it. It drains better and allows better root development.

Also, indeterminate varieties such as you are growing will do even better in bigger containers. And container plants need more frequent feedings and careful watering. Checking the dampness of the soil finger deep in the mix is a better indicator than just going by the look of the top of the soil.

There are many good container tomato discussions over on the Growing Tomatoes forum here if you wish to review them. I have linked some of them below.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing Tomatoes in Containers discussions...

I'd recommend Miracle Grow Moisture Control Potting Mix. It's about 10 bucks for a 2 cu ft bag, but well worth it. I also grow my veggies in containers on my apartment porch. I have my tomatoes in 1 & 1/4 cu ft pots. My two cherry plants are already both over 4 ft tall & just now growing bloom clusters. So, I imagine they will be monsters. :) Yes, I planted tomatoes late this year.

tn_veggie_gardner - it's probably better that you started late. I have a cousin in Chattanooga and she's very disappointed with her tomato plants. Around the time they started to bloom, average temps were already in the 90s. Plus, her plants are in the ground without much rain fall.

Melissa,

You don't have to go to the extreme of special container mixes. Dave is correct in that one of the important points is good drainage, but soil-less mix is not the only way. I've been getting excellent results with 1/3 topsoil, 1/3 composted manure and 1/3 vermiculite or perlite or a mix of those two. I also add a couple of tablespoons of 14-14-14 Osmocote for tomatoes in containers. I plant in 5 gallon buckets and get tomato plants that are 7 feet tall with full sized tomatoes.

Petro

Hi Melissa569, how are you? First off, Let me ask you where'bouts in CA do you reside? That will have heck of a whole lot to do with it.
SECONDLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I am going to give you the hottest tip(web site) and the only tip(web site) you will ever need for GROWING tomatoes...
...I've never let you down before right?...lol
...Let me know what you think
Ciao Bella

Here is a link that might be useful: love apple farms

I use a mix similar to Petrowizard's, only I use store-bought topsoil since I don't have a source of well-composted manure. I find the native soil provides sweetness and moisture retention, which helps prevent the blossom end rot that comes from containers alternating between too wet and too dry. Good drainage is very important though, as a soggy tomato is a sick (and soon to be dead) tomato. I' lost a few trying to get the mix right, but I have 15 great plants in used 5 gallon black plastic containers.