18 gallon

1 plant 7 gal imo

A lot of people grow tomatoes successfully in five gallon buckets, but they have to be very diligent about feeding and watering them. Larger is better. A larger mass of growing medium means a larger reserve of moisture and nutrients the plant can draw on. (A five gallon bucket can reqire watering 3-5 times a day when it is hot.) Most successful container growers feed their plants every 10 days to two weeks since nutrients leach out with watering.

You would do nicely with Terry's suggestion of a 7 gallon container for a single plant, or you could put two in Dickiefickle's 18 gallon, or even go with an 18 gallon container for each plant if production is what you want to go for.

So, size does matter, especially in garden containers.

Betsy

Here is a link that might be useful: Raybo's EarthTainer Construction Guide

Thanks. I will go with 18-20 gal containers. I have always used the 7 gal as my largest pot. I have to feed/water everyday when the plants get big and right now in the 3 gal I have to water/feed them everyday. I have had huge harvests in the 7 gal with the right nutrient feeding and trellesing however I want to get more out of them this year. Thanks everyone.

Since I am a newbie, can I hop onto this thread and ask others to confirm if this statement is really true?

"(A five gallon bucket can reqire watering 3-5 times a day when it is hot.)" -Betsy

REALLY? I wish I would have gotten bigger pots if so... I was thinking two deep waters per week would do me....

Since I am a newbie, can I hop onto this thread and ask others to confirm if this statement is really true?

"(A five gallon bucket can reqire watering 3-5 times a day when it is hot.)" -Betsy

Yes it is true - with some variables. Depends in part on the weather in your growing zone, the type of plant, the amount of sun exposure, and the potting mix used in the container.

Once the air temps get above 75 degrees they will dry out quickly. Even in cooler weather zones they may get to that point since an indeterminate variety plant (and some determinates) will become rootbound in a 5 gallon container so there is little left in the container to retain water. And different potting mixes drain/retain water at different rates. Mulching the container helps.

Bigger is always better for containers for tomatoes.

Dave

Since I am a newbie, can I hop onto this thread and ask others to confirm if this statement is really true?

"(A five gallon bucket can reqire watering 3-5 times a day when it is hot.)" -Betsy

Note that I said CAN not WILL. As Dave pointed out, there are variables. Perhaps I should have said may instead.

Mulching the top of your container with compost, straw, hay, rotted leaves, grass clippings, even shredded or sheets of paper or cardboard helps maintain a consistent moisture level.

Betsy