Ideal container size for most indeterminate varieties is 15 gallons or more. Can it be done with less? Sure but with lots of problems with both water, nutrient, and production issues. Since most strains of BW are well documented as low production anyway why make it even more difficult?

And keep in mind that what you fill the container with is as important as container size.

Dave

Thanks!. Then the 18 gallon tote should be sufficient?

People say BW is a low producer. What is considered low, average, and high yield for tomato plants?

Wow. I really hope its not 1-2 or even 9 only. Its so big and has at least 30 blossoms.

What does DTM stand for?

Blossoms are unfortunately not an indication. Many beefsteaks make 20-30 per truss, obviously only a fraction make fruit.

If your weather is on the milder side I don't think you'll have problems with production from BW. Also they will become bigger if there are less, so there's that.

DTM - days to maturity.

You should get good production in your zone. I grew brandywine in Z5 and got about 20 per plant, more or less, just going from memory.

I went to count how many were growing. My in ground one has around 7 so far. The one in a 5-gallon pot that needs to somehow be reported in something bigger has 3. It's only July so I'm assuming it should grow some more over the next 2 months.

This is my first year growing them.

They'll slow setting fruit in July and August, and set a few more when the weather cools off a little. In my experience, it's best to get the jump on them early to get the fruit set before hot weather.

I find that the practical size needed for tomatoes are the 30 or 32 gallon trash barrels. you can get them for $10 at walmart. there are various kinds. rubbermaid and others make them. I find the 18 gallon totes to be too small. they do grow the plant but they grow very restricted. and BW is low yielding as it is. and the 30 gallons cost the same as your staples buckets. also the trash barrels are deeper and that has big advantages for water levels for tomatoes. the totes can get too much water too easy because it is so shallow.

I have a trash can, thats probably at least 20-30 gallons. Looks much bigger than the 20 gallon totes at staples. Im afraid trying to move it to something so big and tall it would raise the chances of braking the plant.

Good point. 20 gallons is plenty, and movable, and affordable.

I grew Indigo Rose tomato in 1 gallon pots and they had super heavy yield. by growing in such small pots that was all they needed and i could bring them into the house in the fall to finish off ripening even without a window for sunlight. worked great. the indigo rose is a dwarf tomato developed in Oregon. plenty on the internet on it. fantastic tomato. but slow to ripen.

[http://today.oregonstate.edu/archives/2012/jan/purple-tomato-debuts-%E2%80%98indigo-rose%E2%80%99]

this plant has a very stiff stem sometimes called a tree tomato. but it roots super fast and very strong. 5 days in clean water then into moist soil and the roots will be there. they start to show at about 5 days. you can root them in place in the garden but they need shade until the roots get going.

Focusing on more what 'low production' means, I'll define it in reference to a hybrid, another OP heirloom and the previously discussed Brandywine.

So far my BW (15 gal fabric container) has about 8-9 fruits forming. I expect to get it about doubled based on time in the season and how many suckers have not yet set fruit.

My Cherokee Purple, also an heirloom, has about double. My Big Beef (F1) has about 30% more than my CP, the fruits are larger and in more defined clusters.

If you want to relate my experience to my container sizes: BW (OP): 15gal fabric. The CP and are in a #7 nursery pot. I need to water the #7 container daily, fabric pot every couple days.