Plant Care

Best Tomato Varieties for Containers: 25+ Proven Winners

Q: Can you grow tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets?

Yes, 5-gallon buckets work well for **determinate varieties** and most cherry tomatoes, but proper drainage is crucial. Drill 6-8 holes in the bottom and add gravel for drainage. Varieties like **'Celebrity'**, **'Roma'**, and **'Bush Early Girl'** thrive in 5-gallon containers. However, large indeterminate varieties need 10+ gallon containers for optimal production. The key is matching variety size to container capacity—cramped roots lead to stressed plants and poor yields.

Q: What are the best cherry tomato varieties for containers?

The top cherry varieties for containers include **'Surefire Red'** for disease resistance and productivity, **'Sweet 100'** for incredible yields, and **'Sun Gold'** for superior flavor. **'Tiny Tim'** works perfectly in small spaces, while **'Garden Pearl'** offers compact determinate growth. Choose indeterminate cherries like Surefire Red for continuous harvests all season, or determinate types like Garden Pearl for concentrated harvests that ripen together.

Q: Do determinate or indeterminate tomatoes work better in containers?

**Determinate varieties** generally work better for container beginners because they stay compact, require minimal staking, and produce concentrated harvests. Varieties like **'Celebrity'** and **'Bush Early Girl'** thrive in 5-10 gallon containers. **Indeterminate varieties** can be more productive long-term but need 15+ gallon containers, tall support structures, and more intensive management. Start with determinates to build confidence, then experiment with indeterminates as your skills develop.

Q: How many tomato plants can you put in one container?

Plant only **one tomato plant per container** for best results. Tomatoes are heavy feeders with extensive root systems that need space to develop properly. **Multiple plants in one container compete for nutrients**, water, and root space, leading to stunted growth and poor fruit production. Even cherry varieties need their own containers. Instead of cramming multiple plants together, use several appropriately-sized containers to maximize your harvest potential.

Last updated: October 30, 2025

Discover 25+ proven tomato varieties perfect for container growing. From cherry to beefsteak, find the best varieties for your patio or balcony garden.

LLinda Kowalski

October 30, 2025

Multiple tomato varieties growing in containers on balcony showing different plant sizes and fruit types — — Image © PlantReference.org 2025

TL;DR

Best container tomato varieties include determinate types like 'Patio Princess' and 'Bush Early Girl' for beginners, cherry varieties like 'Sweet 100' and 'Surefire Red' for continuous harvests, and compact options like 'Tiny Tim' and 'Red Robin' for small spaces. Choose determinate varieties for containers under 10 gallons, indeterminate varieties for 15+ gallon containers, and always prioritize disease-resistant varieties for container success.

Product Recommendations

Burpee Celebrity Hybrid Tomato Seeds - 30 seeds

https://www.burpee.com/vegetables/tomatoes/tomato-celebrity-hybrid-prod000456.html

This All-America Selections winner delivers reliable 4-ounce red slicing tomatoes on compact 3-4 foot determinate plants perfect for containers. The variety shows excellent resistance to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and nematodes - crucial for container growing success. Plants thrive in 5-7 gallon containers and produce concentrated harvests over 2-3 weeks, making them ideal for beginners or anyone wanting predictable results without extensive staking requirements.

Price: $3.95-$5.95

Johnny's Selected Seeds Surefire Red Cherry Tomato

https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/tomatoes/cherry-tomatoes/surefire-red-f1-tomato-seed-2622.html

This indeterminate cherry variety produces exceptional yields of 1.5-inch sweet red fruit in long clusters throughout the season. The plants show superior disease resistance compared to Sweet 100 while maintaining excellent flavor and productivity. Requires 10+ gallon containers and 6-foot support, but rewards gardeners with continuous harvests from July until frost. The firm fruit resists cracking and handles container stress better than most indeterminate varieties, making it perfect for balcony and patio growing.

Price: $4.50-$6.50

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange Stupice Tomato Seeds

https://www.southernexposure.com/products/tomato-stupice/

This Czechoslovakian heirloom ripens fruit in just 60-65 days, making it perfect for northern climates and short growing seasons. The indeterminate plants produce 2-3 ounce red fruit with excellent flavor despite the early maturity. Plants perform exceptionally well in containers 7-10 gallons and continue producing until frost. The variety shows good adaptability to various growing conditions and maintains productivity even in less-than-ideal container environments, making it reliable for apartment and balcony gardeners.

Price: $3.25-$4.75

Seed Savers Exchange San Marzano Redorta Tomato Seeds

https://www.seedsavers.org/san-marzano-redorta-tomato

This verified San Marzano variety produces authentic 3-4 inch elongated paste tomatoes with the concentrated flavor prized by Italian cooks. The indeterminate plants require 10+ gallon containers and strong support but reward gardeners with superior sauce-making tomatoes. The fruit shows the characteristic rectangular shape, few seeds, and dense flesh that makes San Marzanos legendary. While more challenging than hybrid varieties, this heirloom offers unmatched flavor for serious container gardeners wanting to make restaurant-quality sauces and preserves.

Price: $4.95-$6.95

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep should a container be for tomatoes?

Tomato containers should be at least 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) deep for most varieties. Determinate varieties can succeed in 12-14 inch deep containers, while indeterminate varieties need 16-20 inch depth minimum. The root system of Solanum lycopersicum develops both deep taproots and extensive lateral roots, so adequate depth prevents root binding and supports healthy plant development. Shallow containers under 12 inches severely limit growth and fruit production.

Can you grow tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets?

Yes, 5-gallon buckets work well for determinate varieties and most cherry tomatoes, but proper drainage is crucial. Drill 6-8 holes in the bottom and add gravel for drainage. Varieties like 'Celebrity', 'Roma', and 'Bush Early Girl' thrive in 5-gallon containers. However, large indeterminate varieties need 10+ gallon containers for optimal production. The key is matching variety size to container capacity—cramped roots lead to stressed plants and poor yields.

What are the best cherry tomato varieties for containers?

The top cherry varieties for containers include 'Surefire Red' for disease resistance and productivity, 'Sweet 100' for incredible yields, and 'Sun Gold' for superior flavor. 'Tiny Tim' works perfectly in small spaces, while 'Garden Pearl' offers compact determinate growth. Choose indeterminate cherries like Surefire Red for continuous harvests all season, or determinate types like Garden Pearl for concentrated harvests that ripen together.

Do determinate or indeterminate tomatoes work better in containers?

Determinate varieties generally work better for container beginners because they stay compact, require minimal staking, and produce concentrated harvests. Varieties like 'Celebrity' and 'Bush Early Girl' thrive in 5-10 gallon containers. Indeterminate varieties can be more productive long-term but need 15+ gallon containers, tall support structures, and more intensive management. Start with determinates to build confidence, then experiment with indeterminates as your skills develop.

How many tomato plants can you put in one container?

Plant only one tomato plant per container for best results. Tomatoes are heavy feeders with extensive root systems that need space to develop properly. Multiple plants in one container compete for nutrients, water, and root space, leading to stunted growth and poor fruit production. Even cherry varieties need their own containers. Instead of cramming multiple plants together, use several appropriately-sized containers to maximize your harvest potential.

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Tagged with

#container tomatoes #tomato varieties #container gardening #patio tomatoes #balcony gardening #determinate tomatoes #indeterminate tomatoes #cherry tomatoes #dwarf tomatoes #urban gardening

Written By

Linda Kowalski

Linda's been growing tomatoes in containers on her suburban Pittsburgh balcony—ever since her kids grew up and she finally had time for hobbies again. She's a medical billing specialist by day and a tomato enthusiast by night and weekend. Linda started documenting her container growing experiments on a simple blog and discovered other renters and condo dwellers were desperate for practical advice. She tests different varieties every season, tracking yields, disease resistance, and flavor in a detailed spreadsheet. Linda's approach is practical and budget-conscious—she saves seeds, reuses containers, and makes her own fertilizer from kitchen scraps. Her specialty is maximizing production in small spaces, and she's perfected the art of growing full-size tomatoes in 5-gallon buckets. She's a Pennsylvania Master Gardener and teaches container growing workshops at her local library.