Written by: Declan Murphy
Designed by: Maryam Khan
Published by: Maryam Khan
Tomatoes are a garden staple, but do they fare best in containers or in the ground?
Whether you prefer them fresh or you’re stockpiling for canning, tomatoes are a welcome addition to any garden. In our garden, we typically grow both cherry tomatoes and some larger varieties, so we’ve got soups, salads and sandwiches all covered! We have grown them both in the ground and in pots, and today I’ll consider the pros and cons of both methods.
When growing tomatoes in the ground in Canada, it’s often helpful to start seedlings indoors in early spring and transplant them into plots or raised beds after the threat of frost is over. (This year, however, we also have a rogue cherry tomato plant that must have been “planted” last fall when an unintentionally helpful squirrel buried a stolen tomato in our backyard!) If you prefer containers, you can also start them as seedlings and then transfer them to large pots with adequate weight at the bottom (we put a few handfuls of gravel in the bottom) and a study cage or rings, so that the plant will be well supported as they get taller and grow fruit. You could plant the seeds directly to the ground or the pots, but be prepared to thin and prune the seedlings, as tomatoes need plenty of room between plants for air to prevent disease.
In our experience, tomatoes grow well in the ground and in containers, though the yield can sometimes be higher (and the plant larger) when they are grown in the ground. We have a relatively small garden, so we do both some years, and rely on containers to allow us to rotate the crops we grow in our garden plot to avoid soil-borne disease. Of course, if you have limited space, insufficient sunlight, or are working with a porch, patio or balcony only, containers would be the way to go for you! Both methods have their pros and cons.
Different varieties of tomatoes can also prefer one method versus another, however, so follow the instructions for your particular seeds. Smaller varieties thrive in pots, while larger or taller ones may prefer being in the ground.
In the ground, your tomatoes will get more room to grow, and so will their roots, so the plant can typically afford to grow bigger and taller, depending on the variety. Further, the ground should offer more opportunities to adequately stake or even trellis your tomatoes, compared to the limitations of a pot or container. The plants should also be able to seek out water and nutrients with more freedom, and may require less watering and fertilizing, as long as you have planted them in the right spot and the right soil. (However, if you have planted them in a boggy place, they may be threatened by too much water or, if in a rocky place, they might still get too dry.)
In pots, you will have more control over the soil, as well as the drainage. You will certainly have to water them more often, and feed them regularly, but you will also be able to respond to their day-to-day needs more proactively. Growing plants in pots allow you to move them regularly to take advantage of optimal sunlight if you need to. You can also move them indoors or to a safer location in times of extreme weather or even during pest invasion. You can also quarantine individual plants more easily, if needed. You may have to take more care with staking, pruning and shaping your plants, but you will also have more control over their protection. Most importantly, if you need to be efficient with space, you will have the ability to adjust and rotate their positions, to avoid crowding and make sure smaller plants are not being smothered or shaded by larger ones, which is not something you can do in the ground. If your plants get too big for your limited space, you also have the ability to give extra plants to friends to thin them out!
Portability is a major plus for potted tomatoes. Once in the ground, the plant will stay put until fall! Further, with tomatoes grown in the ground, once the cold winds start to blow your season will be over, whether you still have green fruit on the vines or not.
The ability to grow tomatoes in containers also inspires the question: Can tomatoes be grown inside, and can they grow all year long?
Most varieties of tomatoes need 8 to 10 hours of sunlight a day. You need to choose a warm, very well-lit place in your home, with direct sunlight from windows or a grow lamp. You will need to get into the habit of turning the plants and rotating them to make sure all sides of every plant get their fair share of sun. After the plants have flowered, be sure to tap or gently shake the stems on a daily basis to make sure they pollinate each other, or they will not produce fruit. Outside, you have bees to help you with this, but inside you have to be the bee yourself! Tomato plants also rely on being shaken by wind for pollination outside, and this is what you will have to simulate indoors to get a bountiful harvest. Remember, whether indoors or outside, plants in pots need adequate water (and drainage), as well as fertilizer to thrive and produce fruit, so the area you select in your home should be safe for occasional spills and feeding. (If you want to invest in growing tomatoes all winter long, we recommend a grow tent, as this also keeps curious pets out of the pots, as well.) With luck, regular care and proper harvesting, your indoor plants could produce tomatoes all winter long!
Whether it’s in containers or in the ground, or even indoors, tomatoes are a satisfying and productive food plant for most gardeners.
Happy growing!
References
Boeckmann, C. (2019.) Tomatoes. Old Farmer’s Almanac. https://www.almanac.com/plant/tomatoes.
Botanix. (2023, December 7). How to successfully harvest tomatoes: in pots or in the ground. Jardineries Botanix. https://botanix.com/en/blogs/experts/plant-out-tomatoes-ground-or-container.
Jobe’s. (2025.) Grow Tomatoes Indoors. Jobe’s Company. https://jobescompany.com/how-to/grow-tomatoes-indoors/.
Karen. (2022, June 14). How to Grow Tomatoes – in Pots or the Ground. The Art of Doing Stuff. https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/how-to-grow-tomatoes-in-pots-or-the-ground/.
MacArthur, A. (2025, August 6). How to Pollinate Indoor Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squash and Other Plants. Food Gardening Network. https://foodgardening.mequoda.com/daily/indoor-gardening/how-to-pollinate-indoor-tomatoes-cucumbers-squash-and-other-plants/.
Schier, M. (2018, June 22). Why Grow Tomatoes in Containers? – My Northern Garden. My Northern Garden. https://mynortherngarden.com/2018/06/22/why-grow-tomatoes-in-containers/.
Sears, C. (2025). Should You Grow Tomatoes in Pots or in the Ground? We Asked Gardeners and They All Agreed. The Spruce. https://www.thespruce.com/should-you-grow-tomatoes-in-pots-or-in-the-ground-11712463.
Skyer, M. (2023, November 17). Meredith Skyer. Rural Sprout. https://www.ruralsprout.com/tomato-pots-mistakes/.