There is nothing that beats the taste of a homegrown tomato, and growing them is far easier than you might think. In Southern California we’re blessed with some 330 days of sunshine each year, and even for those among us who don’t have access to a yard, one would be hard-pressed not to find a little spot of sunshine where a tomato in a container could happily grow. Whether you think of tomatoes as a veggie or a fruit, you don’t have to be a master gardener to grow round, juicy, red, green, yellow, orange, brown or even purple beauties. If they’re your favorite summer food, you’re in luck—there are more varieties of tomatoes than there are stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Getting started is super easy. All you need is a decent-sized container, some nutrient-rich soil and an outdoor location that gets hit with at least six hours of full sun a day. The health and economic benefits of maintaining even the most modest of urban gardens are numerous, and whether it’s a basket of herbs, a bucket of tomatoes or a bin of organic compost, if I can do it, you can, too.
What to Plant
There are two basic types of tomatoes: determinate (DET) and indeterminate (IND). Determinates, also called bush tomatoes, grow to about four feet and ripen their whole crop around the same time over the course of just a couple of weeks. These varieties mature within about 60 days and tend to be better suited for container growing, as they require only a limited amount of staking. Roma, Cherry, Mountain Gold, Beefsteak, Black Pear and Black Zebra are all determinate (or semi-determinate) varieties that do well in our climate zone.
Indeterminates, also known as vine tomatoes, have a longer maturation date and will flower, set new fruit and ripen throughout the growing season (or until killed by frost). Some say that indeterminates do better in a garden, since they can grow six to ten feet tall, but I have planted them in pots successfully for years. They do require more attention in a container but if properly tended, they will grow abundantly just the same. My favorites include Arkansas Traveler, Yellow Pear, Sungold, Ox Heart, Stupice and Brown Grape, but there are literally hundreds of varieties available at plant sales and local nurseries. I recommend planting a combination of both types so you can enjoy a harvest that lasts all summer long.
A Good Container Is Easy to Find
Tomato plants grow their roots deep rather than wide, so choose at least a five-gallon container with 16-18 inches of depth. (The bigger, the better.) Terra Cotta is readily available and provides good growing conditions. However, wood containers or wine barrels are best and don’t heat up as much as, say, a plastic bucket. But if a plastic bucket is all you can get your hands on, just poke a few good-sized holes in the bottom, throw down some luscious soil and you’ll be good to go.
Prep the Soil
Tomatoes are heavy feeders and deep root growers. As they mature, their feeding needs become increasingly complex. Although a run-of-the-mill potting soil or planting mix is not bad, it is best to start with an organic blend that has a lot of different ingredients. You’ll want to fill your entire container with dirt, watering it and mixing it like a batter as you go, until it is moist but not muddy. You might feel silly planting only one tomato per pot; just wait until these babies start to grow. Dig a hole deep enough so that only the top few leaves stick out. Snugly fill the soil in all around. Bless it, then let it be.
Watering
Tomatoes love the sun, but their roots? Not so much. The best rule of thumb for watering container tomatoes is infrequently and deeply. Watering every 10-12 days is surprisingly sufficient, just be sure to soak the pot. Avoid the temptation to over-water and keep in mind responsible water conservation techniques—a must for urban gardeners. If you can manage to hand-water everything, you’ll keep better track of exactly how much water you’re using and how much water the plants require to stay sufficiently fed. Avoid watering at night; this creates a breeding ground for insects and disease.
Feeding
The roots need ample contact with nutrients in order to produce a healthy crop. The rule here is to feed the soil, not the plants. Our dry climate will cause organic matter to break down quickly and as time wears on, the soil line in your pot will continue to decrease. Replenish as needed. You’ll also want to feed your soil with nutrient-rich fertilizer (organic varieties are best) three to four times during the season. Adding mulch to the top layer is a brilliant way of keeping the nutrients in the soil. Mulch also helps to keep things cool. Foliar feeding is another great way to provide nutrients to your plant. Use a liquid fertilizer (kelp or compost tea) and spray it across your tomato leaves twice a month.
Cage ‘em and Stake ‘em
I recommend caging and staking tomatoes (regardless of variety) at the time of planting so as not to harm the root system later on. Bamboo or wooden poles work great for staking; go for a length of eight to ten feet. As the plant grows, loosely tie it to the stake in order to keep it growing in an upward direction. You can buy fencing wire, clothesline or twine at your local hardware store and create a makeshift version of a cage yourself. But if you’re a lazy gardener like me, buying the ready-made version is fast and painless and I reuse them year after year. The bonus feature of staked or caged tomato plants? They’ll ripen earlier than plants that sprawl.
Gardening Therapy
Gardeners have long known that working in the soil will make you feel better, happier and more content. Having your hands in the dirt puts your fingers in contact with mycobacterium (M. vaccae), known to activate brain neurons to produce serotonin, which is a natural chemical produced by your brain that promotes healing and works like an antidepressant. This feel-good medicine is available in soil all year round—yet another health benefit for starting a container garden this season.
—Lisa Johns
Community Resources and Events
Cal State Northridge Gardening Series
The CSUN Botanic Garden is one of the San Fernando Valley’s best-kept secrets. Four times a year, the Garden offers free classes on a variety of horticultural topics through the CSUN-al Gardening Series. csun.edu/botanicgarden
Fallen Fruit
Bringing awareness to art and sustainable food sources, Fallen Fruit celebrates an annual summertime event dubbed “Salsa Salsa,” which pairs tomato harvesting for pico de gallo with spicy Latin dance instruction for a day of red-hot fun. fallenfruit.org
Tomatomania!
Scott Daigre of Tomatomania is hosting seedling sales all across Southern California, touted as “The World’s Largest Tomato Seedling Sale.” You can check out any number of events happening in your area. tomatomania.com
Community Gardens
There are more than 70 community gardens growing in L.A. County, serving more than 3,900 families. The L.A. Community Garden Council connects people with local community garden space and offers a wealth of resources online. lagardencouncil.org
Victory Garden Initiative
Dedicated to helping new gardeners start their own gardens quickly and easily, U.C. master gardeners will lead classes on edibles at eleven sites across Los Angeles. ucanr.org/blogs/growLA
Trash that Makes for Happy Planting
—LJ
