Window-box or container-grown tomatoes have acquired a stigma for being watery and sour. It’s an unfair accusation. Because it’s not their fault. It’s how you’re growing them! Feed them luxuriently and they’ll return the favour!
Grow tomatoes in the winter? Of course! In indoor window boxes or containers. And follow the advice of the pros for the most rewarding off-season tomato ex-perience you’ve ever enjoyed!
The right variety
Most folks grow a cherry tomato variety that is compact and self-supporting. Dwarf, patio, or ‘determinate’ varieties make the best use of your indoor space. You can grow standard size tomatoes such as dwarf Beefstake or Patio Choice (slicing) tomatoes in containers. But they need space to branch out in all directions…
Tomatoes of all sizes come in two forms: Bush (‘determinate’) and vine (‘inde-terminate’). Vine-type tomatoes spread luxuriently on trellises and specialty garden vine supports. They require a lot of space , but produce fruit continually throughout their life. Bush-type toma-toes are compact, self-supporting (with the help of stakes or cages) and pro-duce a flush of fruit at their natural growing climax.
I know one avid gardener and tomato lover who plants vine-type cherry tomatoes every year in a big clay pot and lets them climb up a tall, narrow trellis just inside her sliding patio door. Tomatoes want all the light they can get, and thrive in ‘warmer’ room-temperature conditions.
Popular varieties
Popular bush-type container-tomato varieties include the classic Tiny Tim. Vine-type varieties offer both hanging basket specialties such as Tumbling Tom, (red or yellow), and climbers such as Sweet 100 or Sweet Million. Newer bush-type high-producers include Minibel Dwarf.
Start at the beginning
In the spring, you can get pre-started tomato plants in a whole crowd of different varieties. But in fall, you have to start them from seed. Alas, the best time to get seeds is also the spring. But you can order them year-round online.
The biggest seed houses include:
Tomato seeds are commonly started 60 days in advance of planting out in the garden. The same int-erval, from seed to sprout to seedling to young plant, will apply when growing ‘inside’ plants. But you’ll be fascinated by the process as the young plants develop!
How you do it…
There are lots of websites that specialize in techniques and tips for growing container and window-box tomatoes inside. One of the most comprehensive I’ve found is Earth Box. This is a resource page produced by a manufacturer of container and window-box growing systems. They’ve had a lot of experience – and customer feedback – on the topic!
Another great source for indoor tomato growing info is Gardening Knowhow. It may suit you better, if you prefer a more conversational, less clinical style…
Tip: Most seed ‘catalogues’ provide useful details about their plant varieties. ‘Difficulty’ ratings, light and heat needs, and space requirements estimates can be very helpful in choosing the varieties you want to grow.
And that ‘secret’?
A recent Food & Wine feature suggests you use your own (or out-sourced) compost, rather than the usual chemical fertilizer, for your ‘inside’ tomatoes. Compost delivers broad-spectrum nutrition in a timed-release format that will keep your tomatoes happy all season long!
My take
Once you get started growing container or window-box tomatoes indoors, you’ll probably want to keep going! Looking after them will become part of your daily routine. And having them growing in your living space will help clean the air and add oxygen…
I’ve done it! You can too!
~ Maggie J.