In this post we’ll look into the pro’s and con’s for either growing your tomatoes in pots or directly into the soil. The examples in the post will be for small seedlings (either purchased from your local garden or grow from seed yourself) being potted on.
Before planting
Planting tomatoes in soil
Tomatoes will grow in any well drained garden soil. To improve the soil before planting your tomatoes out add some organic content to the soil, mix the compost several inches into the soil.
Planting in pots
Unless you are potting up using soil/ compost from your garden, you will most likely be using a shop bought potting soil. If you are going to use your own soil mix check out my post on composting to boost your soil.
Planting your tomatoes outÂ
Planting in soil
Generally speaking you should be safe to plant tomato seeds out in the soil once the soil and night time temperatures stay above 15 degrees C/ 60 degF.
Planting in pots/ containers
You can give yourself a head start on you tomatoes if you have a warm, sunny indoor spot for you seedling to start, then simply keep them inside until the soil/ night time temp is 15C/ 60F.