The best pots for tomatoes and vegetables
Growing food in pots comes down to water. Get the container big enough to hold a day of it, and half the battle is already won.
What size pot do tomatoes need?
One tomato plant needs at least a 30cm pot holding around 20 litres of compost. Anything smaller dries out daily in summer and the plant drops its fruit. Potatoes want a deep grow bag, salad leaves are fine in a trough, and everything outdoors needs generous drainage.
- One tomato plant per 30cm pot, roughly 20 litres
- Potatoes need depth - a grow bag beats a wide pot
- Salad and spinach are happy in a shallow trough
- Bigger containers dry out more slowly in a heatwave
What we would use
Pots and kit for tomatoes & veg
How to choose
- Choose the largest container you can water daily
- Dark pots warm the roots earlier in the season
- Self-watering troughs cover you through hot spells
- Rail planters make a balcony productive without floor space
Questions
Tomatoes & veg pots - FAQs
Can I grow tomatoes in a bucket?
Yes, provided it holds around 20 litres and you drill generous drainage holes in the base. Volume of compost matters far more than what the container is made of.
How deep does a pot need to be for potatoes?
At least 30cm deep. Potatoes form along the buried stem, so depth gives you the crop. A fabric grow bag with a harvest window is the easiest option.
Do vegetable pots need drainage holes?
Yes. Waterlogged compost starves roots of oxygen, and in a wet British summer a container with no drainage will sit sodden for weeks.
How often should I water vegetables in pots?
Daily in summer, and sometimes twice on hot days. Containers dry far faster than open ground, which is why size and a reservoir help so much.