The Fast-Growing Compact Tomato You Can Plant In A Pot That Thrives In The Sun

When it comes to choosing a fast fruiting tomato, many gardeners think of 'Early Girl'. But for container growing, the 'Bush Early Girl' cultivar is the better bet.  The main reason that this bush variety is better than its predecessor? Regular 'Early Girl' is an indeterminate variety. This type of tomato is often too large and unwieldy for easy container growing. But 'Bush Early Girl' produces plenty of slicing tomatoes on a compact plant that bears heavily. This fast-growing plant still lives up to the "early" name, producing fruits within 60 days.

For balcony and patio gardeners, determinates like 'Bush Early Girl' are much less challenging to grow in containers because of their compact sizes. They need less staking for support, and are less prone to disease when confined to pots. That's why 'Bush Early Girl' has been proven as a better option for small space growing than larger species. This cultivar only grows to about 18 inches tall, but it bears fruits that are even bigger than regular early types, at about 4 inches across. An additional benefit is that it resists many diseases. All in all, it's one of the easy-to-grow vegetables for a container garden. 

To grow delicious tomatoes without a backyard, the 'Bush Early Girl' cultivar, has much to offer as a determinate type that is scaled down for container growing. As for the container, one that is 14 inches or even bigger in diameter is about right for the compact 'mater variety. Make sure it has a few holes at the bottom for drainage. If the main growing area doesn't get at least six hours of sun a day, set the container on rollers so that it can be moved to follow the sun.

A lightweight potting mix is crucial for container-grown tomatoes, but make sure it is geared to tomato or vegetable growing. Usually, the potting soil will  provide enough nutrients for at least the first two weeks. After that, choose a liquid fertilizer designed for tomatoes, and follow the package's directions.

If you're starting 'Bush Early Girl' from seed, begin in late March or early April. The seedlings can go into an outdoor container in May or early June, depending on your climate. Planting time is also when you should stake the tomatoes. 'Bush Early Girl' may be compact, but the fruits are large and plentiful enough that support would be appreciated. Check the soil's moisture level daily, especially in the heat of summer – pot-grown plants need more frequent watering. Several times a week, or even daily waterings, will yield best results. Only water when the soil is dry one inch below the surface to prevent root rot.