[Koala Doug]

Originally Posted by dregae

I don’t understand why everyone wants to grow in pots ( PLEASE Feel free to offer an insight on this because I’d like to understand).

I grow exclusively in containers - I have yard space, but it is fully shaded by large, mature trees. Those trees also have very extensive root systems, so that is another issue. And the soil is a thick, heavy clay which is difficult for roots to push through as they grow. To top it off, the deer here are voracious and will eat not only the fruit, but the leaves and the stems too. They can devour many plants right down to the ground in the course of a single night.

Because of the above, I have to grow in containers on my driveway (there is only one tiny patch of the concrete that gets multiple hours of direct sunlight). And I have to carry them into the garage at night and out again in the morning. Due to the carrying routine, I have to limit my container size to 10 gallons - I did use a 15 gallon container one year and it was right at the limit of my strength with a full-sized plant and moist growing mix (but the plants yielded better than in a 10 gallon).

For other people, another reason might be soil-borne disease pressures that aren't a problem with fresh container mixes.

Originally Posted by dregae

Anyways..... what are some good heirloom choices for growing in pots???

For containers, any of the classic heirloom dwarf varieties will work well. But my personal favorite is New Big Dwarf. I haven't tried them all though (I still have untested seeds for Quarter Century and Golden Dwarf Champion).

For non-heirloom (but still open-pollinated) varieties, any of the Dwarf Project tomatoes will work very well. Victory Seeds has an extensive collection on their website.

I still grow non-dwarf varieties too... but I just have to prune them so they fit within the garage door (which is the standard seven-feet tall). This year, I am growing OTV Brandywine and Dr. Carolyn (as well as two dwarf varieties - Loxton Lass and Dwarf Peppermint Stripes). But those large indeterminate plants would be happier in a bigger container - size, in this case, does matter.

You can grow any tomato in a container, but there are always trade-offs, as PaulF has already mentioned.