The number of plants you want to grow should come into consideration when selecting a planter. Remember, it is good to space out your tomato plants so that they can thrive instead of fighting for nutrients. If you want individual planters for each of your plants, there is no problem; just ensure there is enough room for the roots to thrive. This clever designwill allow you to get more professional results from your greenhouse crops such as (but not only) tomatoes. The science behind the design is that you get exactly the right amount of water and feed to the correct parts of the root structure. They work superbly well in growbags. As tomatoes continue to grow, they get heavier, and thus they need a good support system. If you look at platers suitable for growing tomatoes, you will find ports to fit support canes. The length of the support canes matters because a tall tomato plant needs continuous support as it matures. Select a model that offers sizeable holes to fit support canes so that you don’t have to struggle while setting up. Versatility

A lot of work goes into finding the best tomato planter and tending to the plants until the tomatoes are ripe. But, the reward comes when you are harvesting your ripe and healthy-looking tomatoes ready for use. Never settle for substandard planters; select a suitable planter so that you can continue enjoying season after season of tasty tomatoes. The MyGardenGreen self-watering garden Halo Pots are easy to use if you’re looking for a way to keep plants well-watered. These halo pots have a sizeable reservoir to keep your plants hydrated for a few hours in warmer weather which is when you usually start have issues with wilting tomatoes. Side shoots may appear on your tomato plants – you can prune these, which helps reduce the risk of disease and how much support is needed. British Garden Centres add: 'Pinch out the growing tip of the plant when six trusses have begun to develop and remove any side shoots that appear. A tomato truss is a group of smaller stems where the flowers and fruit develop.' Fertilise appropriately They are fairly good quality as they are made from UV-stable plastic so will last a few years. It’s not large as it only has a diameter of 29cm, and it is 13cm high, so each pot can only hold one plant at a time but they fit nicely into a pot or you plant place them directly on top of the soil on the ground.Tomatoes in particular benefit from regular fertilising since they need a lot of nutrition to produce healthy fruits. However, too much nitrogen can result in a plant with lots of foliage but few fruits,' Matt warns. 'Use a fertiliser specifically formulated for tomatoes and feed once a fortnight once the first flowers begin to show, increasing water and feed as the tomato fruit increase in size.' How do you like to grow your tomatoes? Do you like using grow bags or raised beds? Regardless of your chosen method, you want a tomato planter that fits into your growing method without an elaborate setup.

A 3.1 Litre outer 'moat' features six 2.8cm watering spikes which penetrate below the surface, delivering water direct to the plant's roots. This ensures that water and liquid feed are delivered at a reduced rate that the plant is better able to absorb, preventing wastage which is common with conventional watering. It typically takes between 3 and 6 hours for the water reservoir to drain fully, depending on the weather and soil conditions. You install your Plant Halos into your growbag (or onto soil, they are perfect for three per growbag. You then top up the central feeding chamber with compost. This is the area where the tomato plant has its short, knobbly roots which take in the feed and nutrients. You then leave the outer chamber empty and use this for day to day watering. This has a a 3 litre capacity and you can fill with water when watering and it will slowly dissipate into the growbag through the unique watering spikes - ensuring that all the water is taken up by the grow bag. The best time to sow tomato seeds in the UK is between the end of March and the beginning of April. If you plant later than that, your tomatoes will not have enough time to ripen before the season ends. Learn more about growing tomatoes from seed in this guide If your planter does not have holes for support canes, push them into the soil but not too deep to get in the way of developing roots.

Find the perfect fit

If you are tired of buying tomatoes or are just getting into growing fruit and veg and want to have a try at growing your own, you are in for an exciting journey. Growing tomatoes is not hard; all you need is to find a place to grow them and offer them the required nutrients and lots of water. This is where choosing a good tomato planter is worth its weight in gold, especially the self-watering planters that have saved my toms a few times.

So, keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. 'Watering at the base of the plant can help here, taking care to avoid the leaves,' Matt adds. How to support tomato plants PERFECT FOR SALADS AND COOKING: 'Gardener's Delight' tomatoes have a delicious tangy and sweet flavour making them a must have for salads and everyday cooking too. Used in soups, stews, sauces, juices, salads and garnishes, the 'Gardener's Delight' does not disappoint any meal You need to dig deep enough for the soil to cover about two-thirds of the plant to encourage strong roots and healthy growth. 'Each plant should be around 20 inches apart in rows, and the spacing of each row should be double that,' Craig explains.DELICIOUS FLAVOURS: This is one amazingly flavoured tomato. It combines delicious sweetness with just the right amount of subtle acidity to create the perfect fresh tomato flavour I think this planter and frame is perfect for people with small gardens or who just have a balcony. It is made from durable polythene fabric, similar to that of potatoes grow bags; hence you will get a good few years out of it. A little feature I do like is that the planter comes with its own steel 3 sided frame for tomatoes to grow up.

You need to give your tomatoes the best chance of growing plump and juicy – and it all starts with the quality of your soil. Tomatoes favour well-draining soil: you'll need rich, fertile soil or peat-free potting compost, and a good spot with plenty of sun (around eight hours a day) and shelter. Craig shares the following tips: Not every planter you come across is ideal for planting tomatoes, any big pot will do but the best setups are ones with watering systems which overcomes one of the biggest problems, your planters wilting before you had a chance to water them again. Our new and unique Plant Halos offer an 'all in one' watering and crop support solution for popular crops such as tomatoes, peppers and beans. Sold in sets of 3, Plant Halos can be used on grow bags, pots (with a diameter of 26cm and above), raised beds, as well on traditional vegetable plots. The central inner pot creates the planting area which is particularly useful when used with grow bags as it allows a deeper planting zone to develop healthier plants. A 3.1 Litre outer 'moat' features six 2.8cm watering spikes which penetrate below the surface, delivering water direct to the plant's roots. This ensures that water and liquid feed are delivered at a reduced rate that the plant is better able to absorb, preventing wastage which is common with conventional watering. It typically takes between 3 and 6 hours for the water reservoir to drain fully, depending on the weather and soil conditions. Plant Halos also feature a unique cane support system. 3 anchor slots surround the inner pot and provide the means for a rigid, wind resistant structure using bamboo cane (not included). A cane grip cap (see photo below) is also included and allows for up to 4 canes to be joined at the peak of the resulting structure. The cane grip cap is simply separated from the main moulding by the user. Plant Halos are manufactured from recycled, UV stabilised plastic and are guaranteed for 5 years. We offer two colour alternatives - classic green or tomato red. Before you can begin to prep for growing tomatoes, establish which tomato variety you want to grow. Our new and unique Plant Halos offer an 'all in one' watering and crop support solution for popular crops such as tomatoes, peppers and beans. Sold in sets of 3, Plant Halos can be used on grow bags, pots (with a diameter of 26cm and above), raised beds, as well on traditional vegetable plots. The central inner pot creates the planting area which is particularly useful when used with grow bags as it allows a deeper planting zone to develop healthier plants.First of all: There are two main types of tomato plant: bush and cordon. Bush make a squat bush shape and don't need to be tied in or staked. Cordon has more varieties and they grow like a climber so need to be trained around a cane.