Both indeterminate and determinate tomatoes can be grown in containers, but indeterminate varieties will need a larger pot and more space due to their sprawling habit. All of the best indeterminate tomatoes for containers found on this page have a compact form and smaller fruits which require minimal space and staking.
Best Indeterminate Tomatoes for Containers
| Image | Name | Rating | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Burpee Super Sweet 100′ Hybrid Cherry Tomato |  | |
 | Cherokee Purple Tomato Seeds | | |
 | Italian San Marzano Paste Tomato, Heirloom | | |
 | Giant Black Krim Tomato Seeds, Heirloom – Low Acid | |
Burpee ‘Fourth of July’ Hybrid | Red Slicing Tomato
Burpee ‘Fourth of July’ Hybrid (Buy Seeds Online) is a compact indeterminate tomato that will ripen before the 4th of July in most areas. This tomato variety will reach a height and width of 55-inches, and it produces small 4-inch fruits that weigh on average 4-ounces.
Burpee ‘Big Daddy’ Hybrid | Red Slicing Tomato
Burpee ‘Big Daddy’ Hybrid (Buy Seeds Online) is an indeterminate tomato plant with excellent disease resistance. ‘Big Daddy’ will reach a height of 60-inches, and it will only spread out 55-inches. You can expect to harvest 15 oz fruits from ‘Big Daddy’ 78 days after planting.
Burpee Super Sweet 100′ Hybrid Cherry Tomato
The Burpee Super Sweet 100′ Hybrid (Buy Seeds Online) is one of the sweetest and most flavorful indeterminate cherry tomatoes. This cherry tomato plant will reach a height of 60-inches, but it will only spread out at most 18-inches. The small fruits also won’t weigh the plant down since each Super Sweet Cherry tomato only weighs 1 oz, and you can expect your first harvest in 70-days after the seeds germinate. Cherry tomaoes can also be grown indoors in a hydropoinc system (Learn More)
Burpee Exclusive ‘SuperSauce’ Hybrid
Burpee Exclusive ‘SuperSauce’ (Buy Seeds Online) is the best indeterminate tomato for a container if you want to make gallons of homemade tomato sauce. ‘SuperSauce’ will only reach a height of 45-inches, and it doesn’t sprawl that much since it only spreads about 38-inches. You can start harvesting “SuperSauce” in 70 days, and each fruit will weigh about 22 to 32 ounces.
Best Heirloom Tomatoes for Containers – Indeterminate
Gaea’s Blessing Seeds – Cherokee Purple Tomato Seeds
Cherokee Purple Tomatoes (Buy Seeds Online) are one of the best heirloom tomatoes for containers. Growing Cherokee purple tomatoes in containers is really easy since they grow to be 35-inches tall, and they will only spread 18-inches. You can start harvesting the large 5-inch purple-hued tomatoes in 85-days, and each tomato will weigh up to 13-ounces.
Small Red Cherry Tomato Seeds, 500 Heirloom Seeds
Small Red Cherry Tomato Seeds (Buy Seeds Online) are one of the best heirloom cherry tomatoes for containers. These heirloom cherry tomatoes will reach a height of 48 to 60-inches, and they will spread 18 to 28-inches. Each fruit weighs on average ½ ounce, and they will be ready to harvest in 60 to 90 days.
Burpee ‘Rutgers’ Heirloom | Slicing Tomato
Burpee ‘Rutgers’ Heirloom (Buy Seeds Online) are an all-time favorite tomato that has been grown in America for almost a century. ‘Rutgers’ will reach a height of 60 to 80-inches, and it will spread 32 to 54-inches. The fruits will take 74 days to mature, and each tomato will weigh 4 to 6 ounces.
Burpee ‘Mr. Stripy’ | Heirloom Beefsteak Slicing Tomato
Burpee ‘Mr. Stripy’ Heirloom Tomato (Buy Seeds Online) is an indeterminate tomato with a high sugar content and unique striped fruits. ‘Mr. Stripy’ can reach a height of 60-inches, and it will only spread 36-inches. However, ‘Mr. Stripy’ might require a little extra staking since the fruits can weigh 1 to 2 pounds.
Heirloom Tomato Seed Assortment- 10 Varieties
This Heirloom Tomato Variety Pack (Buy Seeds Online) is a great way to grow a wide assortment of heirloom tomatoes. Each variety pack includes 10 different heirloom tomato varieties: Cherokee Purple, Black Krim, Pink Brandywine, Yellow Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter, Giant Belgium, Beefsteak, German Johnson, Roma, Yellow Pear.
Italian San Marzano Paste Tomato Seeds, Heirloom Non-GMO, Indeterminate
The Italian San Marzano Paste Tomato (Buy Seeds Online) is one of the best indeterminate canning tomatoes that you can grow in a container. San Marzano will reach a height of 48-inches, and it only spreads 18-inches. It produces long fruits that weigh 4 ounces, and you only have to wait 80 days before your first harvest.
Giant Black Krim Tomato Seeds, Heirloom Non-GMO, Low Acid, Indeterminate
Giant Black Krim Tomatoes (Buy Seeds Online) produce a large dark maroon fruit with a very rich flavor. Black Krim are a surprisingly compact beefsteak tomato that will reach a height of 40-inches, and they only spread 18-inches. However, they do produce large 8-ounce fruits, so extra staking might be needed when growing Black Krim in a container.
Determinate Versus Indeterminate Tomatoes
There are two main growth habits found in most tomato plants: Determinate and Indeterminate.
Determinate Tomatoes
Determinate tomato plants tend to be smaller than indeterminate varieties. They also grow faster and produce their first harvest earlier than indeterminate tomatoes. However, determinate tomatoes only produce flowers at the end of their branches. Once the flowers are produced the plant stops growing and it puts all of it’s energy in to producing fruits. Determinate tomatoes then produce a single harvest of tomatoes that mature all at once.
Indeterminate Tomatoes
Indeterminate tomatoes continue to grow all season long until the first frost. Their long vine-like stems can also grow to be 8 to 10 feet long. Indeterminate tomato stems will continue to produce flowers and fruits at each internode as the plant continues to spread. The tomatoes will then mature and ripen throughout the growing season providing an endless supply of fresh homegrown tomatoes throughout the summer and fall.
What Size Grow Bag for Indeterminate Tomatoes
Indeterminate tomatoes need at least a 10-gallon grow bag with a 15 to 20-inch diameter. Larger grow bags are needed since indeterminate tomatoes produce vines that can be over 6-feet long. Indeterminate tomatoes also have long roots that require a deep grow bag so they won’t become root-bound.
Best Fabric Grow Bags
VIVOSUN 5-Pack 30 Gallons Heavy Duty Thickened Nonwoven Fabric Pots Grow Bags
VIVOSUN 30 Gallon Heavy Duty Grow Bags (Buy Online) are one of the best fabric grow bags for indeterminate tomatoes. These 30-gallon grow bags measure 16” x 24” (40 x 60 cm), and they are made from breathable BPA-Free nonwoven fabric.
Gardzen 10-Pack 20 Gallon Grow Bags, Aeration Fabric Pots with Handles
Gardzen 20 Gallon Grow Bags (Buy Online) are extra wide grow bags that are suitable for medium-sized indeterminate tomatoes. These 20-gallon grow bags have a 20.5-inch diameter and they are 14.5-inches tall. Each bag also has lifting handles that make them easy to move around.
Gardzen 2-Pack 50 Gallon Grow Bags, Aeration Fabric Pots with Handles, Pot for Plants
Gardzen Extra Large Grow Bags (Buy Online) are the best fabric grow bags for sprawling indeterminate tomatoes. These large grow bags are available in sizes that range from 40 to 100 gallons.
The 40 gallon grow bag has a 27.3-inch diameter and it’s 16-inches tall. The 50-gallon grow bag is the same height as the 40-gallon version but it has a 30.7-inch diameter. While the 100-gallon grow bag stands 19.8-inches tall with a 38.7-inch diameter
