Tomatoes are wonderful fruits grown on a bushy vine. This essay compares the two very popular techniques of growing tomatoes in the ground as compared to container pots. I will compare the amount of space each method takes, preparation for planting, the amount of time and energy for each, and the amount of resources such as water and fertilizer needed for each style or technique for growing tomatoes in the ground or containers.

Growing tomatoes in the ground is a good old fashion way of growing tomatoes. They are normally grown in rows, either at ground level or in raised beds. Tomato plants can be planted as close as 2 feet apart in rows 3 feet apart. The ground must be tilled and prepared before planting to get the rows ready. Then any soil amendments such as fertilizers, sand, compost or humus are tilled into the soil to get the ground ready for planting.

Tomatoes grown in the ground are less labor intensive, requiring less time and energy to keep up with. Once the plants are staked out in cages, as they grow, the space allows more access to get in and around the plants to check them out as they grow. Lastly, ground-grown tomatoes only need to be watered once a week, and thus they need less water and fertilizer. The deeper soil can handle more fertilizer per application, so it is applied less often.

In contrast, growing tomatoes in the container pots is a good way to save space. They can be planted in container pots that are about one square foot in surface area, thus only requiring a minimal use of space. People who have limited space may want to consider this method as a great option.

With container grown crops such as tomatoes, you gather the materials, such as garden soil, fertilizers, sand, compost or humus to mix together. These can be bought in a garden store, or a big box store such as Wal-Mart. After the soil has been mixed, and the pots filled, they are ready for planting. Tomatoes grown in pots are more labor intensive requiring more time and energy to keep up with. The plants are often gown closer together and are more susceptible to problems, thus must be checked more often.

Because the container pots are smaller, the plants need to be checked more often for watering 2-3 times a week. As the potting soil base is smaller, and the fertilizer will leeches away with the more frequent watering; therefore, fertilizer must be applied more often. However, potted plants seem to give more fruits per plant than to ground grown plants.

Thus in conclusion, gardeners must choose which situation best suits them, and what resources they have available for use, be it space, or time. It may also be a personal choice for gardeners to make, based on the way they were taught and on their willingness to experiment with new ways.