Can You Grow Tomatoes In An AeroGarden? It’s Definitely Easy

A lot of people are wondering can you grow tomatoes in an Aerogarden. The answer is yes, you can!

Tomatoes are a great vegetable to grow in an Aerogarden, and they will produce a lot of fruit for you.

In this blog post, we will discuss the best way to grow tomatoes in an Aerogarden, and we will give you some tips on how to make sure your tomatoes thrive.

Can You Grow Tomatoes In An AeroGarden?

Tomatoes are a popular crop to grow in an AeroGarden, and for good reason.

They are relatively easy to care for and produce a bountiful harvest of juicy, delicious fruit.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind when growing tomatoes in an AeroGarden.

First, it is important to choose a variety that is well-suited to indoor growing conditions.

You need to choose the right type of tomato plant for your Aerogarden.

There are many different types of tomato plants, and not all of them will do well in an Aerogarden.

There are 2 varieties offered for your AeroGarden, a red heirloom cherry tomato, and a golden harvest cherry tomato.

We recommend choosing a determinate variety of tomato plants, as they tend to be more compact and produce fewer leaves than indeterminate varieties.

If you are using an AeroGarden Harvest or the Bounty I recommend using the AeroGarden tomato pods because these varieties are smaller cherry tomatoes that grow well in an AeroGarden. 

They will come with 6, 9, or 12 pods but don’t plant them all at once. Tomato seeds are usually good for 3 years or more so save some for future crops,

You need to grow smaller patio tomato varieties in these. Regular tomato plants would get too big for them.

You will not be growing a plant in each hole and I would not grow more than 2 plants in them.

The AeroGarden Bounty is better suited for growing tomatoes because it is a bit larger and the light can extend higher.

You can use the AeroGarden Harvest too but you may have to prune more to keep your plant short.

If you have an AeroGarden Farm you can grow standard garden tomatoes but make sure you choose a determinate tomato variety.

How To Prune AeroGarden Tomatoes

As your tomato plants grow you will need to prune them. Generally, determinate tomatoes should not be pruned but we are working in a confined space so some early pruning is beneficial.

When your tomato stem has 5 nodes you will want to pinch out the top. This will promote side branching on the lower nodes. 

Don’t count the bottom cotyledon leaves but count up 5 nodes from them.

A node is a section of the stem where branches or leaves will grow out. Early on it may just look like a widened bump in the stem.

After this initial topping, it is best to just let your plant grow. Removing branches will reduce overall yield.

I would only remove leaves if they are close to touching or touching the light.

Super Cropping Tomatoes

If you are careful you can “super crop” your branches. To do this you press a branch between your thumb and first finger and squeeze.

The idea is to crush the stem without breaking it. Then you can gently bend the branch down.

If you do break a branch you can cover the break with tape. This is a great technique for spreading out a plant but it does take a bit of practice.

I use it on pepper plants too but their stems are much harder to pinch so I use a small vise grip with tape around the tips to do this. Once you get the hang of it it is very easy to do.

Pollinate Your Tomatoes

Inside there are no bees to pollinate your plants so you will need to do it. Tomatoes will set some fruit on their own but will set more if you pollinate them.

I just shake my plants or run my fingers from flower to flower. Some people use an electric toothbrush to pollinate their plants.

Whatever way you do it you will get an increased harvest by taking a few minutes to do this.

AeroGarden Tomatoes FAQs

Navigating through the process of growing tomatoes in an AeroGarden can stir up several questions.

While the method is user-friendly, understanding certain aspects can significantly enhance the success of your tomato cultivation.

Addressing some commonly asked questions provides a clearer pathway towards enjoying a bountiful harvest from your AeroGarden.

Q. Which tomato varieties are best suited for AeroGardens?

A. Determinate tomato varieties are preferred for AeroGardens due to their compact nature.

Red heirloom and golden harvest cherry tomatoes are recommended as they adapt well to the AeroGarden environment.

Q. How many tomato plants should I grow in my AeroGarden?

A. It’s best to grow one or two tomato plants in your AeroGarden to prevent overcrowding, allowing for healthy growth and better access to light and nutrients.

Q. Why is pruning important for growing AeroGarden tomatoes?

A. Pruning helps manage the size of your tomato plants in the confined AeroGarden space.

Early pruning encourages side branching, and removing leaves close to the light prevents potential damage.

Q. How should I pollinate my tomato plants in an AeroGarden?

A. Manual pollination is needed as indoor settings lack natural pollinators.

Gently shaking the plants or touching flowers can aid in pollination.

Some gardeners use an electric toothbrush to simulate the vibration effect caused by bees, enhancing the pollination process.

Can You Grow Tomatoes In An AeroGarden? Final Thoughts

Growing tomatoes in an AeroGarden is not hard to do and you will love harvesting your own vine-ripe fruit.

AeroGarden Tomato Tips

Just remember to use only determinate tomato varieties.

Don’t overplant your AeroGarden. One or two plants are better than 6 or nine. Fill in the empty pods with empty pods or sponge plugs.

Don’t prune heavily you will reduce your yield.

You should hand-pollinate your plants to increase yields.

Good luck with your AeroGarden tomatoes. Happy Gardening!

Read more: What AeroGarden Should I Buy