How to Grow Container Choice Red
Solanum lycopersicum 'Container Choice Red'
Container Choice Red is a hybrid tomato variety prized for its reliable production in smaller spaces. Gardeners grow it to enjoy fresh, flavorful fruit while managing limited garden real estate effectively.
📷 Wikipedia: TomatoStarting Container Choice Red: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Container Choice Red is not usually started indoors.
Do not start indoors; plant directly outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before starting seeds indoors six weeks before your last frost date. Sow the seeds about 1/4 inch deep into seed-starting mix. They typically germinate within six to ten days once conditions are warm enough for this warm-season crop.
Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart if growing in large containers or small beds, though single pots work well too. Install a sturdy cage or trellis immediately as the plant grows tall and heavy with fruit. Water consistently to prevent blossom end rot, and apply mulch around the base to retain moisture.
Watch for aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites; inspect leaves regularly and wash them down or use insecticidal soap if needed. Prevent early blight by ensuring good airflow, and avoid blossom end rot by never letting the soil dry out completely. Harvest ripe red fruit approximately 70 to 75 days after transplanting.
When to Plant Container Choice Red
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | September – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Container Choice Red
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor and growth
Help break up soil and don't compete for nutrients with tomatoes
Repel aphids and may improve tomato flavor and growth
Grows in tomato shade and helps maximize container space efficiently
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repel whiteflies
Repels aphids and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Attracts beneficial insects and helps repel tomato hornworms
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Compete heavily for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth in containers
Inhibits tomato growth through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
