PSA: My balcony tomatoes outgrew their pots in 3 weeks flat

I visited the community garden plot in Brooklyn last Saturday and saw they train tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets. But my balcony can't handle that weight. So is it better to prune aggressively in small pots or risk the bigger containers on a weight limit? I chose the pruning route and now my plants look sad. Anyone else stuck between yield and safety on a 4th floor balcony?

2 comments

2 Comments

emmajackson2h ago

Brooklyn gardens use 5 gallon buckets though, not 5 gallon pots.

tyler_hernandez1h ago

Exactly. The buckets are way more common in those tight Brooklyn yards because you can drill holes in the sides for drainage and they stack easy. Plus the handles make it simple to move plants around when the sun shifts between the buildings. The 5 gallon pots you get at the store usually have those big holes at the bottom and dirt falls out everywhere if you lift one.