Why Light-Coloured Containers are Ideal for Growing Tomatoes
Choose a light colour of pot – Growing tomatoes in pots and containers do come with some setbacks which can be mitigated. Did you know pots collect the heat from the sun? This can be helpful in cool October mornings where you want your babies to keep growing. But in the middle of summer, this can be a problem. Light-coloured pots help regulate temperature and prevent excessive heat absorption, which is beneficial for tomato plants.
Surprisingly, plant roots don’t like it hot. It increases root respiration and slows the growth of roots. Higher temperatures also decrease available oxygen in the soil. Yes, your roots need oxygen! Warm soils in pots also encourage root rot! EEK! Scary stuff. Choosing a pot that can reflect or not easily absorb heat from the sun is a good idea. Choose a pot colour that isn’t dark or black. A terra cotta colour or even something lighter would be a good choice.
