I bought a container with a cherry tomato plant, it had one close to full size tomato and lots of little one. I was told that if I watered it every day it could stay in the container. I have had it a little over a week and although I lost a few branches in a storm, it has since put out a bunch of new leaves and little tomatoes. the problem is none of them are turning red! I checked the label to make sure that they are red tomatoes and they are.
I am impatient! I want ripe tomatoes!
They do that- sit there and look green at you for ages, then suddenly they all ripen at once.
By the way, I don’t know how hot it is where you are, but watering every day seems excessive- if they’re overwatered, they actually end up with less flavour. I only water mine when they’re getting properly dry.
it is in the upper 80’s here. the container has holes in the bottom so any excess would drain out. I was actually worried that I wasn’t watering enough because I take a large glass of water with me in the mornings (when it isn’t raining) and slowly pour on the soil.
I finally got a mostly ripe tomato! I will be gone for a couple of days so I went ahead and picked it and ate. it was Yummy! none of the rest seemed to be turning but maybe when I get back I will have some more!
Happy dance!
Jesus, how quick do you want these tomatoes to ripen? I typically expect about a month from when a fully sized green tomato ripens completely. So about two months from when I first see the fruit begin to grow. And, yeah, watering them every day is excessive. Typically, you’re looking at 2-3 times a week. (Assuming a deep watering that goes down four to six inches into the soil, not just a surface watering.)
this is my first time growing tomatoes. the plant had full size fruit when I bought it so I didn’t expect it to take 2 weeks plus to ripen.
the people at the nursery said to water it every day and the soil seems to get pretty dry between watering (when it doesn’t rain, we have had some amazing storms)
my apologies for my ignorance.
Plants in containers should be watered more often than those in the ground. Soil in containers tends to dry out faster. Containers made from terra cotta or other porous materials will dry out even faster.
Tomatoes should be watered so that the soil stays evenly moist. Allowing the soil to dry out between waterings can cause a condition known as “blossom-end rot,” in which the blossom end of the fruit (as opposed to the stem end) turns soft and brown. Cherry tomatoes are less prone to this than are larger tomatoes, but it still can happen. Calcium in the soil can help prevent this condition.
Cherry tomatoes ripen pretty quickly, but the weather conditions have to support it. The fruit ripens best when the weather is warm and there’s lots of sun. In some places the weather is warm and sunny enough in early June, while in other places it’s not.
Oops, somehow missed that part. Yeah, daily watering isn’t out of the question there. Stick your finger a couple inches down and if it still feels moist, you’re fine, otherwise water. During the cooler or less-direct sunlight parts of the summer, this may be every other day, but during the middle of summer, every day is fine, perhaps even twice if they’re looking heat stressed. I try to water in the morning, as late evening watering can sometimes lead to fungal issues or other tomato diseases. Most of my plants are in the garden, so I tend to follow an every other day or third day schedule unless they’re looking particularly thirsty.
came back from being away for a long weekend and had a couple more ripe ones. 
However the one that was full-size when I bought the plant is still not ripening. Crazy. I have to go out of town for work for a week and I think unless we get a lot of rain the plant may not survive. I don’t have any one who can come over and water for me. With Memphis weather one never knows how much rain is coming.
Thanks everyone.
Take a 2 liter bottle or gallon milk jug and poke a few holes in the bottom. Fill it with water and set it in the pot.