Question
Hi, Mike,

I have 2 husky cherry red tomato plants in medium sized containers.  I think the containers are too small though because when I checked underneath them, the tomato roots were starting to sprout out of the drainage holes.  Is it okay to keep them in the containers or should I transplant them?  I was thinking of planting them in the soil in the corner of my patio where I have some space, though not an area that gets much sun.  Maybe it'll be okay though since the Hawaiian sun can get pretty brutal here sometimes.

Answer
You definitely want to transplant them. Tomatoes are one of the few plants that actually benefit from transplanting. Each time they are repotted, they produce more root nodules. This is even more prevalent when you plant them slightly deeper. This enables them to absorb nutrients and oxygen more effectively. Also, the last thing you want is for them to get root-bound. This will hinder their growth and stunt production.

I would agree with your plan to move them to the corner of the patio. As long as they get a few of hours of sun per day, they should be fine.

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike