Determinate Patio
Solanum lycopersicum 'Patio'
Specially bred for container growing, this compact determinate variety produces full-sized tomatoes on plants that stay under 2 feet tall. Perfect for apartment dwellers, small spaces, or anyone who wants fresh homegrown tomatoes without the need for extensive garden space. The sturdy plants require minimal staking and produce a concentrated harvest.
Harvest
70-75d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Determinate Patio in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Determinate Patio · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Determinate Patio tomatoes at room temperature for 3-5 days to maintain optimal flavor—refrigeration dulls their taste. Place stem-side down on counters away from direct sunlight. Once fully ripe, refrigerate for up to one week in the crisper drawer.
For preservation, this variety's firm texture and balanced flavor work well for multiple methods. Freeze whole tomatoes by removing cores, blanching for 1 minute, then peeling and storing in freezer bags—perfect for winter soups and sauces. The full-sized fruits are ideal for water bath canning as sauce, paste, or diced tomatoes following USDA guidelines.
Dehydrate sliced tomatoes in a dehydrator at 135°F for 8-12 hours, or use an oven on lowest setting. The concentrated harvest makes this preservation method particularly practical since you'll have multiple fruits ripening simultaneously. Store dried tomatoes in airtight containers for 6-12 months.
History & Origin
Determinate Patio tomatoes represent the modern plant breeding response to increasing urbanization and smaller living spaces. Developed in the late 20th century through selective breeding programs, this variety emerged from the growing demand for container-suitable vegetables as more people moved to apartments and condominiums with limited gardening space.
The variety was specifically engineered by combining compact growth habits from dwarf tomato genetics with the concentrated fruiting characteristics of traditional determinate varieties. Plant breeders focused on maintaining full-sized fruit production while dramatically reducing plant height—a significant challenge since smaller plants typically produce smaller fruits.
This hybrid represents the intersection of traditional agricultural knowledge and modern horticultural innovation. While indeterminate heirloom varieties dominated home gardens for centuries, the development of compact determinates like Patio acknowledged changing lifestyles and growing conditions. The variety gained popularity during the container gardening boom of the 1990s and 2000s, when urban gardening became mainstream and balcony vegetable production expanded significantly.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
- +Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
- +Edible: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes and whiteflies with strong scent
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects and doesn't compete for space
Chives
Repels aphids and other soft-bodied insects
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Carrots
Don't compete for nutrients and help break up soil
Oregano
Repels many insects and attracts beneficial pollinators
Lettuce
Provides ground cover and utilizes space efficiently
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunting
Fennel
Inhibits growth through allelopathic compounds
Corn
Both attract corn earworm, creating concentrated pest problems
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and can stunt tomato growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good disease resistance for container growing
Common Pests
Aphids, whiteflies (less pest pressure in containers)
Diseases
Blossom end rot (from inconsistent watering), early blight