Patio
Solanum melongena
Start harvesting the abundant fruits when they are only 3-4" long by 3/4-1" diameter. The compact 24-36" plants produce tender dark purple fruit in clusters for easy harvesting. Hansel is non-bitter and perfect for grilling or slicing thinly onto pizza. Green calyx. AAS Winner.
Harvest
55d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
9–12
USDA hardiness
Height
2-4 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Patio in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Patio · Zones 9–12
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May – May | July – August | — | September – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | — | August – September |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | — | March – May |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | — | March – May |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | — | March – May |
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | April – June |
Complete Growing Guide
This compact patio variety reaches maturity in just 55 days, making it ideal for succession planting every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvests through season. Unlike larger tomato types, Patio's dwarf 24-36 inch stature requires minimal staking but benefits from a cage or light support to prevent fruit clusters from touching soil, reducing disease pressure. Plant in full sun with consistent moisture; the dense foliage can create humid microclimates that invite early blight, so ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering. This cultivar tends toward prolific but smaller fruit production rather than few large fruits, so begin harvesting at the young 3-4 inch stage to encourage continued flowering and prevent the plant from exhausting itself. Regular feeding every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer sustains productivity in containers or small garden spaces where soil nutrition depletes quickly.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed.
Harvesting
Harvest Patio eggplant when fruits reach 3–4 inches long and three-quarters to 1 inch in diameter, at which point the skin displays a deep, glossy dark purple with no dull patches. The fruit should feel firm yet slightly yielding to gentle pressure, indicating peak tenderness. These compact plants produce fruits in clusters, enabling continuous harvesting throughout the season rather than a single flush—pick ripe fruits regularly to encourage more blooms and sustained productivity. Begin harvesting within 55 days of planting, and check plants every 2–3 days during peak season, as fruit quality declines if left too long on the vine and develops bitterness and toughness.
The fruit is a berry that is egg-shaped, smooth and has glossy skin. The fruit may measure 4 to 8 inches long. It ranges in color from green to white, to purple-black when immature and when it should be eaten. As the fruit matures it gets stringy and bitter. Fruit contains numerous small, flat, pale yellow to brown seeds.
Color: Black, Gold/Yellow, Green, Purple/Lavender, White. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The immature fruit is edible and best used in food preparation. As the fruit matures, it becomes stringy and bitter. The fruits are usually cooked and served as a vegetable. They may be prepared and eaten by frying, steaming, grilling, roasting, or stewing. They may also be stir-fried, pickled, stuffed, and fried with a light breading.
Storage & Preservation
Store ripe Patio tomatoes at room temperature for 3-5 days for best flavor, as refrigeration diminishes taste. For longer storage, refrigerate in the crisper drawer for up to one week. Arrange stem-side up to prevent bruising and maintain firmness.
Freeze whole tomatoes by removing cores and placing in freezer bags – skins slip off easily when thawed for cooking. Dice and freeze in ice cube trays for portion control. The balanced flavor profile makes Patio tomatoes excellent for canning as sauce or paste using standard water bath canning methods.
For drying, slice ¼-inch thick and dehydrate at 135°F for 8-12 hours until leathery. Properly dried tomatoes store in airtight containers for 6-8 months. Green tomatoes can be wrapped individually in newspaper and stored in cool, dark places to ripen gradually over several weeks.
History & Origin
The Patio eggplant represents a modern compact cultivar developed within commercial breeding programs focused on container and small-space gardening. While specific breeder attribution and introduction year remain poorly documented in readily available sources, the variety reflects decades of selection work by seed companies targeting home gardeners with limited space. Its parentage traces to traditional eggplant germplasm, likely incorporating genes for determinate plant habit and early maturity. The AAS (All-America Selections) award designation indicates it underwent rigorous multi-year testing against comparable varieties, validating its performance claims. Like many dwarf vegetable cultivars, Patio emerged from the broader horticultural trend toward ornamental edibles and patio gardening during the late twentieth century.
Origin: China South-Central, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
Advantages
- +Compact 24-36 inch plants fit perfectly in small spaces and containers
- +Harvest abundant fruit at tender 3-4 inches for optimal texture and flavor
- +Non-bitter variety makes it ideal for grilling and fresh pizza topping
- +AAS award winner confirms reliable performance and superior quality
- +Early 55-day maturity provides quick harvests in shorter growing seasons
Considerations
- -Container culture attracts aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites frequently
- -Susceptible to blossom end rot without consistent watering and calcium
- -Early blight and bacterial spot diseases require vigilant monitoring and prevention
Companion Plants
Basil planted 12 inches away is worth having — its volatile oils may disorient aphids and thrips, and at 55 days to harvest the timing lines up cleanly with a basil planting made the same week. Tagetes patula (French marigold specifically, not the tall African types) earns a spot at the container edge: root secretions suppress soil nematodes, and the open flowers draw predatory wasps that cut into whitefly numbers. Chives and parsley fill low gaps without competing for root space at the 18–24 inch spacing Patio needs. Fennel stays out — it's allelopathic to most vegetables and will stunt nearby tomatoes; brassicas bring overlapping pest pressure from cabbage loopers and aphids that you don't want concentrated in one spot.
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes and repels tomato hornworms
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects that prey on tomato pests
Carrots
Helps break up soil and doesn't compete for nutrients
Chives
Repels aphids and may improve tomato growth
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Lettuce
Provides living mulch and efficient use of container space
Oregano
Repels various pests and attracts beneficial pollinators
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to tomatoes
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Brassicas
Can stunt tomato growth and attract pests that also harm tomatoes
Corn
Both attract tomato hornworms and compete for similar nutrients
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good general disease resistance. Less prone to soil-borne diseases when container grown.
Common Pests
Aphids, whiteflies, spider mites in container culture
Diseases
Blossom end rot, early blight, bacterial spot
Troubleshooting Patio
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Dark, sunken, leathery patch on the blossom end of fruit — shows up once fruit is 1–2 inches long
Likely Causes
- Blossom end rot — calcium not reaching developing fruit due to inconsistent watering
- Calcium deficiency in the soil (pH below 6.0 limits uptake, per NC State Extension's diagnostic notes)
What to Do
- 1.Water on a consistent schedule; containers dry out fast, so check daily once daytime temps stay above 80°F
- 2.Test soil or potting mix pH and lime up to 6.0–6.5 if needed
- 3.Mulch the container surface with 2 inches of straw to slow moisture loss between waterings
Lower leaves developing brown bullseye-ringed spots with yellow halos, starting around day 40–50 after transplant
Likely Causes
- Early blight (Alternaria solani) — a soil-borne fungus that splashes onto foliage during watering or rain
- Poor air circulation from crowded placement that keeps foliage wet longer than it should
What to Do
- 1.Strip affected lower leaves and bin them — don't compost
- 2.Switch to drip or base watering to cut down on splash; NC State's organic gardening notes flag Alternaria solani as a persistent threat that travels via irrigation and garden tools
- 3.Replace potting mix between seasons rather than reusing it — the fungus overwinters in container soil just as it does in garden beds
Sticky residue coating leaves and stems, tiny white insects lifting off when you brush the plant, leaf surfaces looking pale or washed out
Likely Causes
- Whiteflies (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) — especially common in container culture, per NC State Extension's IPM guidelines
- Aphid colonies building up on new growth, which also excrete honeydew and invite sooty mold
What to Do
- 1.Blast the undersides of leaves firmly with water to knock off early colonies before they establish
- 2.Apply insecticidal soap at a 2–3% solution directly to affected foliage, covering undersides — repeat every 5–7 days for at least 3 applications
- 3.Reposition the container away from walls or sheltered corners; stagnant air accelerates population buildup on both pests
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you grow Patio tomatoes in containers?▼
How long does it take for Patio tomatoes to grow?▼
Are Patio tomatoes good for beginners?▼
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Do Patio tomatoes taste good compared to other varieties?▼
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Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.