Patio Princess
Solanum lycopersicum 'Patio Princess'
Specially bred for container growing, Patio Princess produces full-sized tomatoes on compact, sturdy plants that thrive in pots and small spaces. Despite its diminutive size, this determinate variety delivers surprising yields of 4-6 oz red tomatoes with excellent flavor. Perfect for urban gardeners, balcony growers, and anyone wanting fresh tomatoes without a large garden space.
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 Patio Princess in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Patio Princess · 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
Fresh Patio Princess tomatoes keep best at room temperature for 3-5 days, developing peak flavor as they fully ripen. Only refrigerate fully ripe tomatoes you can't use immediately – cold storage dulls their sweet-tangy flavor but extends life to 7-10 days.
For preservation, their 4-6 oz size makes them perfect for freezing whole for winter cooking. Simply wash, remove stems, and freeze in bags – the skins slip off easily after thawing. These tomatoes work well for small-batch canning projects like salsa or sauce, though you'll need about 15-20 fruits per pint jar. Dehydrating is another excellent option – slice and dry for intensely flavored additions to pasta and salads.
History & Origin
Patio Princess represents the modern breeding revolution in compact vegetables that began in earnest during the 1970s urban gardening movement. As apartment living and smaller suburban lots became more common, seed companies recognized the need for productive vegetables that could thrive in containers.
This hybrid was developed specifically to address the limitations of earlier patio varieties, which often sacrificed fruit size and flavor for compact growth. Plant breeders worked to combine determinate growth habits with disease resistance and full-sized fruit production – a challenging combination that took years to perfect.
The variety exemplifies the 'patio series' breeding programs that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s, designed for the growing number of gardeners who wanted homegrown produce but lacked traditional garden space. Its development paralleled the container gardening boom and the recognition that urban and suburban gardeners deserved varieties bred specifically for their unique growing conditions.
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, whiteflies, and other tomato pests
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects and doesn't compete for nutrients
Carrots
Loosens soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for space
Chives
Repels aphids and may improve tomato growth and flavor
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Lettuce
Provides ground cover and utilizes space efficiently in containers
Oregano
Repels various insects and may enhance tomato flavor
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that stunts tomato growth and causes wilting
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Brassicas
Compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth when planted nearby
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to verticillium wilt and fusarium wilt (VF)
Common Pests
Aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, thrips
Diseases
Early blight, blossom end rot, bacterial speck