Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Patio Princess in USDA Zone 7
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Patio Princess · Zones 3–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | March – April | May – June | June – July | July – September |
| Zone 4 | March – April | May – June | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 5 | February – March | May – June | May – July | July – October |
| Zone 6 | February – March | April – May | May – July | June – October |
| Zone 7 | January – March | April – May | April – July | June – October |
| Zone 8 | January – February | March – April | April – August | May – November |
| Zone 9 | December – January | February – March | March – September | April – November |
| Zone 10 | December – January | February – March | February – October | April – December |
Complete Growing Guide
Starting your Patio Princess tomatoes indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date gives you the best results. Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in a quality seed starting mix, maintaining soil temperature around 70-75°F for optimal germination. Once seedlings develop their first true leaves, transplant to 4-inch pots and begin weekly feeding with diluted liquid fertilizer.
Choose containers at least 5 gallons in size – this variety may be compact, but it still needs room for root development. Fill with a premium potting mix enriched with compost, not garden soil which compacts in containers. Position your containers where they'll receive 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, ideally morning sun with some afternoon protection in zones 8 and above.
Transplant outdoors when nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50°F. Before transplanting, gradually acclimate seedlings over 7-10 days by increasing their outdoor exposure. Plant at the same depth as in their pots, or slightly deeper if you have leggy seedlings.
Fertilize at planting with a balanced fertilizer, then switch to a lower-nitrogen formula once flowering begins to encourage fruit production over foliage. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the top inch of soil to dry between waterings. Inconsistent watering leads to blossom end rot, this variety's main weakness.
Despite its compact size, provide support with a small cage or stake – those 4-6 oz tomatoes add up quickly. Remove suckers that develop in leaf joints to maintain the plant's determinate shape and focus energy on fruit production.
Avoid the common mistake of overfertilizing with nitrogen once plants start flowering. Too much nitrogen creates lush foliage but delays fruiting. Also, resist the urge to plant in containers smaller than 5 gallons – cramped roots mean smaller yields and stressed plants.
Harvesting
Patio Princess tomatoes are ready to harvest when they develop full color – typically a deep red with slight give when gently squeezed. Unlike larger varieties that can be picked slightly underripe, these compact plants produce better flavor when fruits are fully mature on the vine.
Harvest in the morning after dew has dried but before the heat of the day. Grasp the tomato gently and twist with a slight upward motion – ripe fruits should release easily from the stem. If you need to pull hard, wait another day or two.
The beauty of this determinate variety is that most fruits ripen within a 2-3 week window, perfect for small-batch processing. Check plants every other day during peak season. Pick any fruits showing color before the first expected frost – they'll continue ripening indoors on a sunny windowsill.
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
- +Produces full-sized 4-6 oz tomatoes on plants under 2 feet tall
- +Excellent disease resistance to verticillium and fusarium wilt (VF)
- +Determinate growth provides concentrated harvest perfect for small-batch processing
- +Thrives in 5-gallon containers, ideal for balconies and patios
- +Strong stems support heavy fruit load without extensive staking
- +Reliable 65-70 day maturity even in shorter growing seasons
- +Sweet-tangy flavor rivals much larger tomato varieties
Considerations
- -Highly susceptible to blossom end rot if watering is inconsistent
- -Limited harvest window of 2-3 weeks due to determinate nature
- -Requires minimum 5-gallon containers, limiting ultra-small space growing
- -More expensive as hybrid seed cannot be saved for following year
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
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