The Compact Tomato Cultivar That Was Meant To Be Grown In Containers

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From sprawling backyard garden beds to the tiniest balcony container, tomatoes are a universal choice that almost anyone can grow. If you have the space, you might like to try an 8-foot-tall variety with hefty 1- to 2-pound fruits. However, if you're short on space (or just love the look of tiny tomato plants), the dwarf cultivar 'Patio Princess' was bred to be grown in containers, and it delivers plenty of small red fruit on plants less than 2 feet tall. At 4 to 5 ounces each, the fruit is larger than cherry-sized but still quite small, so this isn't the choice if you're growing for freezing or canning.

The Patio series of tomatoes from Burpee are determinate types bred specifically to be the best tomatoes for your container garden. Once determinate cultivars hit mature size, that's it — there's no more growing, no more heavy staking, and no more feeling like your tomato plant is taking over your life. While you might need to support some branches that are laden with fruit, you won't have to keep going higher and higher like you do with large indeterminate varieties of tomatoes.

With only 70 days to maturity, 'Patio Princess' is one of the easiest tomato plants to grow. It's so compact that you can plant this cultivar in a one gallon pot for the entire season. If you have a larger container, you have room for a few or you could add dwarf marigolds or trailing nasturtiums as a companion plant.

To grow 'Patio Princess' in containers, you can use anything from grow bags for tomatoes to a recycled nursery pot. Container plants need a quality potting mix, which you can make yourself or buy from the store. Since plant roots need plenty of oxygen, you need a fluffy soil that won't become dense and compacted like regular garden soil. Once it's planted, 'Patio Princess' needs a spot with at least 6 hours of sun each day, more if you have it. That makes south-facing porches, balconies, or patios the ideal spot for this adorable little tomato cultivar.

Water your container garden regularly, especially when it's hot. Since tomatoes in containers are heavy feeders, even the tiny ones need have a fertilizer regimen. Every situation is slightly different and finding the best fertilizer for healthy tomatoes means considering several factors, including balanced nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as micronutrients that tomatoes need.

One idea for feeding small tomato plants in containers is to use a well-rounded fertilizer such as Farmer's Secret Fruit & Bloom Booster according to the product instructions. Until 'Patio Princess' reaches maturity and you pluck the final fruit, keep an eye out for pests and diseases, including signs of wilting, curling, or discolored leaves. When the season is over, replace it with one of your favorite fall container plants.