Organic ‘Taste Patio’ Tomato

Organic ‘Taste Patio’ tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) from the seed company Gaia, a small, sweet tomato perfect for pots and balcony gardens

The ‘Taste Patio’ tomato lives up to its name: bred by the renowned Fred Hempel, it offers an explosion of sweet and tangy flavors in a size ideal for container gardens. Compact yet surprisingly productive, this determinate variety produces numerous multicolored fruits, approximately 5 cm (2″) in diameter, that are semi-crisp, juicy, and aromatic. Their unique round shape, with a slightly pointed, ‘pendulous’ tip, makes them as attractive as they are delicious, perfect for salads, tasting platters, and garden snacks. They also boast good disease resistance, ensuring easy and reliable cultivation on patios, balconies, or in small spaces.

Companion plants : Basil, parsley, carrot, asparagus, alliums, celery, borage, marigold, calendula, mint, sage, peppers, dill (until mature)
Negative plants : Potato, corn, kohlrabi, beetroot, fennel, peas, squash

Spread/carry : Determinate, compact
Plant height : 30 to 60 cm
Quantity per packet : 25 seeds
Certification : Certified organic by Ecocert Canada
Special features : Ideal for pots and window boxes, sweet flavor, multicolored fruit, good disease resistance

Farming method

Sow indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting. Place the seeds 36 mm (1/81/4″) deep in a light potting mix. Maintain a temperature between 23 and 29 C to ensure rapid germination in 5 to 10 days. Reduce watering and nitrogen application during hardening-off to strengthen the seedlings.

Transplant into pots, containers, or directly into the ground once all risk of frost has passed. Avoid overcrowding: space plants 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches) apart in rows 120 to 180 cm (4 to 6 feet) apart in the garden. Provide full sun (level 3) and regular watering (watering level 3) . Staking is optional but can help maintain shape in small containers.

Harvesting and preservation

Harvest when the fruit displays its fully developed multicolored hue. To bring forward the harvest, pick when the first color appears and allow to ripen off the vine at 22C or above . For optimal storage, keep the fruit between 12 and 21C at 95% relative humidity.

Usage ideas

Perfect in fresh salads thanks to its semi-crispy texture
Delicious to eat as a sweet snack tomato
Looks beautiful in colorful market baskets and trays
Ideal for potted gardens , balconies and terraces
Excellent for light sauces or multicoloured coulis

The ‘Taste Patio’ tomato is a charming, tasty and incredibly practical variety: a real gem for urban gardeners, lovers of decorative pots and anyone who wants to enjoy an abundant harvest in a small space.