Crazy 'Patio' Cherry Tomato Plant!

royceag · July 13, 2012

I finally took photos of my 'Patio' cherry tomato plants from seeds purchased through Artistic Gardens (sample packet had 12 seeds for $.40). It was described as such by their website: "Patio [161] Tomato
Cherry type, Medium size red fruit. Can be grown in a large pot.

Planting: Sow seeds 1/2"-3/4" deep and 24"-48" apart in rows 36"-48" apart. Plants will need to be stalked. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date in North and March-April in South. If starting indoors seedlings need sun and cool 60F-70F temperatures after germination to prevent leggy seedlings. 1/8 oz per 100' row. 70 Day."

As I mentioned in my posting under Artistic Garden's vendor review page, my plants are simply enormous- 7'+ and still growing with trusses of 7-12 (1.5-2" diameter) fruits. I can't imagine them in pots- but maybe that would have reigned in their wild growth some! I was certainly not prepared for their aggressive sprawl when I planted them in those wretched tomato cages (the tall ones, but still!!). What do others have to say about their experience growing 'Patio'?

[IMG]

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Whoa, BIG pics for BIG plants!

janezee · July 13, 2012

Wow! I had a Patio once, and it worked nicely in a pot in my driveway. Nothing like you got there!

BTW, I got lots of sample seeds from Artistic Gardens last year, as well. Really nice way to try out some things that I wouldn't pay lots of $$$ for. I got them when they were $.35, and really appreciated a 'taste' of this and that. I didn't buy tomatoes from them, though. I'm pretty sure they buy in bulk, and resell in their own packets.

j

PA_Julia · July 13, 2012

Holy @@@@!! Wow! That looks just like my Sweet Cherry 100 plants.
Crazy growth and huge amounts of cherry tomatoes.

A patio variety? I think there was a mix up there for you.

It appears to be producing some beautiful tomatoes though.

I bet they taste good too!!

Julia

royceag · July 14, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by janezee

Wow! I had a Patio once, and it worked nicely in a pot in my driveway. Nothing like you got there!

BTW, I got lots of sample seeds from Artistic Gardens last year, as well. Really nice way to try out some things that I wouldn't pay lots of $$$ for. I got them when they were $.35, and really appreciated a 'taste' of this and that. I didn't buy tomatoes from them, though. I'm pretty sure they buy in bulk, and resell in their own packets.

j

Hi Janezee,
I, too was very impressed with Artistic Gardens. Being in a new climate with no clue, it was perfect to be able to get a small number of seeds to trial. With such a low investment, the misses don't sting too much and the hits are like a bargain bonanza- LOVE THAT! I wish more companies offered small sample packets, not more than 10 seeds. I've been looking and this is the only company I've found to do so. As to buying in bulk, I'm positive they do but, the seeds seem to be very good quality from my germination percentages & resulting plants.

Regarding the size of this big bubba, I wonder, since it is so commonly grown in pots, if that just keeps it in check for others? Am I one of the very few to put it into the ground? Anyone else?

Hi PA Julia,
Glad to know there are other cherry toms to exhibit similar growth. Ironically, these babies are taking FOREVER to ripen in this weather so I don't have scads. Also, I don't eat raw tomatoes so I haven't tasted them yet. I tried to pawn some off but they were not well received- I have a feeling they're disgusting and everyone's too polite to say so. I've got to find someone who'll give me an honest opinion- not easy in the very gracious South!

royceag · June 26, 2013

Just an update on these tomatoes- They're back! They spawned 2 volunteer plants, 1 of which is growing in partial shade but seemingly doubling in size every day. Now, it has some baby fruits just developing with more blooms coming. I'm nervous that it'll be another massive, invasive plant; it's already topping the tomato cage. Who knows as I believed the original was a hybrid- hopefully the resulting toms are edible!

sjoella · June 28, 2013

all of your photos are gone

i was hoping to see them too!

royceag · June 28, 2013

I know! it's something to do with Photobucket. I'll try to re-upload them there & then repost them.

royceag · June 28, 2013

[IMG]

[/IMG] [IMG]

[/IMG] 'Patio' pics from 2012.

royceag · June 28, 2013

Here are pics of the "spawn" [IMG]

[/IMG]

This one is in partial shade so, hopefully it won't be big as its mama.

July 13, 2012	#1
royceag Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC 7b Posts: 42	Crazy 'Patio' Cherry Tomato Plant! I finally took photos of my 'Patio' cherry tomato plants from seeds purchased through Artistic Gardens (sample packet had 12 seeds for $.40). It was described as such by their website: "Patio [161] Tomato Cherry type, Medium size red fruit. Can be grown in a large pot. Planting: Sow seeds 1/2"-3/4" deep and 24"-48" apart in rows 36"-48" apart. Plants will need to be stalked. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date in North and March-April in South. If starting indoors seedlings need sun and cool 60F-70F temperatures after germination to prevent leggy seedlings. 1/8 oz per 100' row. 70 Day." As I mentioned in my posting under Artistic Garden's vendor review page, my plants are simply enormous- 7'+ and still growing with trusses of 7-12 (1.5-2" diameter) fruits. I can't imagine them in pots- but maybe that would have reigned in their wild growth some! I was certainly not prepared for their aggressive sprawl when I planted them in those wretched tomato cages (the tall ones, but still!!). What do others have to say about their experience growing 'Patio'? [IMG][/IMG] Whoa, BIG pics for BIG plants! __________________ All the best, Royce

July 13, 2012	#3
PA_Julia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Princeton, Ky Zone 7A Posts: 2,208	Holy @@@@!! Wow! That looks just like my Sweet Cherry 100 plants. Crazy growth and huge amounts of cherry tomatoes. A patio variety? I think there was a mix up there for you. It appears to be producing some beautiful tomatoes though. I bet they taste good too!! Julia __________________ Personal Best- 4.46 LB Big Zac 2013

June 26, 2013	#5
royceag Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC 7b Posts: 42	Just an update on these tomatoes- They're back! They spawned 2 volunteer plants, 1 of which is growing in partial shade but seemingly doubling in size every day. Now, it has some baby fruits just developing with more blooms coming. I'm nervous that it'll be another massive, invasive plant; it's already topping the tomato cage. Who knows as I believed the original was a hybrid- hopefully the resulting toms are edible! __________________ All the best, Royce

June 28, 2013	#7
royceag Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC 7b Posts: 42	I know! it's something to do with Photobucket. I'll try to re-upload them there & then repost them. __________________ All the best, Royce

June 28, 2013	#8
royceag Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC 7b Posts: 42	[IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG] [/IMG] [IMG] [/IMG] 'Patio' pics from 2012. __________________ All the best, Royce

July 13, 2012	#2
janezee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Whidbey Island, WA Zone 7, Sunset 5 Posts: 931	Wow! I had a Patio once, and it worked nicely in a pot in my driveway. Nothing like you got there! BTW, I got lots of sample seeds from Artistic Gardens last year, as well. Really nice way to try out some things that I wouldn't pay lots of $$$ for. I got them when they were $.35, and really appreciated a 'taste' of this and that. I didn't buy tomatoes from them, though. I'm pretty sure they buy in bulk, and resell in their own packets. j

June 28, 2013	#6
sjoella Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: chesapeake, virginia Posts: 89	all of your photos are gone i was hoping to see them too!

June 28, 2013	#9
royceag Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC 7b Posts: 42	Here are pics of the "spawn" [IMG][/IMG] This one is in partial shade so, hopefully it won't be big as its mama. __________________ All the best, Royce