Not every tomato is suited to a balcony or patio - and this is exactly the question we get asked most often here in Illmitz. The good news: there's a whole range of varieties bred specifically for smaller spaces, needing far less effort than the tall cordon tomatoes you'd grow in a garden.
Why not every tomato suits a balcony or patio
Tall-growing cordon tomatoes like our San Marzano can reach over two metres, need a sturdy support system and have to be pinched out regularly. On a balcony with limited space and often windier conditions, that quickly becomes impractical. Patio and bush tomatoes, by contrast, grow compact by nature - usually between 30 and 60 centimetres - and branch out bushily on their own, with no need for weekly pinching out.
What to look for when choosing a variety
Alongside growth habit, position also matters: a sunny, sheltered, south-facing balcony suits almost any compact variety, while a shadier or wind-exposed balcony benefits from especially robust, weather-tolerant varieties. Pot size is also crucial - smaller patio varieties do well with 10 to 15 litres of compost, while larger bush tomatoes generally need 20 litres or more to avoid drying out.
Our patio tomatoes
We've put together our patio tomatoes specifically for this purpose - compact growth, low-maintenance, and with no need for an elaborate support system. Ideal if you have little time for ongoing care, or simply limited space.
Salad tomatoes for a daily snack
If you'd rather eat straight from the plant instead of cooking with your harvest, our salad tomatoes offer smaller, sweeter varieties. These also do well in pots and on balconies, giving you a steady trickle of smaller amounts through the season rather than one big harvest all at once.
Our recommendation for beginners
If you're growing tomatoes on a balcony for the first time, we'd recommend a compact patio variety over a tall cordon tomato - the difference in ongoing care is considerable, and the yield per hour invested is usually far more satisfying when you're just starting out.
Ready for your balcony, straight from Illmitz
Whichever growth habit you choose, our young plants are already sturdily raised and ready to go the moment they reach you. You don't need to germinate seed or pot on - you plant straight into your pot and can look forward to the season. You'll find more on ongoing care in our guide on pinching out side shoots, in case you do go for a cordon tomato after all.