Expert: nick mccann - 3/8/2009

Question
What is the best tomatoe (preferably grape,cherry or pear) to grow on a lower apartment patio that is covered by an upstairs apartment deck,and faces north.I live in the Central Valley in CA.Is it possible & how do I get started?

Answer
Hi Martha, your situation is made to order for the "Patio hybrid bush tomato" (several companies supply different names for basically the same plant), it grows a tomato that is about 2 inches across and in abundance! The really nice thing about this bush tomato is that it only grows to about a foot high and doesn't spread very much and is very sturdy and productive. Keep in mind though, that any Tomato requires as much sun as you can provide it for optimum production. Nick