Dwarf Cherry Tomato
Micro Tom is the world's shortest tomato plant, a remarkable dwarf developed by the University of Florida that reaches just 6 to 8 inches tall, small enough for a fairy garden or hanging basket. Don't let its stature fool you: these determinate plants are extraordinarily productive, covered entirely in bright red 1-ounce fruit that ripens in just 50 to 60 days. Perfect for container gardening, patios, and urban spaces where traditional tomatoes won't fit, Micro Tom proves that the best things really do come in the smallest packages.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
8in H x ?in W
Annual, Perennial
High
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Micro Tom is a game-changer for anyone gardening in tight spaces. The University of Florida engineered this variety to be the ultimate potted vegetable, a tidy, round plant so compact it transforms a hanging basket into a miniature tomato factory. What makes it truly special is not just the diminutive size, but the astonishing productivity: these tiny plants become completely enveloped in bright red fruit, delivering a surprising harvest from a footprint no larger than a coffee cup.
Micro Tom tomatoes are primarily grown as ornamental container plants and potted specimens, serving double duty as both edible crops and striking decorative elements on patios, windowsills, and balconies. Their compact habit and prolific fruiting make them especially valuable for urban gardeners, indoor gardeners, and anyone with limited outdoor space. The small 1-ounce fruits are eaten fresh from the plant, making this as much a garden novelty and teaching tool as a food source.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date at temperatures between 75 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep soil warm and moist; tomato seeds germinate best in warmth. Once seedlings emerge and develop their first true leaves, provide bright light to prevent leggy growth.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Transplant outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 8 inches apart in containers or garden beds. Plant at the same depth as they grew in their nursery pots, allowing the stem to be buried slightly to develop additional root growth.
Pick fruit when fully red and slightly soft to the touch, which typically occurs 50 to 60 days after planting. These petite 1-ounce tomatoes are ready to eat immediately when they achieve full color; they won't continue ripening significantly after harvest. Harvest regularly to encourage continued flowering and fruiting throughout the season.
Micro Tom's determinate growth habit means minimal pruning is necessary. The plant naturally stays compact and rounded without aggressive pruning, making it one of the lowest-maintenance tomatoes to grow. Simply remove any yellowed or diseased leaves at the base to improve air circulation and direct energy toward fruit production.
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“Micro Tom emerged from the horticultural research laboratories at the University of Florida, where plant scientists set out to create the ultimate dwarf tomato for container cultivation. Rather than a traditional heirloom preserved across generations, this variety represents intentional breeding toward a specific purpose: bringing fresh tomatoes to urban gardeners, apartment dwellers, and anyone lacking garden space. The result was a determinate tomato so remarkably compact that it essentially redefined what a potted vegetable could be.”