- Open-pollinated
- Cherry
- 75 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Micro dwarf
- Red
Micro Tom
Open-pollinated cherry from USA. A research model organism that became a windowsill plant: full crop in five inches. Ready in about 75 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Cherry <1 oz (5–10 g) · Round (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Days to harvest
- 75 days (estimated) from transplant · Midseason
- Plant height
- 5–8 in (13–20 cm) (estimated) Compact
- Spacing
- 10 × 12 in (25 × 30 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground · Container
- Container growing
- Balcony friendly min. 0 gal (3 L) pot (estimated)
- Difficulty
- Moderate (estimated) 3/5
- Skin
-
- Red
- Interior
-
- Red
Plant size and habit
Compact · Micro dwarf
5–8 in (13–20 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Micro Tom is a micro dwarf, bred for pots and windowsills; it stays very small and does not need staking. Expect a plant of 5–8 in (13–20 cm).
Flavor
“A research model organism that became a windowsill plant: full crop in five inches.”
Growing calendar
75 (estimated) days from transplant Midseason
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 (estimated) weeks before your last frost date. Look up your last frost date by ZIP code →
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Snacking
- Container star
- Kid friendly
- Novelty color
Origin
Micro Tom was bred by Dr. J.W. Scott and Dr. B.K. Harbaugh at the University of Florida and billed as the world's smallest tomato variety. It is widely used as a model organism in plant research, because it completes a full life cycle in a few inches of space and a short season; gardeners adopted it afterwards for windowsills.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked dailyAll photos
Questions
How do you grow a Micro Tom plant?
A Micro Tom plant grows 5–8 in (13–20 cm) tall (estimated). Space plants 10 in (25 cm) apart in rows 12 in (30 cm) apart (estimated). Start seed indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost (estimated); it germinates in 7–14 days (estimated). It needs full sun.
How long does Micro Tom take to mature?
Micro Tom is ready in about 75 days from transplant.
Does Micro Tom need staking?
Micro Tom is a micro dwarf, bred for pots and windowsills; it stays very small and does not need staking. Expect a plant of 5–8 in (13–20 cm).
Can Micro Tom be grown in a container?
Yes — Micro Tom grows well in a container of at least 3 L (0 gal).
Is Micro Tom resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Micro Tom.
