- Open-pollinated
- Cherry
- 60 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Dwarf
- Red
Tiny Tim
Open-pollinated cherry from USA, 1945. The classic windowsill dwarf: a foot tall and still sets a full crop. Ready in about 60 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Cherry 0–1 oz (12–20 g) · Round (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Days to harvest
- 60 days (estimated) from transplant · Early
- Plant height
- 12–18 in (30–45 cm) (estimated) Compact
- Spacing
- 16 × 24 in (40 × 60 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground · Container
- Container growing
- Balcony friendly min. 3 gal (15 L) pot (estimated)
- Difficulty
- Easy-moderate (estimated) 2/5
- Skin
-
- Red
- Interior
-
- Red
Plant size and habit
Compact · Dwarf
12–18 in (30–45 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Tiny Tim is a dwarf plant — compact and sturdy on thick stems, still productive over a full season; it does not need staking. Expect a plant of 12–18 in (30–45 cm).
Flavor
“The classic windowsill dwarf: a foot tall and still sets a full crop.”
Growing calendar
60 (estimated) days from transplant Early
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
- Fresh & salads
- Snacking
- Container star
- Kid friendly
- Beginner friendly
- Short season
Origin
Tiny Tim was bred at the University of New Hampshire in Durham and released in 1945, from a cross of Window Box, another UNH dwarf, with Red Currant; the seed is held by the USDA as PI 303797. It is the old standard dwarf: a plant that stops at roughly a foot and can finish a crop on a windowsill or a balcony rail. The fruit is ordinary, but the point has never been flavour. It is the variety that proves a tomato does not need a garden.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked dailyLinks may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Nov 1, 2026.
All photos
Questions
How do you grow a Tiny Tim plant?
A Tiny Tim plant grows 12–18 in (30–45 cm) tall (estimated). Space plants 16 in (40 cm) apart in rows 24 in (60 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 Tiny Tim take to mature?
Tiny Tim is ready in about 60 days from transplant.
Does Tiny Tim need staking?
Tiny Tim is a dwarf plant — compact and sturdy on thick stems, still productive over a full season; it does not need staking. Expect a plant of 12–18 in (30–45 cm).
Can Tiny Tim be grown in a container?
Yes — Tiny Tim grows well in a container of at least 15 L (3 gal).
Is Tiny Tim resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Tiny Tim.
See also
Grows like this one
Guides featuring this variety
