A tomato that fits on the windowsill. Tiny Tim is one of the smallest tomato varieties in the world: a compact 30–40 cm bush with sturdy stems that needs neither staking nor side-shoot removal. It produces masses of red, sweet cherry tomatoes the size of cherries, resistant to cracking. It grows in a 3–5 l pot, so you can enjoy a plentiful harvest on a balcony, terrace, or even a kitchen windowsill.
At a glance
- Type: dwarf, determinate, early variety
- Fruit: red, cherry-sized, 2–3 cm, sweet and juicy
- Sowing under cover: March – April
- Planting out: mid-May (onto a balcony after the last frosts)
- Harvest: July – September
- Position: sunny, warm
- Difficulty: easy – no staking or pruning required
- Number of seeds per packet: approx. 120 (0.4 g)
What makes this variety stand out
This variety dates back to the 1940s and remains a benchmark for container-grown tomatoes to this day. The plants are low and dense, with sturdy, self-supporting stems – they look more like a small ornamental potted plant than a vegetable. They have a determinate growth habit: they set fruit at roughly the same time and produce a concentrated harvest over several weeks, which, with staggered sowing, lets you enjoy fresh tomatoes all summer.
The fruits are small, round, deep red, and distinctly sweet, with skin that does not crack after rain or heavy watering. They ripen early – approximately 55–60 days after planting out – so Tiny Tim is also suitable for year-round cultivation under a grow light or on a bright windowsill.
Growing step by step
Sowing (March – April, under cover): sow the seeds in trays or multi-cell trays at a depth of 0.5–1 cm, at a temperature of 22–25°C. Germination takes 6–10 days. For growing indoors, you can sow at any time of year, provided you ensure strong light.
Pricking out: when the seedlings produce their first pair of true leaves, transplant them individually into 8–9 cm pots, planting them slightly deeper than they were growing.
Planting out (mid-May): move plants to a balcony or terrace after the last frosts, into 3–5 l pots or containers, spacing them 30 × 40 cm apart. In the ground, plant them at the edge of a bed at the same spacing. The soil should be fertile and well-drained, with compost added.
Care: water regularly, and daily in hot weather – a small pot dries out quickly, and allowing it to dry out can cause flowers to drop. Feed every 10–14 days with tomato fertilizer. Do not remove side shoots – the plant sets most of its fruit on them. Staking is unnecessary.
Uses
A tomato for balconies, terraces, and windowsills – in small pots, containers, or even hanging baskets. The fruits are eaten raw, straight from the plant, whole in salads, on skewers, as a garnish for dishes, and as a healthy snack for children. Thanks to its early, concentrated fruiting, you can sow several batches 3–4 weeks apart and enjoy fresh tomatoes from July into autumn. An excellent first tomato for beginners and for growing with children.
Gardener’s tip
Tiny Tim grows in a small pot, but not one that is too small: in 1–2 l, you will confine the plant, which will manage to produce a handful of fruits before drying out. The optimal amount is 3–5 l of soil, with a saucer of water on hot days. If you grow it indoors, gently shake the plant once a day while it is flowering – this replaces wind and insects, without which tomatoes set fruit poorly indoors.
Specifications
| Latin name | Solanum lycopersicum |
| Variety | Tiny Tim |
| Fruit colour | red |
| Growth habit | dwarf, determinate, 30–40 cm |
| Position | sunny, warm |
| Seasonality | annual plant |
| Sowing time | March – April (under cover) |
| Planting-out time | mid-May |
| Harvest time | July – September |
| Spacing | 30 × 40 cm (3–5 l pot) |
| Net weight | 0.40 g (~120 seeds) |
| Series | Traditional |
| Producer | W. Legutko |
| EAN code | 5903837934706 |