Photo: "Tomatoes" by Amanda Slater · CC BY-SA 2.0

Tomato · Cherry

Tumbling Tom Red Tomato

Determinate · Solanaceae

Tumbling Tom Red is a trailing basket tomato bred to spill over the rim of pots and hanging baskets instead of climbing upright. It is a beginner-friendly determinate cherry type that makes lots of small sweet red fruits in little spaces, with no staking and very little pruning.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

65–70 days

Sun

8+ hours

full sun 8+ hours

Spacing

12–18 "

Seed Start

6–8 weeks

before transplant

Container

Yes

2+ gallon pot

Height

0.5–1 ft

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 5–10 days

Optimal Temp 80°F

Seed Depth 0.25"

Transplanting

Min Soil Temp 60°F

Harden Off 7 days

Watering

Weekly Water 1–2 "

Needs Consistent

Method Drip

Soil

pH Range 6–6.8

Soil Type Warm, fertile loam with good drainage and high organic matter.

Resilience

Heat: Moderate Cold: Low Drought: Low

Common Problems

early-blight

Cause: Leaf wetness, splashing soil, and aging foliage let fungal spots move upward.

Prevention: Mulch, prune lower leaves, water at the base, and rotate plantings.

blossom-end-rot

Cause: Moisture swings limit calcium movement into fast-growing fruit.

Prevention: Keep watering consistent and avoid sudden drought stress.

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Heavy feeder

Calcium Critical — supplement recommended

Recommended Recipes Root drench, Silica foliar, Worm castings topdress

Harvest

Fruits should be fully colored, glossy, and slightly soft with a sweet tomato aroma.

Expected Yield 3–8 lbs/plant

Storage 5 days — Store at cool room temperature for best flavor, refrigerating only when fully ripe and you need to slow softening.

Sources

seed_catalog Seeds 'n Such university Penn State Extension

More Tomatos

Tumbling Tom Red Tomato Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Tumbling Tom Red Tomato vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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