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Ever wanted to grow tomatoes in a tiny pot that would fit perfectly on your kitchen window sill? I have the perfect plant for you… Micro Tomatoes. These tiny tomato plants produce oodles of tomatoes and look amazing. Keep reading to learn how to grow micro tomatoes.
| Botanical Name | Solanum lycopersicum |
| Plant Type | Annual Tomato |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun To Part Shade |
| Soil Conditions | Rich Soil |
| Harvest Time | Early Summer To Late Summer |
| Difficulty | Easy, Medium, Hard |
Why I love micro tomatoes
Only growing up to 9 inches tall these miniature tomato plants are really amazing. If you thought that you had to have a huge garden to grow fresh tomatoes think again.
These plants are so small that they do amazingly well in six inch pots. Since they are so productive and small they are a great for anyone who has limited space.
How to start micro tomato seeds
Just like other tomato plants it is smart to start micro tomatoes early. I like to start my micro tomatoes at least 8 weeks before my last frost. This will allow my seedlings to be the right size when I pot them up and set them outside.
To start your seeds you will need a few things.
- Organic seeds starting mix
- A heat mat with a thermometer
- A grow light
- Seed starting trays
- Seeds
Fill the seed starting trays with the organic seed starting mix and mist it heavily. I have found that using a sterile seed starting mix gives my seeds the best start.
Sometimes the soil will not want to hold water so make sure your soil is moist before sowing. Next plant one seed per cell and cover with a little soil.
Place the tray on top of your heat mat and under your grow light. I like to keep my heat mat set to 700F for the best germination.
Keep the seed mix misted while you wait for the plants to emerge. Once they emerge keep them watered well and occasionally use an organic fertilizer like fish emulsions to keep them healthy.
Where to buy micro tomato seeds
The plants in this post were all grown with seeds from Baker Creek Seeds. I love to buy seeds from Baker Creek Seeds because they only sell high quality heirloom and open pollinated seeds.
You can find Orange Hat tomato seeds from Baker Creek Seeds here. After seeing the seeds in their catalog I knew I had to try these quirky plants.
Where to plant micro tomatoes
Unlike conventional tomato plants micro tomatoes will stay quite happy in tiny pots. These tiny plants will never need a pot bigger than six inches in diameter.
These plants are like other tomato plants when it comes to sunlight though… they love sunlight. Plant these tomatoes in full sun but make sure the soil stays moist.
Because these plants are so small they can be grown anywhere. It doesn’t matter if you live in the top story of an apartment building you can still grow micro tomatoes.
These plants are so good looking that I have even thought about planting them alongside my ornamental plants.
What type of pot should I plant my micro tomatoes in
I like to use unglazed terra cotta pots for a multitude of reasons.
- Terra cotta pots are porous which allows for good drainage
- Terra cotta pots are very inexpensive
- Terra cotta pots are more durable than plastic pots
While terra cotta pots may not be great for all plants micro tomatoes do really great in them. When you buy your pots just make sure that they are not cracked.
How to encourage blossoms
Before you get any micro tomatoes you are going to need blossoms on your plants. I have never had an issue with my micro tomatoes not flowering.
If you keep your plants in full sunlight and water them well you should have no trouble with them flowering.
Micro tomato fertilizer requirements
Micro tomatoes do benefit from fertilizer. I like to use fish emulsions on my tomato plants. Fish emulsions are a natural fertilizer that is derived from fish.
I will dilute some fish emulsions in water every one to two weeks and fertilize my plants with it. What’s great about fish emulsions is that they will never burn your plants, unlike synthetic fertilizer.
How to harvest micro tomatoes
Once the tomatoes have turned to their ripe color they are ready to harvest. These little tomatoes should easily come off the plant. Feel the tomato to make sure that it is softening before you harvest them.
Continually harvest the plants until they stop producing fruit. Since these plants are determinate they will only grow to a certain size before they stop fruit production and die. After the plants die I will pull them out and throw them in the compost pile.
Using micro tomatoes
These tiny tomatoes can be used just like cherry tomatoes. Use them to top salads, make focaccia, or simply snack on them.
While I usually am not a fan of raw tomatoes micro tomatoes have changed my mind. These tomatoes actually have a sweet flavor and are less acidic than other tomato varieties.
Micro tomato pests and diseases
I have never had any pest issues or diseases bother my micro tomatoes. If you do have any just treat them as you would other tomato plants.
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