Solanum lycopersicum.
The very archetype of the dwarf tomato — selected at the University of New Hampshire in the 1940s and named after Tiny Tim, the frail but luminous son of Bob Cratchit in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol — a perfect name for a plant that never exceeds 40 cm tall but produces dozens of brilliant little cherry tomatoes. It's the variety that probably started serious pot and balcony culture across the continent — before it, tomatoes were a matter of large gardens and space; after it, we knew you could grow them on a corner of windowsill or a balcony railing with reasonable success.
Compact, stocky plant 30 to 40 cm, bushy habit, ideal for 25 cm pots, planters, balcony tubs, small children's gardens, and even indoor culture under a grow light in winter for motivated gardeners. Round, bright red fruits 2 to 3 cm, sweet and juicy with a well-balanced tangy note — the taste of real tomato, in miniature. Remarkably short cycle (60 to 65 days only after transplanting), which makes it one of the most reliable tomatoes in Québec climate — capable of producing even in cool summers where larger varieties struggle to ripen. Perfect to crunch as-is, in salads, on apéritif skewers, oven-dried for winter pasta, or picked by the curious little fingers of children discovering gardening — it's one of the best entry doors to the vegetable garden passion.
Grower's tip: Indoor start 6 to 8 weeks before last frost, at 22-25 °C, under generous light. Transplant by burying the stem up to the first leaves to favour a deep root system. Since it's a determinate, compact variety, no need for suckering (removing axillary shoots) or significant staking — possibly a small support for fruit-laden branches. For pot gardeners, choose a container at least 25 cm deep and keep the potting mix constantly moist — potted plants have a shorter water memory than those in the ground, and repeated drying triggers blossom-end rot (the "black bottom").
- Open-pollinated. Self-fertile, so few crossings to fear.
- Height: 30 to 40 cm. Determinate plant.
- Maturity: 60 to 65 days after transplant.
- Exposure: full sun (or very bright under a grow light).
- Rich, well-drained soil. In a pot, use a quality potting mix enriched with compost. Space plants 30 cm apart in the ground, or one plant per 25 cm pot.
- Indoor start 6 to 8 weeks before last frost. Transplant once all risk of frost is past (early June in Québec) or grow all season in a pot.
