Red Robin Tomato

$4.00

Red Robin Tomato is a delightful dwarf cherry tomato variety that's perfect for home gardeners with limited space or those who want a handy tomato plant on the patio. This variety grows only about 8–12 inches tall, forming a compact bush that can even be grown in a 6-inch pot or a hanging basket. Despite its small stature, Red Robin is incredibly productive, yielding loads of bright red cherry tomatoes with a sweet, juicy flavor in as little as 55 days from planting. This friendly little plant is determinate (meaning it sets most of its fruit in a single flush) and requires no staking or pruning, so it’s wonderfully easy to grow. So easy and compact, in fact, it was chosen to be grown on the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Veggie program for astronauts to enjoy fresh pick-and-eat tomatoes in space!

  • This is an annual open-pollinated seed that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10.

  • Each packet will have a little over 20 seeds.

  • This variety is perfect for small spaces and containers.

  • Determinate tomato (it will fruit once and then be done).

Red Robin Tomato is a delightful dwarf cherry tomato variety that's perfect for home gardeners with limited space or those who want a handy tomato plant on the patio. This variety grows only about 8–12 inches tall, forming a compact bush that can even be grown in a 6-inch pot or a hanging basket. Despite its small stature, Red Robin is incredibly productive, yielding loads of bright red cherry tomatoes with a sweet, juicy flavor in as little as 55 days from planting. This friendly little plant is determinate (meaning it sets most of its fruit in a single flush) and requires no staking or pruning, so it’s wonderfully easy to grow. So easy and compact, in fact, it was chosen to be grown on the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Veggie program for astronauts to enjoy fresh pick-and-eat tomatoes in space!

  • This is an annual open-pollinated seed that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10.

  • Each packet will have a little over 20 seeds.

  • This variety is perfect for small spaces and containers.

  • Determinate tomato (it will fruit once and then be done).

Growing Instructions

Because of their small size, Red Robin tomatos ideal for container growing in a flower pot or hanging basket with good drainage. If grown in a container, use a quality potting mix and ensure it gets plenty of light. If planting in the garden, start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date. Space seeds or plants about 18"-24", and plant seeds at a depth of 1/4". Red Robin's care is much like any tomato. Be sure to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, and feed it with a balanced fertilizer regularly.

Harvest, Storage, and Use

Red Robin tomatoes start reaching maturity about 50-60 days after planting. You'll know they’re ready when the fruits are fully red and just slightly soft to the touch. The tomatoes will be cherry-sized (around 1"-1.5" inches across) and often dangle in clusters. To harvest, simply pluck them off gently with your fingers. The calyx (the little green cap on top) can stay on the plant. The plant will yield a flush of tomatoes over a few weeks. Since it’s determinate, once it's done fruiting, you can start a new one or prune it back since occasionally they’ll sprout a bit more. Freshly picked cherry tomatoes keep at room temperature for several days. If you want to keep them a little longer, you can keep them in the refrigerator, but be warned it tends to dull their flavor.

These tomatoes are best enjoyed fresh off the vine. Because of their juicy sweetness, they’re a favorite for kids' lunchboxes or for roasting whole in the oven to concentrate their flavor. You can also use Red Robins for a fresh tomato salsa or in dishes like a bruschetta.

👍 Good companions Basil (improves growth and flavor, repels pests), marigolds, onions, garlic, and chives (repel pests), nasturtiums, borage (trap crop for pests), carrots (tomatoes may provide shade), celery (attracts beneficial insects)
👎 Bad companions Fennel, dill, brassicas like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale (inhibit growth), potatoes, corn (compete for nutrients), eggplants and peppers (share diseases and pests), okra (can harbor pests), and rosemary/sage (dry-soil herbs are not ideal next to moisture-loving tomatoes)
Growing zones 3-10 Crop type Annual
Crop difficulty Mid Seed type Open-Pollinated
Sowing method Both Containers? Yes
Sun req. Full Sun Ideal soil temp. 70-85°F
Days to germination 5-10 days Days to maturity 50-60 days
Seed spacing 18"-24" Row spacing 24"-36"
Seed depth 1/4" Needs support? No