Tumbling Tom Red

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

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A cascade of glossy, warm scarlet fruits—sweetly fragrant and jewel-bright—hangs in tumbling clusters from the Tumbling Tom Red vines.

Each cherry is firm yet juicy with a smooth, taut skin and a lively, classic tomato tang that bursts on the palate. Ideal for fresh garden snacking and for vibrant sauces and quick roasting, Tumbling Tom Red turns patios and beds into a living ribbon of color from early summer through harvest.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Determinate

Botanical illustration of Tumbling Tom Red

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Tumbling Tom Red Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Apr 13th	Jul 27th	Sep 25th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Sep 18th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Sep 12th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 6th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 1st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Aug 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Aug 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Aug 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Aug 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Jul 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Jul 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jun 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 5th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	9

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

These cherries are built for heat and shine: firm, glossy fruits that blister without turning to watery pulp, so their tang stays bright. Use them for quick-roasted or warm emulsified sauces where you want that juicy burst to cling rather than bleed out.

Best Uses

hot, fast blistering on a sheet pan (roast until skins dimple but flesh stays jewel-like)
glossy quick pan sauce—warm with a little oil and let the juices emulsify
snack-sweet slicing for salads where the skins won’t collapse
bursting onto toast with olive oil and flaky salt for a juicy, not-mushy top

Flavor Profile

sweet, fragrant cherry-tomato fruitiness lively classic tomato tang with a clean finish firm bite with juicy burst and smooth skin bright, slightly acidic snap that stays readable

Kitchen Pairings

garlic extra-virgin olive oil balsamic vinegar mozzarella fresh oregano chili flakes

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease issue for Solanum lycopersicum (tumbling tomato) and how can I prevent/fix it?

A common problem is early blight or leaf spot, which shows up as dark, concentric spots on older leaves and can spread quickly in humid conditions. Keep the plant’s foliage dry by watering at the soil line, remove yellowing or spotted lower leaves, and improve airflow around the patio container. If spots start spreading, treat with a copper-based fungicide according to the label and repeat as directed.

How often should I water Tumbling Tom Red tomatoes during peak growth?

During fruiting (around mid-season through maturity), keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for even moisture because tomatoes in Solanaceae dry out fast in patio pots. Water when the top 1 inch of potting mix feels dry, usually every 2–3 days in warm weather; in hot spells it may be daily. Don’t let the container fully dry out and then flood it, since that cycle can trigger blossom-end rot and cracking.

How do I know when Tumbling Tom Red is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for the variety (deep red overall), firm, and reach their expected size—typically about 60 days from transplanting/plant establishment. Pick by gently twisting or snipping the stem; tomatoes should separate easily without pulling. For best flavor, harvest in dry weather and avoid waiting until they are over-soft or splitting.