Red Robin
Solanum lycopersicum 'Red Robin'
The ultimate patio tomato, this compact determinate variety grows just 8-12 inches tall while producing an abundance of sweet cherry tomatoes perfect for containers and small spaces. Despite its tiny stature, Red Robin delivers full-sized flavor and continuous harvests throughout the season, making it ideal for apartment gardeners and children's gardens. No staking required - just plant and enjoy!
Harvest
55-65d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Red Robin in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Red Robin · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
| Zone 1 | May – May | July – August | — | September – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | — | September – September |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
Complete Growing Guide
Red Robin's extreme compactness demands full sunlight—at least six to eight hours daily—to prevent the naturally short plants from becoming leggy and weak. Plant in containers with excellent drainage, as these dwarf tomatoes are sensitive to waterlogging despite their drought tolerance. Because they're determinate and set fruit quickly, begin fertilizing at planting with a balanced formula, then switch to lower-nitrogen applications once flowering begins to avoid excessive foliage at the expense of fruit. Watch for spider mites, which favor the warm, sheltered microclimate around potted plants; mist foliage regularly to deter them. Unlike indeterminate varieties, Red Robin won't benefit from aggressive pruning—remove only diseased leaves and lower branches to improve air circulation. For continuous harvests in short seasons, succession-plant every two weeks through mid-summer rather than relying on a single planting.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Red Robin tomatoes reach peak ripeness when they develop a deep, vibrant red color throughout the entire fruit, typically around 55-65 days from planting. The tomatoes should feel slightly soft when gently squeezed, indicating optimal sugar development, though they'll still maintain structural integrity off the vine. Unlike determinate varieties that produce a single heavy crop, Red Robin's compact plants deliver continuous harvests across the season, with new flowers and fruits developing steadily as you pick mature ones. For best flavor concentration, harvest in the early morning after the dew dries but before afternoon heat peaks, as this timing preserves the tomatoes' delicate sweetness and extends their shelf life.
The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
Storage & Preservation
Store fresh Red Robin tomatoes at room temperature away from direct sunlight until fully ripe, then refrigerate at 50–55°F with 85–90% humidity in a breathable container. They'll keep for up to two weeks refrigerated, though flavor diminishes over time. For preservation, freezing works well for these smaller fruits—simply blanch, peel, and freeze whole or halved in freezer bags. They're also excellent candidates for oven-drying due to their compact size; slice thin, salt lightly, and dry at 200°F until leathery for concentrated snacking chips. Canning is possible using a tested salsa recipe, though their thin skin means they break down quickly. Given their popularity as snacking tomatoes, many gardeners find that eating them fresh directly from the vine is the best preservation method—though a batch frozen in ice cube trays creates convenient portions for winter cooking.
History & Origin
The origins of Red Robin remain relatively undocumented in mainstream horticultural records, with specific breeder information and introduction year not definitively established in widely available sources. However, Red Robin belongs to the broader category of compact, determinate cherry tomatoes developed throughout the late 20th century to meet growing demand for container-friendly varieties among urban and apartment gardeners. Its breeding likely draws from established dwarf tomato lines and cherry tomato genetics refined by commercial seed companies targeting the ornamental and patio market, though the exact breeding program or seed house responsible for this particular cultivar has not been clearly documented in accessible records.
Origin: Peru
Advantages
- +Extremely compact at 8-12 inches, perfect for patios and small spaces
- +No staking required, making it ideal for beginner and lazy gardeners
- +Produces abundant sweet cherry tomatoes with full-sized flavor continuously
- +Fast maturity in just 55-65 days from planting to harvest
- +Excellent disease resistance due to naturally compact and airy growth
Considerations
- -Small fruit size limits total yield compared to standard varieties
- -Susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites in hot weather
- -Limited root depth in containers can require frequent watering during heat
Companion Plants
Basil and marigolds are the two companions worth planting close. Basil fits naturally at 6-8 inches away from a compact variety like Red Robin — you're pulling culinary value out of the same container or bed, and the proximity keeps pest pressure something you're actually watching. French marigolds (Tagetes patula) release thiophenes from their roots that suppress root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in the surrounding soil — a documented biochemical mechanism, not garden mythology. Nasturtiums work as an aphid trap crop, drawing colonies onto their own leaves so you can deal with the problem in one spot. Lettuce tucked underneath stays out of trouble because its roots sit in the top 6-8 inches and won't compete for moisture at the same depth Red Robin draws from.
Keep Red Robin away from fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), which releases allelopathic compounds that stunt most neighboring vegetables. Skip brassicas too — they share enough overlapping pressure from aphids and imported cabbageworm (Pieris rapae) that combining them in a small space defeats any benefit the other companions provide. Black walnut produces juglone, which is toxic to Solanum species, so don't set a container near the drip line of one either.
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while improving tomato flavor
Marigolds
Deter nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles
Carrots
Loosen soil around tomato roots and don't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Chives
Repel aphids and may improve tomato growth and flavor
Borage
Deters hornworms and attracts pollinators and beneficial insects
Lettuce
Provides living mulch and utilizes space efficiently without competition
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that causes wilting and stunted growth in tomatoes
Fennel
Inhibits tomato growth through allelopathic chemical compounds
Brassicas
Compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth when planted nearby
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to common tomato diseases, compact habit reduces disease pressure
Common Pests
Aphids, whiteflies, spider mites in hot weather
Diseases
Generally disease-resistant due to compact growth and good air circulation
Troubleshooting Red Robin
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Leaves curling upward and sticky residue on foliage, sometimes with tiny white insects lifting off when you brush the plant
Likely Causes
- Whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) — common on compact tomatoes in warm, still conditions
- Aphid colonies — often cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves
What to Do
- 1.Blast the undersides of leaves with a strong stream of water every 2-3 days to knock populations down
- 2.Apply insecticidal soap (2-3% solution) directly to affected foliage, making sure to hit leaf undersides
- 3.Set yellow sticky traps near the plant to monitor and reduce whitefly adults
Fine webbing on leaves and a stippled, bronzed look to the foliage, usually in hot dry stretches above 85°F
Likely Causes
- Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) — thrives when it's hot and dry, especially on container-grown plants
What to Do
- 1.Increase humidity around the plant and water consistently — mites hate moisture
- 2.Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5-7 days for at least two cycles to break the egg cycle
- 3.Move containers out of direct afternoon sun during peak heat if possible
Plant wilts suddenly during the day even though the soil is moist, with no visible fungal growth on the stem
Likely Causes
- Southern bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) — NC State Extension flags this as a soilborne pathogen with serious long-term implications
- Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) — cause similar wilting by disrupting water uptake at the roots
What to Do
- 1.Dig up and destroy the affected plant including the roots — do not compost it
- 2.Switch to growing in containers with fresh potting mix, and make sure that container soil never contacts native garden soil
- 3.NC State Extension recommends rotating out of tomatoes and related nightshades for 5-7 years if replanting in-ground; Red Robin's small footprint makes container growing a practical long-term workaround
Frequently Asked Questions
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Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.