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
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
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 |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. 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
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
Bloom 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
Fresh Red Robin tomatoes keep best at room temperature on your kitchen counter for 3-5 days, developing fuller flavor than refrigerated fruits. Only refrigerate fully ripe tomatoes you can't use immediately—they'll last up to a week in the crisper drawer.
For preservation, these sweet cherry tomatoes excel in simple methods. Freeze them whole after washing and removing stems—the skins slip off easily after thawing, perfect for winter sauces. Dehydrate halved tomatoes in a food dehydrator or low oven (200°F) for 6-8 hours to create intensely flavored dried tomatoes ideal for salads and pasta.
Their small size makes them perfect for quick pickles—pack into jars with herbs and vinegar brine for tangy preserved tomatoes ready in 24 hours. While too small for traditional canning, you can incorporate them into larger batches of salsa or pasta sauce.
History & Origin
Red Robin was developed in the Netherlands by Rijk Zwaan, a prominent Dutch seed company, in the 1980s as part of their innovative container gardening program. The variety emerged during a period when European plant breeders were responding to increasing urbanization and smaller living spaces by creating compact vegetables specifically for balcony and patio growing.
This hybrid was bred by crossing compact determinate varieties with productive cherry tomato lines, aiming to create the ultimate space-saving tomato without sacrificing yield or flavor. The breeders specifically selected for extreme dwarfness, early maturity, and concentrated fruit set—characteristics that made Red Robin revolutionary for its time.
Red Robin gained popularity in North America during the 1990s container gardening boom and became a gateway variety for apartment dwellers and children's gardens. Its success helped establish the dwarf tomato category and inspired numerous similar compact varieties. Today, it remains one of the most reliable micro tomatoes for beginners, proving that good plant breeding creates lasting value for home gardeners.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
- +Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
- +Edible: 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.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
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