Tumbling Tom
Solanum lycopersicum 'Tumbling Tom'
A cascading cherry tomato variety specifically bred for hanging baskets and containers, producing abundant clusters of sweet, bite-sized fruits. The trailing habit creates a beautiful waterfall effect while providing continuous harvests throughout the season. Perfect for patios, balconies, and small-space gardening where vertical growing is preferred.
Harvest
65-70d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Tumbling Tom in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Tumbling Tom · 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 | — | August – October |
| 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
Store freshly harvested Tumbling Tom tomatoes on the counter at room temperature for 3-5 days for best flavor—refrigeration dulls their sweet taste. For longer storage, refrigerate ripe fruits for up to one week in the crisper drawer.
These small tomatoes freeze beautifully whole after washing and removing stems. Blanch for 30 seconds in boiling water, then ice bath before freezing in portions. They're perfect for adding to winter soups and sauces straight from frozen.
Dehydrating works exceptionally well due to their size and lower water content. Cut in half and dry at 125°F for 12-18 hours until leathery. The concentrated flavor makes excellent additions to pasta dishes and salads. Their small size and sweet flavor also make them ideal for quick refrigerator pickles—slice in half and pickle in seasoned vinegar for a tangy garnish that keeps 2-3 weeks refrigerated.
History & Origin
Tumbling Tom was developed in the late 1980s by British plant breeders specifically to meet the growing demand for container-friendly vegetables as urban gardening gained popularity. The variety emerged from crossing determinate cherry tomato varieties with naturally trailing growth habits—a challenging breeding goal since most tomatoes grow upright.
The name reflects both its cascading growth pattern and its appeal to home gardeners named 'Tom'—a marketing touch that made the variety memorable in garden catalogs. It gained prominence in the 1990s as hanging basket gardening became trendy in North America.
This hybrid represents the successful marriage of ornamental appeal with productive capability, addressing the needs of balcony and patio gardeners who wanted both beauty and harvest from their limited space. Its development coincided with the broader movement toward edible landscaping and space-efficient food production that continues to drive modern breeding programs.
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 and whiteflies, may improve flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes and attracts beneficial insects
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects and doesn't compete for space
Carrots
Loosens soil and doesn't compete for nutrients
Borage
Repels tomato hornworms and attracts pollinators
Chives
Repels aphids and may improve tomato flavor
Lettuce
Provides ground cover and benefits from tomato's shade
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin which stunts tomato growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Brassicas
Compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good general disease resistance for container growing
Common Pests
Aphids, whiteflies, spider mites in hot weather
Diseases
Powdery mildew, early blight, root rot if overwatered