If you want a huge harvest from a tiny plant, learning how to grow spoon tomatoes is a perfect place to start. These are the smallest tomatoes you can cultivate, and they pack a massive flavor punch for their size.
Their name comes from there small, spoon-shaped leaves. The plants are incredibly prolific, producing hundreds of sweet, red cherry tomatoes that are about the size of a pea. They are ideal for containers, small gardens, and even hanging baskets, making them accessible to almost every gardener.
How To Grow Spoon Tomatoes
This guide covers everything from seed to harvest. You’ll find the process is straightforward and very rewarding.
What Are Spoon Tomatoes?
Spoon tomatoes (Solanum pimpinellifolium) are a wild tomato variety. They are considered an ancestor to many modern cultivated tomatoes. Unlike hybrid tomatoes, these are open-pollinated, so you can save seeds from your best plants each year.
The plants have a sprawling, vine-like habit and can grow quite large if supported. But their standout feature is the sheer number of fruits. A single healthy plant can give you thousands of tomatoes over the season.
Why You Should Grow Them
There are several great reasons to add these to your garden:
- Superb Flavor: They have an intense, sweet-tart tomato taste that is often lost in larger varieties.
- High Yield: Their productivity is unmatched for the space they occupy.
- Disease Resistance: Being a wild species, they are often more resilient to common tomato problems.
- Space Efficiency: They thrive in pots and small spaces where bigger tomatoes would struggle.
- Unique Conversation Piece: Guests are always amazed by the tiny fruits.
Getting Started: Seeds and Supplies
You’ll need to start with seeds, as seedlings are rarely found in nurseries. Source seeds from a reputable heirloom seed company. Here’s your basic supply list:
- Spoon tomato seeds
- Seed starting trays or small pots
- Seed starting mix (not regular potting soil)
- Grow lights or a very sunny south-facing window
- Watering can with a fine rose
- Plant labels
Step-by-Step Seed Starting
Start seeds indoors about 6-8 weeks before your last expected spring frost date. This gives them a strong head start.
- Fill your trays with moist seed starting mix.
- Plant 2-3 seeds per cell, about 1/4 inch deep.
- Gently water them in and cover the tray with a plastic dome to retain humidity.
- Place the tray in a warm spot (70-80°F). A top of the refrigerator often works well.
- Seeds should sprout in 5-10 days. Once they do, immediately remove the dome and move them under bright grow lights.
- Keep the lights just a few inches above the seedlings for 14-16 hours a day to prevent leggy growth.
- Water when the surface feels dry. A weak, half-strength liquid fertilizer can be used every two weeks after the first true leaves appear.
Transplanting and Choosing a Location
Once seedlings have several sets of true leaves and all danger of frost has passed, it’s time to harden them off. This means gradually acclimating them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days.
Start with just an hour in a shaded, sheltered spot, and gradually increase their time outside and sun exposure.
Planting in the Garden
Spoon tomatoes love full sun—at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The soil should be well-draining and rich in organic matter.
- Dig a hole slightly deeper than the root ball.
- You can add a handful of compost to the hole for a nutrient boost.
- Remove the seedling from its pot and place it in the hole. Bury it up to its first set of true leaves; the stem will grow additional roots.
- Space plants about 2-3 feet apart if giving them room to sprawl.
- Water deeply after planting.
Planting in Containers
This is an excellent method for these tomatoes. Choose a large pot—at least 5 gallons for one plant. Ensure it has excellent drainage holes. Use a high-quality potting mix, not garden soil. Place the pot in your sunniest location.
Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Consistent care is simple but key to your biggest harvest.
Watering
Tomatoes need consistent moisture. Aim for about 1-2 inches of water per week, more during hot, dry spells. Water at the base of the plant to keep leaves dry and prevent disease. Container plants will need watering much more frequently, sometimes daily in summer heat.
Feeding
For in-ground plants, a balanced organic fertilizer at planting and again when fruits first form is usually sufficient. For container plants, feed with a liquid tomato fertilizer every 2-3 weeks, as nutrients wash out of pots more quickly.
Support and Pruning
While you can let them sprawl, supporting them keeps fruits clean and saves space. Use a large tomato cage, a sturdy stake, or a trellis. Tie the main vines loosely to the support as they grow.
Pruning is not strictly necessary, but you can remove some of the lower leaves to improve air circulation. Their determinate growth habit means they will eventually top out.
Pests and Problems
Watch for common tomato pests like aphids and tomato hornworms. A strong spray of water or hand-picking often takes care of them. Good spacing and watering practices help prevent fungal diseases like blight. Their natural resistance gives them a good advantage.
Harvesting and Using Your Crop
The best part! Fruits ripen in clusters. They are ready when they are a deep, uniform red and detach easily with a gentle tug.
Harvest regularly to encourage more production. Don’t worry if some fall to the ground; volunteers often pop up next year!
Their uses are endless:
- Eat them fresh off the vine as a garden snack.
- Toss whole into salads for bursts of flavor.
- Use them in salsas and bruschetta.
- They dry beautifully in a dehydrator for “tomato raisins.”
- Freeze them whole for adding to soups and stews later.
Saving Seeds for Next Year
Since they’re open-pollinated, saving seeds is easy. Choose seeds from your healthiest, best-tasting plant.
- Squeeze seeds from a very ripe tomato into a small jar with a little water.
- Let this mixture ferment for 2-3 days at room temperature; this removes the germination-inhibiting gel coat.
- Rinse the seeds thoroughly in a fine strainer.
- Spread them on a paper plate to dry completely for about a week.
- Store the dried seeds in a labeled envelope in a cool, dry place. They’ll be viable for several years.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are spoon tomatoes determinate or indeterminate?
They are determinate, meaning they grow to a certain size, flower, set fruit, and then begin to decline. However, they have a long, productive season before this happens.
How long does it take for spoon tomatoes to grow?
From transplanting outdoors, you can expect to start harvesting ripe fruit in about 60-70 days. From seed, count on about 100-110 days total.
Can I grow spoon tomatoes indoors?
Yes, if you have a very sunny, south-facing window or use strong grow lights. A large container is essential, and you may need to hand-pollinate flowers by gently shaking the plant when it’s in bloom.
Do spoon tomatoes need a cage?
It’s highly recommended. While not an absolute requirement, a cage, stake, or trellis keeps the vines and fruit off the ground, which prevents rot and makes harvesting much easier.
Why are my spoon tomato flowers falling off?
Blossom drop is usually caused by stress. The most common culprits are extreme temperatures (too hot or too cold) or inconsistent watering. Ensure they get steady moisture and be patient; they will set fruit when conditions improve.
Growing spoon tomatoes is a joy that combines simplicity with abundant rewards. With just a little effort, you’ll be rewarded with a non-stop supply of sweet, tiny tomatoes that prove the best flavors often come in the smallest packages. Give them a try this season—you won’t be disappointed by there performance.