The Micro Tom Tomato

If you're anything like me, you can't resist trying out new plant varieties—especially anything that stretches the growing season a little longer. Living here in the Northeast, I never imagined tasting a homegrown tomato in the dead of winter, but this tiny wonder pulls it off. The plant tops out at just 8 to 10 inches tall, and the fruit? Barely pea-sized at their biggest. But here's the thing—they're still real, honest-to-goodness homegrown tomatoes. Sure, you might need the whole harvest just to top a salad, but I'm perfectly fine with that trade.

I started two of these from seed, and before I knew it they were already showing off little flowers. Out of curiosity, I pinched one back to see what would happen—and sure enough, it bushed right out just like you'd expect. Whether that translates to a bigger harvest, time will tell, but my money's on it producing more in the long run. If you'd like to follow along with how that experiment plays out, hop over to the blog and search for Micro—you'll find the updates there.

The one in the photo is still living in a solo cup while its sister got upgraded to a proper planter, and it's also the one I didn't pinch back. No surprise—it's the first to start setting fruit, pretty much exactly what I expected. This hybrid is a determinate variety, so most of the harvest comes in a concentrated burst rather than dragging out all season. That's got me thinking I should probably start another couple of plants. I've got this gorgeous old clay pot that belonged to my great uncle, and I just know he'd have gotten a real kick out of a tomato this small. So next winter, fresh-tomato withdrawal is officially a thing of the past.

Days to Germination: 7-14Days to Harvest: About 90

Gardening Jones is a Pennsylvania-based vegetable gardener.Read her other Horticulture posts hereand learn more atgardeningjones.com.