How to Grow Piccolissima Tomato
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Piccolissima Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Piccolissima'
vegetablePiccolissima is a miniature indeterminate tomato variety that produces tiny, sweet fruits typically weighing less than 1 ounce each. These prolific plants are ideal for container growing, salads, and snacking straight from the vine. The small fruits have excellent flavor despite their diminutive size.
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Example Piccolissima Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Piccolissima Tomato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Piccolissima Tomato
Around Jun 21≈ 65 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Piccolissima Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9; can be grown in containers in cooler zones 3-4
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Seedling
3-4 weeksTiny plants with 2-4 true leaves, pale green coloring, delicate stems
Provide bright light (14-16 hours) indoors, maintain 70-75°F temperature, keep soil moist but not soggy, avoid damping off with good air circulation
Vegetative Growth
2-3 weeks (in garden)Rapid leaf and stem development, plants 6-12 inches tall, no flowers yet, bushy foliage formation
Harden off before transplanting, maintain consistent water and sunlight, begin fertilizing with balanced NPK weekly, support with stakes or cages if needed
Flowering
3-4 weeksYellow flowers appear on indeterminate growth tips, flower clusters develop along stems, plant continues vertical growth
Provide phosphorus-rich fertilizer to encourage fruiting, ensure consistent watering, maintain air circulation, prune lower foliage if needed for disease prevention
Fruiting
4-6 weeksTiny green fruits form and rapidly develop, plants may reach 4-6 feet tall, continuous flowering and fruiting on indeterminate varieties
Maintain steady water supply to prevent cracking, use balanced fertilizer, support heavy fruit clusters with twine or cages, thin dense foliage to improve airflow
Harvest
8-12 weeks (or until frost)Fruits turn from green to red when fully ripe, may produce hundreds of cherry-sized tomatoes over the season
Harvest when fully colored for best flavor, pick regularly to encourage continued production, continue watering and fertilizing for extended season, frost protection needed in cool climates
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick large caterpillars, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), encourage parasitic wasps, inspect regularly on foliage
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Spray with insecticidal soap, use neem oil, introduce yellow sticky traps, maintain good air circulation
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Increase humidity, spray with water forcefully, use neem oil or insecticidal soap, remove heavily infested leaves
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Remove lower infected leaves, improve air circulation, mulch to prevent soil splash, apply copper fungicide if severe
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Remove entire affected plant sections, avoid overhead watering, apply chlorothalonil or copper-based fungicides, ensure adequate spacing
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Spray with strong water jet, apply insecticidal soap, use neem oil, encourage natural predators like ladybugs
Uses
Fresh snacking and salads
CulinaryPiccolissima tomatoes are perfect bite-sized snacks eaten straight from the vine and excellent for garnishing salads or vegetable platters. Their small size and sweet flavor make them ideal for appetizers and charcuterie boards. [source]
Preserving and sauces
CulinaryThese prolific fruits can be roasted whole, sun-dried, or preserved in vinegar. The high yield of small fruits makes them ideal for small-batch canning and sauce production. [source]
Container and ornamental gardening
HouseholdPiccolissima's compact growth and prolific fruiting make it perfect for patios, balconies, and hanging baskets. The plants serve both decorative and productive functions. [source]
Pasta and soup garnish
CulinaryThese diminutive tomatoes add visual appeal and bursts of flavor when halved as a fresh pasta topping or soup garnish without overwhelming delicate dishes. [source]
Nutritional antioxidants
MedicinalLike all tomatoes, Piccolissima contains lycopene and other carotenoids beneficial for heart health and disease prevention. Fresh consumption preserves these heat-sensitive nutrients. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Pick fruits when fully red and slightly soft to touch; Piccolissima fruits ripen continuously on indeterminate plants throughout the season. Gently twist and pull or use scissors to avoid damaging vines. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Fruits will continue to ripen on mature vines even as new flowers appear. In early fall, pick all mature and turning fruits before frost; green tomatoes will ripen indoors on a windowsill.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Piccolissima was first bred in Israel and introduced to home gardeners by seed companies in the early 2000s, becoming famous for producing hundreds of marble-sized fruits from a single plant.
- 🌱 A single indeterminate Piccolissima plant can yield 500-1000+ tiny tomatoes in a season if grown in optimal conditions, making it one of the most prolific tomato varieties available.
- 🌱 These tomatoes are sometimes called 'cocktail tomatoes' or 'currant tomatoes' due to their size and are popular in Mediterranean cuisine, particularly in Italian and Spanish cooking.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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