Isn't this a bit small for a tomato plant to be producing fruit?

[Leeds_lad]

I have what seems a strange little tomato plant. I found this guy randomly growing in a flower bed before I had even moved my tomato plants outside, must be a stray seed from last year perhaps. I picked the tiny seedling out and potted it on, expecting it to develop like other plants, but it didn't. It just stayed the exact same size but "developed" leaf stems, side shooters, flowers, the whole nine yards like an ordinary plant, while still being tiny! Has anyone had something like this happen before, or is it just one of those freaks of nature? To be fair, the pictures don't do it justice, it's just so minute and teeny! here are some pictures:

The plant in a pot, compared with the size of my hand.


Fully developing fruit.


The size of the plant compared to an "ordinary" pot grown tomato plant

[Aberdeenplotter]

could possibly be a seed of minibel that managed to find its way into your garden.

[Florence Fennel]

Miraculous really that something so tiny can produce fruit LL. I have had one or two mini plants that have appeared out of my homemade compost in the bean trench. Left to it, they do produce fruit. I haven't had one as small as that!

[rana]

A couple of years ago there was as tomato variety called "Microtom" which looked similar to what you have there. Microtom was intended as a windowsill variety for growing in small pots. The compact growth habit meant the plant would grow to about 4" and bear small marble sized fruit. Out of interest (2 seasons ago) I grew this variety. Fruit productivity was poor and almost entirely tasteless but an interesting novelty nevertheless.

[Florence Fennel]

I remember seeing those advertised Rana, but didn't get around to buying one. Interesting that there was no taste.

[Anna Stox]

it looks like my minibels

[Germinater]

If they taste nice keep the seeds and pass them on to ppl you know that don't have the space to grow normal Hight toms as a gift .it's like a little tomato bonsi..

[chris]

Pretty funky - save the seed from it ! They'd make great gifts for people...

[Kiwi_Soph]

It is adorable! Dinky little fella.

[Flummery]

Definitely save seed. If it comes true you have a real novelty. I believe Broad Leaf Yellow Currant was found growing in a crack in the pavement in America (should that be Sidewalk?)

[Snadger]

My Gartenpearl are smaller than that (weighed down with fruit at the mo) and growing in indoor hanging baskets!

If you like the taste and the growth characteristics of your currant tom, do as Flum says and make sure you keep a bit of seed for next year!

[planetologist]

Cool! Would you like to join the seed swap?
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...2-a_53876.html

[Sanjo]

Bonsai tom !!!!

[Leeds_lad]

Oh I will defiantly be saving the seeds from it, will see about swapping, if there is enough produced that is .
It's really strange, as all i had last year growing were some marmandes, an unknown beefsteak variety and a plant i bought cheap from B and Q because a staff had an accident with it.

[horticultural_hobbit]

I got one too!



Sorry it's so dark, just nipped out to take it.

Ma told me about this a few weeks ago, and I forgot all about it. I think when I accidently killed my minibel plant in March and tipped out the pot, this is what survived. It's tucked in so it sorta escapes my attention. Ma did tell me to tell pops to leave it alone and not pull it up. I just left it alone full stop!