🍅 Quick take: Odesskiy Rozovyi (Odessa Pink) is an indeterminate pink beefsteak with Ukrainian roots. While the original breeder description lists it as an early variety, multiple growers report that it’s actually a very slow starter that ripens late in the season. Growth habits seem a bit unstable (ranging from 3 ft to 6.5 ft tall), but growers universally agree on one thing: the fruits are large, dense, and pack a fantastic, sweet flavor. It also shows impressive disease resistance even when totally neglected. Full summary ↓
Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zone 4 Experience)
Got my seeds from Kulik. His catalog description listed it as an early variety. Man, mine was a seriously slow starter and ended up being a late-season ripener. The plant was sturdy, topped out just over 3 ft (1 m). The fruits were large, bright pink, and tasted great, but the yield was kind of a bust for me.
My Odesskiy Rozovyi (seeds also from Kulik) was a middle-of-the-road yielder. Reached about 6.5 ft (2 m) in the high tunnel. Took its sweet time getting started too.. But man, it turned out delicious, with really dense and sweet flesh.
I really dug this variety 👍. Loved the taste, the fact that it stayed totally disease-free, and the yield 😋 🙌. Honestly, even with absolute zero maintenance this year, it still pumped out two full trusses of hefty beauties. I didn’t even bother staking it, just let it sprawl all over the dirt 😳. Pretty sure if I actually took care of it, the yield would’ve been way higher 😳.
Full Summary: Plant, Yield, Taste & Vigor
- 🌿 Plant & Growth: Indeterminate, though the genetics seem a bit unstable depending on the growing conditions. Some growers saw sturdy, shorter vines around 3 ft (1 m) tall, while greenhouse growers had vines reach 6.5 ft (2 m). Across the board, it is notoriously slow to wake up and start setting fruit, making it more of a late-season producer than an early one.
- 📈 Yield & Vigor: Yields are generally average to low, heavily dependent on the climate. However, the plant is extremely rugged and disease-resistant. It can survive and produce large fruits even if completely neglected and left to sprawl on the ground without staking.
- 👅 Taste & Shape: Produces large, bright pink beefsteaks. The interior is very dense, meaty, and packs a highly rated, sweet flavor. If you have the patience to wait for it to ripen, the taste is definitely worth it.
🍅 Grown Odessa Pink? Was yours a slow starter too, or did it pump out fruit early for you? Share your zone and how it did for you in the comments below, and add your photos!
