Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary of Rozovyi Gigant (Pink Giant) 🌍 Origin: An official commercial variety registered in the Russian State Register. Note: It should not be confused with the family heirloom “Ukrainian Pink Giant” (Rozovyi Gigant Ukrainskiy). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, but its growth habit is sprawling. It enthusiastically throws out side shoots (suckers) in all directions. … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozovyi Begemot (Pink Hippo) 🌍 Origin: A fantastic Russian heirloom whose name translates to “Pink Hippo”—a very fitting title given the massive, blocky shape and heavy weight of its fruits. 🌿 Plant Habit: Reports on its growth habit vary. Some growers experience it as a shorter, compact plant, while others (especially in … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozovyi Slon (Pink Elephant) 🌍 Origin: A very popular commercial Russian variety sold by several major seed companies (GISOK, Aelita, Sibsad). Famous for its reliability and size. 🌿 Plant Habit: Features beautiful Potato Leaf (PL) foliage. Depending on the seed source and climate, it behaves as a tall determinate or semi-determinate. It … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozovyi Med (Pink Honey) 🌍 Origin: An absolute legend of Russian tomato breeding. Developed by the famous Siberian seed company SibSad (Siberian Garden). It is one of the most widely grown and discussed large pink tomatoes in Russia. 🌿 Plant Habit (The Great Debate): The seed packet lists it as a determinate, … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozovye Torbochki (Pink Pouches) 🌍 Origin: A visually stunning Russian/Eastern European heirloom. The name translates to “Pink Pouches” or “Pink Little Bags”, perfectly describing its unique ribbed, pear-like shape. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and extremely vigorous. It easily reaches 2 meters (6.5 ft) in a greenhouse. It sets fruit reliably all … Read more
Quick Summary of Rugantino F1 (and the “Chocolate” Controversy) 🌍 Origin: A highly acclaimed commercial F1 hybrid developed by the Dutch breeding company Rijk Zwaan. It is a “Cor de Boeuf” (Bull’s Heart) ribbed/pleated type. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, extremely vigorous, and tall. Growers describe it as a “monster” that will grow to the roof … Read more
Quick Summary of Early Love (Rannyaya Lyubov) 🌍 Origin: A well-known Russian variety. The name translates to “Early Love”. The most highly regarded strain of this variety traces its roots back to Syzran (a Russian city famous for its historical, exceptionally tasty heirloom tomatoes). 🌿 Plant Habit & Leaf Type: Indeterminate (tall), reaching about 1.7 … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozovaya Bomba (Pink Bomb) 🌍 Origin & History: This is a highly sought-after community heirloom with a fascinating backstory. It originally appeared in a Russian grower’s garden as an off-type (segregation) of the famous Pink Sgt. Pepper. Instead of producing typical heart-shaped fruits, this rogue plant produced massive oblate beefsteaks. The Russian … Read more
Quick Summary of Romovaya Baba (Rum Baba) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety introduced by the “Aelita” seed company. The name translates to “Rum Baba” (a famous rum-soaked sponge cake dessert), perfectly hinting at the extreme sweetness of this tomato. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching 1.5 meters (5 ft) and higher. Growers note that … Read more
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Quick Summary of Rhoades Heirloom 🌍 Origin: A classic American heirloom variety. In the Russian tomato community, it is translated directly as “Relikviya Rouds”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). Typically grows to about 1.8 meters (6 ft) in a polycarbonate greenhouse. Growers report excellent results when pruned to 2 stems and planted in a sunny … Read more
Quick Summary of Pink Siberian Tiger 🌍 Origin: A famous anthocyanin variety that has become an absolute superstar in the Russian tomato community (where it is known as “Rozovyi Sibirskiy Tigr”). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, though some growers note it acts more like a semi-determinate, reaching about 1.5 – 2 meters (5 – 6.5 ft) … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozovye Krupnye (Large Pink) 🌍 Origin: A legendary Russian family heirloom. It was popularized by a famous forum member, Ninulia, who has been saving and distributing its seeds since 2002. It often circulates as “Rozovye Krupnye from Ninulia”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching the ceiling in greenhouses. The plant habit is … Read more