Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary of Rio Grande 🌍 Origin: A world-famous commercial paste variety originally developed for hot climates, but widely adapted and heavily grown by Russian and Eastern European gardeners for winter canning. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Grows compactly to about 70-90 cm (2.3 – 3 ft) tall. Excellent for open ground and field growing. … Read more
Quick Summary of Red Robin 🌍 Origin: A very famous and beloved micro-dwarf variety worldwide. Fun fact from Russian growers: Commercial Russian seed companies often rename and sell this exact variety under the names “Snegirek” (Gavrish seeds) and “Krasny Karlik” (Red Dwarf). If you grow them side-by-side, they are identical twins! 🌿 Plant Habit: Micro-dwarf … Read more
Quick Summary of Pani Yana (Lady Yana) 🌍 Origin: A Russian commercial variety from the popular “SibSad” (Siberian Garden) seed company. The name translates to “Lady Yana” or “Mrs. Yana”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Officially classified as an early, super-determinate bush variety designed to stay compact (around 50-60 cm / 1.6-2 ft). However, some growers report … Read more
Quick Summary of Palka (Stick) 🌍 Origin: A highly unusual and rare genetic mutation. Often circulated under the translated name Stick or the original Russian Palka. Grown primarily for its ornamental and novelty value. 🌿 Plant Habit: The plant grows literally like a stick! It features tightly curled, crinkled leaves that look like little pom-poms … Read more
Quick Summary of Dwarf Orion’s Belt 🌍 Origin: A beautiful release from the international Dwarf Tomato Project (DTP). 🌿 Plant Habit: True dwarf (tree-type). The plant is very compact, reaching only about 50-60 cm (20-24 in) in height. It features the classic DTP wide, light-green rugose (wrinkled) foliage. Perfect for container gardening, patios, or small … Read more
Quick Summary of Poltavskaya Galushka (Poltava Dumpling) 🌍 Origin: An heirloom variety from Eastern Europe (Poltava is a famous city in Ukraine). The name translates to “Poltava Dumpling”, perfectly describing the plump, satisfying shape of the fruits. Widely distributed by famous Ukrainian collector Alexey Kulik. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Plant height depends heavily on … Read more
Quick Summary of Pinocchio 🌍 Origin: A popular Russian commercial variety named after the fairytale character Pinocchio. 🌿 Plant Habit: Micro-dwarf (tree-type / rugose foliage). Plants are highly compact and determinate, typically reaching only 20-35 cm (8-14 inches) in height. Perfect for small pots (2-3 liters / 0.5-0.7 gallons), windowsills, and balconies. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: … Read more
Quick Summary of Peterhof 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety originally released by the “Russian Ogorod” (Russian Garden) seed company. Named after the famous imperial palace near St. Petersburg. Bred specifically for harsh Siberian conditions. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (dwarf). While official specs claim 40-42 cm (16 inches), growers report it typically reaches around 70 … Read more
Quick Summary of Podarok Fei (Fairy’s Gift) 🌍 Origin & Name: A commercial Russian variety introduced by the Aelita seed company. The charming name translates to “Fairy’s Gift”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). It grows compact and sturdy, reaching just over 1 meter (~3.5 ft) in a greenhouse and remaining even shorter outdoors. Most growers … Read more
Quick Summary of Petrusha-Ogorodnlk (Petrusha the Gardener) 🌍 Origin & Name: A very famous commercial Russian variety from the “Siberian Garden” (SibSad) seed company. The name translates to “Petrusha the Gardener” (Petrusha is an affectionate diminutive of Peter). 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). It is highly prized for its compact, stocky “tree-type” seedlings that do … Read more