Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary of Sugar Gem F1 (Samotsvet Sakharnyi F1) 🌍 Origin & Name: Another popular commercial hybrid from the Russian SeDek seed company’s “Gem” (Samotsvet) series. The name translates to “Sugar Gem”. Note: Some Ukrainian private collectors sell “de-hybridized” open-pollinated (OP) versions under similar names. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and incredibly vigorous. Growers consistently … Read more
Quick Summary of Jade Gem F1 (Samotsvet Nefritovyi F1) 🌍 Origin & Name: A Russian commercial green cherry tomato from the popular “Gem” (Samotsvet) series by the SeDek seed company. The name translates to “Jade Gem”. 🔍 The F1 Hybrid Confusion: Officially registered in the Russian State Register as an F1 hybrid. However, SeDek has … Read more
Quick Summary of Semko 98 F1 🌍 Origin: A highly reliable commercial F1 hybrid from the Russian agricultural company “Semko”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Compact and semi-spreading, growing only 50-55 cm (20-22 inches) tall. It is highly adaptable and can be grown in open ground, greenhouses, or even indoors on a windowsill. 🍅 Fruit … Read more
Quick Summary of Sprut Slivka F1 (Octopus Plum F1) 🌍 Origin: A highly popular commercial F1 hybrid from Russia. It is part of the famous “Sprut” (Octopus) series of hybrids, which were aggressively marketed as being able to grow into massive “tomato trees” under hydroponic commercial conditions. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate and exceptionally vigorous. Even … Read more
Quick Summary of Ramzay F1 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian F1 hybrid originally bred by the “Ilyinichna” seed company. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, generative type designed specifically for greenhouses. It has an “open” growth habit with genetically upright leaves, which provides excellent airflow. 🛡️ Disease & Stress Resistance: Highly adaptable (plastic). It tolerates extreme temperatures … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozovoe Chudo F1 (Pink Miracle F1) 🌍 Origin: A highly productive Russian F1 hybrid. The name translates to “Pink Miracle”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). The seed packet claims 100-110 cm, but growers consistently report it staying very compact at around 80 cm (31 inches) tall. Performs excellently both in greenhouses and … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozovyi Spam F1 (Pink Spam) 🌍 Origin: A highly popular commercial F1 hybrid from the Russian seed company “Semko”. (Note: The name “Spam” here is just a quirky commercial marketing name and has nothing to do with canned meat!) Interesting Fact: Several Russian collectors have been saving seeds from this hybrid for … 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 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 Primadonna F1 🌍 Origin: A very popular early-season F1 hybrid available from several Russian and international seed companies (SibSad, Aelita, Seminis, Prestige). 🌿 Plant Habit: Generally described as a compact or short indeterminate, growing around 1.3m to 2m (4.2–6.5 ft) in a greenhouse depending on feeding. It produces very few suckers, making … Read more