Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary of Solar Flare (Solnechnaya Vspyshka) 🌍 Origin: Known in Russia as “Solnechnaya Vspyshka,” this is the famous Solar Flare variety originally bred by Brad Gates at Wild Boar Farms (USA). However, this thread reveals a fascinating mystery: many seeds circulating among Russian vendors turned out to be heavily crossed or genetically unstable! 🌿 … Read more
Quick Summary of Virginia Sweets (Russian: Сладости Вирджинии) 🌍 The “Full Circle” Journey: Virginia Sweets is a well-known American bicolor heirloom. However, watching it grow in the harsh climates of Russia and Siberia offers fascinating insights! In Eastern Europe, the name is often literally translated as “The Sweets of Virginia” or “Virginia’s Candies,” leading to … Read more
Quick Summary of Barry’s Crazy Cherry 🌍 Origin: Originally bred by Brad Gates (Wild Boar Farms, USA), this variety has become incredibly popular among Russian and Eastern European growers under the translated name “Sumasshedshie Cherry Barry”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate multiflora. The seedlings grow unusually slowly and stay compact early on, but eventually grow tall … Read more
Quick Summary of Skazochnaya Feya (Märchenfee / Fairytale Fairy) 🌍 Origin: A modern, highly decorative variety of German breeding. Part of the “Klewerhof Fairytale” (Klewerhof Märchen) series. The original German name is Märchenfee, which translates to Fairytale Fairy (Skazochnaya Feya in Russian). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. Famous for its “hyper-productivity”—it produces massive, overwhelming yields of … Read more
Quick Summary of Anthony’s Passionate Heart 🌍 Origin & History: A deeply meaningful American variety released by TomatoFest to honor the legacy of the late chef, writer, and traveler Anthony Bourdain. It was bred by respected tomato breeder Jeff Dawson, who crossed ‘Sungold’ with ‘Amish Paste’. After seven years of stabilization, this distinct red oxheart … Read more
Quick Summary of Sladkiy Kesidi (Sweet Casady) 🌍 Origin: A very popular elongated striped variety. Known globally as “Sweet Casady” (originally bred by Tom Wagner), it is widely grown and traded among Russian and Eastern European collectors under the translated name “Sladkiy Kesidi”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate and extremely vigorous! Growers describe the foliage as … Read more
Quick Summary of Märchenzauber (Fairy Tale Magic) 🌍 Origin: A beautiful modern variety originating from Germany. The name translates directly to “Fairy Tale Magic.” 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall vining) and early ripening. It produces lovely, cascading trusses. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Large cherry or small plum tomatoes weighing up to 50 g (1.7 oz). They … Read more
Quick Summary of San Marzano 🌍 Origin: The legendary, world-famous Italian heirloom originating from the Campania region in Italy. It is considered the gold standard for tomato paste and sauces worldwide. 🌿 Plant Habit: Varies heavily depending on the specific line/biotype you grow. It can range from a compact 60 cm (2 ft) bush (Nano/Dwarf … Read more
Quick Summary of Sgt. Pepper’s 🌍 Origin: A highly famous anthocyanin (blue/purple) cross bred in the USA (by Jason Haynes). It is named after the iconic Beatles album. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. This variety is famous for its extremely “wispy”, slender, and weeping foliage. In the seedling stage and in the garden, it looks incredibly … Read more
Quick Summary of Russo Sicilian Togetta 🌍 Origin: A beautiful traditional heirloom variety, highly prized for its deeply ruffled, classic Italian appearance. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (vining). Highly productive in a greenhouse when pruned to 2 stems, but also demonstrates extreme resilience when grown outdoors in harsh conditions. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Bright red, oblate (flattened), … Read more