Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary of Smuglyanka (Dark-Skinned Girl) 🌍 Origin: This thread highlights a classic naming conflict! There are two completely different tomatoes sold in Russia under the name Smuglyanka (which translates to “Dark-Skinned Girl,” a famous Russian term of endearment and song). 🌿 Version 1 (Breeder N. Borzykh): A moderately tall, mid-season indeterminate. It is notably … Read more
Quick Summary of Sibirskiy Kazak (Siberian Cossack) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety (often sold by the Aelita seed company). The name translates to “Siberian Cossack.” 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. Outdoors in open ground, it usually stops around 1.2–1.3m (4 ft), but in a greenhouse, it easily reaches 1.8m (6 ft). It is a mid-to-late … Read more
Quick Summary of Slivovaya Kaplya (Plum Drop) 🌍 Origin: This thread reveals a classic seed industry scandal! The commercial seed company Russkiy Ogorod (Russian Garden) sells this variety as an expensive “F1 Hybrid” called Slivovaya Kaplya (Plum Drop). However, clever growers have figured out that it is actually just the American open-pollinated variety Indigo Kumquat … Read more
Quick Summary of Stolypin 🌍 Origin: A very famous Russian commercial variety introduced by the seed company “Aelita.” It is officially listed in the Russian State Register of Varieties (added in 2012). 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). An early to mid-season variety that stays compact but produces heavily. It is widely grown outdoors in open … Read more
Quick Summary of Sweet Cream 🌍 Origin: An artisan elongated cherry/plum variety, closely related in genetics and appearance to famous varieties like Blush and Candy Sweet Icicle. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. In a greenhouse, it typically reaches 1.5 to 2 meters (5 to 6.5 ft) and can be pruned to multiple stems. The plant has … Read more
Quick Summary of Sibiryachka Tosya (Siberian Girl Tosya) 🌍 Origin: A robust, early-season Russian determinate variety. The charming name translates to “Siberian Girl Tosya” (Tosya is a traditional Russian diminutive name). 🌿 Plant Habit: An ultra-compact determinate (bush). It grows to a maximum height of about 50 cm (20 inches). It is completely fuss-free, requiring … Read more
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Quick Summary of San Mazzo 🌍 Origin: A unique micro-paste/cherry variety with a highly distinctive elongated shape. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate and highly vigorous. Growers recommend planting it in a well-ventilated area (like near a greenhouse door) with plenty of vertical and horizontal support. For maximum yield, prune the suckers only up to the first … Read more
Quick Summary of Snegir (Bullfinch) 🌍 Origin: A Russian commercial variety (often sold by the “Biotechnica” seed company). The name translates to “Bullfinch,” a winter bird with a bright red breast, which perfectly hints at this variety’s cold tolerance. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). The seed packet claims it stays very compact at 45–50 cm … Read more
Quick Summary of Sanka 🌍 Origin: A massively popular Russian commercial variety. “Sanka” is an affectionate, folksy nickname for Alexander. It is widely considered a staple “workhorse” tomato across Eastern Europe. 🌿 Plant Habit: Ultra-early determinate (bush) type. Very compact, typically reaching 40-60 cm (16-24 inches) in height. The main stem thickness at the base … Read more
Quick Summary of Serdce Boba (Coeur de Bob) 🌍 Origin: A popular variety known by its French name Coeur de Bob, which translates to “Bob’s Heart” (Сердце Боба). Despite the “heart” in the name, it is a distinctly elongated, pepper-shaped tomato. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate with classic “wispy” (delicate) foliage. Growers recommend pruning it to … Read more
Quick Summary of Black Icicle (Russian: Сосулька чёрная) 🌍 Origin: A very popular commercial heirloom variety originating from Ukraine/Russia, known natively as “Chornaya Sosulka”. It has gained worldwide fame among collectors as “Black Icicle”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, tall, and highly productive. It easily reaches up to 2 meters (6.5 ft) in a greenhouse. Like … Read more
Quick Summary of Solnechnyi (Sunny) 🌍 Origin: A relatively rare Russian heirloom variety popularized by the well-known tomato collector Vladimir Anderson. The name translates to “Sunny”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, mid-season, and very tall. It is a highly vigorous and unpretentious plant that can easily reach 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) in a greenhouse. It sets … Read more