Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary of Yaponskaya Roza (Japanese Rose) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Siberian heirloom variety bred for reliability in open ground and unheated greenhouses. The name translates to “Japanese Rose”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (short-growing bush), reaching about 60–80 cm (24–32 inches) in height. Very low maintenance; seed producers recommend pruning suckers only up to the … Read more
Quick Summary of Yaponka (Japanese Girl) 🌍 Origin: A highly popular Russian/Eastern European internet heirloom. The name translates to “Japanese Girl” or “Japanese Woman”. It is believed to be closely related to the famous ‘Cardinal’ variety but features a distinct pointed tip. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, typically growing 1.5–2 meters (5–6.5 ft) tall. It has … Read more
Quick Summary of Yasha Yugoslavian 🌍 Origin & History: A legendary heirloom variety originally brought to the US from Yugoslavia. There is an ongoing historical debate (discussed in this thread) about its connection to the famous Crnkovic Yugoslavian variety, with many believing they are either the same or closely related sister lines from the Vojvodina … Read more
Quick Summary of Crnkovic Yugoslavian 🌍 Origin: A very famous heirloom variety originating from the former Yugoslavia (reportedly brought to the US by Yasha Crnkovic). In Eastern European collections, it is widely traded under the transliterated name “Yugoslavskiy Krnkovicha”. 🌿 Plant Habit: A vigorous indeterminate (tall vining) plant. Growers report excellent results when training the … Read more
Quick Summary of Yusupovskiye / Uzbekskie 🌍 Origin: A legendary heirloom originating from Uzbekistan, highly prized in Eastern Europe. It is named after a famous Uzbek breeder (Yusupov). Often traded simply as “Uzbekskie” (Uzbek). 🌿 Plant Habit: Classic Strain: A vigorous, tall indeterminate vine reaching 1.8m (6 ft) or more, requiring strong support. Dwarf Strain: … Read more
Quick Summary of Ela 12 🌍 Origin: A new Polish breeding line. It is a cross between Malinowy Gigant (Pink Giant) and Albenga (a famous Italian pear/heart tomato, spelled “Albenaga” in the original post). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. The bush is described as very sturdy, vigorous, and highly disease-resistant. Growers have had excellent results growing … Read more
Quick Summary of Ela 18 🌍 Origin: A recent cross from a Polish breeding line. The lineage is listed as Malinowy nn od przekupki x Albenga (which roughly translates from Polish as “Unknown Pink from a market woman” crossed with “Albenga”). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, vigorous plant. Best suited for greenhouse growing in cooler climates. … Read more
Quick Summary of Shimbleng 🌍 Origin: A rare heirloom variety grown by Russian collectors. The exact origin of the name “Shimbleng” is unknown, likely a phonetic adaptation. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). Greenhouse heights vary from 1.5 to 2 meters (5 to 6.5 ft) depending on conditions. Growers recommend pruning it to 2 stems for … Read more
Quick Summary of Shapka Monomakha (Monomakh’s Cap) 👑 What is “Monomakh’s Cap”? The name translates to Monomakh’s Cap, which is the legendary, jewel-encrusted, sable-trimmed crown of the early Russian Tsars (dating back to the 13th century). The crown has a distinct dome/cone shape with a pointed top. Therefore, the “true” heirloom tomato of this name … Read more
Quick Summary of Chainaya Roza (Tea Rose) 🌍 Origin: A commercial variety from the Russian seed company “Siberian Garden” (SibSad). The name translates to “Tea Rose,” hinting at its delicate pink color. 🌿 Plant Habit: Highly variable depending on the seed batch. Some growers report a tall indeterminate plant reaching 1.7 m (5.5 ft), while … Read more
Quick Summary of Tsar Kolokol (Tsar Bell) 🌍 Origin: A famous Russian commercial heirloom, officially entered into the State Register in 2005 (bred by V. Dederko). The name translates to “Tsar Bell”, named after the massive historical bell on display in the Moscow Kremlin. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). The plant is relatively compact, typically … Read more
Quick Summary of Hong Cai Bao (Khon-Tsai-Bao) 🌍 Origin: An exotic striped cherry variety originating from China. The name is transliterated from Russian catalogs as Khon-Tsai-Bao, or more commonly in international seed exchanges as Hong Cai Bao. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and highly vigorous. It performs exceptionally well outdoors in open ground and boasts … Read more