Solokha Tomato Review & Grower Photos

Quick Summary of Solokha 🌍 Origin & Name: A popular Eastern European variety. “Solokha” is a female name, famously known as the lively, mischievous village witch in Nikolai Gogol’s classic tale “The Night Before Christmas”. 🔍 The “Two Strains” Mystery: Forum discussions reveal there are at least two distinct genetic lines circulating under this name: … Read more

Super Exotic (Superekzotik) Tomato: Dark Striped Plum

Quick Summary of Superekzotik (Super Exotic) 🌍 Origin: A highly popular Eastern European/Russian commercial heirloom. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). It is a very vigorous vine, with growers reporting heights anywhere from 1.7 m to almost 2.5 m (5.5 to 8 ft) in a greenhouse. The foliage is relatively sparse/airy, allowing good light penetration. 🍅 … Read more

Santa Cruz Tomato Review – High Yield Canning Plum

Quick Summary of Santa Cruz 🌍 Origin: Often circulated by Russian seed collectors (like V. Popenko). It is widely positioned in the community as an “improved De Barao” (referencing the legendary Eastern European canning variety). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (very tall), easily reaching 2.5 meters (8+ ft). Growers describe the bush as a “monster”—very vigorous … Read more

Smilyanskiy Rudasa Tomato: Unique Ukrainian Heirloom

Quick Summary of Smilyanskiy Rudasa 🌍 Origin & History: A rare Eastern European heirloom with a great backstory. It was bred by Ukrainian breeder A.P. Rudas. The seeds in this thread took a fascinating journey: bought at a market in Hungary, brought to Germany, and then shared with Russian growers. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). … Read more

Sweet Barrel (Sladkiy Bochonok) Tomato Review

Quick Summary of Sladkiy Bochonok (Sweet Barrel) 🌍 Origin: A Russian commercial variety. The name translates to “Sweet Barrel”, which perfectly describes its shape and flavor. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching 1.8-2 meters (6-6.5 ft). Pro Tip: The official description notes it is prone to excessive vegetative growth, so it requires strict pruning and … Read more

Santa Maria Heirloom Tomato

Quick Summary of Santa Maria 🌍 Origin: A highly regarded variety circulated by Russian seed collectors (seeds in this thread originate from V. Popenko). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). It is highly praised for its exceptional heat tolerance. Growers report it sets fruit perfectly without dropping blossoms (no skipped trusses) even during a 1.5-month-long severe … Read more

Siberian Pirouette (Sibirskiy Piruet) Canning Tomato Review

Quick Summary of Sibirskiy Piruet (Siberian Pirouette) 🌍 Origin: A Russian/Siberian variety specifically valued for its commercial-grade shelf life and suitability for long-term storage. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Red, cylindrical (plum/paste type), smooth, and very dense. They typically have 2 to 3 seed locules (cavities). Because of its structural integrity, it … Read more

Siberian Cossack Tomato Review

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

Stolypin Tomato Review

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

Sweet Cream Tomato Review

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

San Mazzo Tomato Review & Photos: Sweet Bottle-Shaped Cherry

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

Coeur de Bob (Bob’s Heart) Paste Tomato Review

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