Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary of Rozovyi Shlem (Pink Helmet) 🌍 Origin: A fantastic commercial variety released by the highly respected Russian seed company “Siberian Garden” (SibSad). The name translates to “Pink Helmet”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, growing up to 2 meters (6.5 ft) tall in a greenhouse. Like many classic oxheart varieties, it has a “wispy” or … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozovye Shchechki (Pink Cheeks) 🌍 Origin: A Russian commercial variety originally developed by the “Manul” seed company. The name translates to “Pink Cheeks”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Generally grows 0.6-0.8 m (2-2.5 ft) tall outdoors, but can reach 1.5 m (5 ft) in a greenhouse if trained properly. Note: The bush … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozda 🌍 Origin: An excellent heirloom variety that gained popularity through seed-sharing networks in Ukraine and Russia. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall vining). Highly productive. Grows very well in greenhouses when pruned to 2 stems. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Large, red, elongated tomatoes. The shape can vary slightly on the same bush—ranging from … Read more
Quick Summary of Ukrainian Pink Giant 🌍 Origin: An old, treasured heirloom from Ukraine. It has been passed down in local families since the 1980s. Historically, it is also known locally as Rozovyi Velikan or Rozhevyi Veleten (Pink Giant). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (vining). A very vigorous and massive plant that requires strong staking. 🍅 … Read more
Quick Summary of Radishchevskie 🌍 Origin: A local “folk” (family) heirloom from Russia. The name likely originates from the village of Radishchevo in the Ulyanovsk region. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (vining). It grows as a strong, relatively compact bush, reaching about 1.6-1.7 meters (5.2-5.5 ft) tall in a greenhouse. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Large beefsteaks reaching … 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
Quick Summary of Russkiy Vkusnyi (Russian Tasty) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety introduced by the “Gavrish” seed company. The name translates directly to “Russian Tasty”. (Note: Do not confuse this with the hybrid “Russian Taste F1”). 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush), growing short and stout at 60-80 cm (24-31 inches) tall. Suitable for both … Read more
Quick Summary of Rabiga 🌍 Origin: A rare Russian collector’s heirloom (originally sourced from the private collection of V. Monakhova). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (vining). Outdoors in cooler climates, it can stay relatively compact around 1.2 m (4 feet) tall, but it thrives and grows much larger when planted in a greenhouse. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: … Read more
Quick Summary of Ruslan 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian heirloom variety known for its vibrant color and rich taste. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (vining), but tends to grow wide rather than just shooting straight up. The foliage is unusually light green but very dense. Pro Tip for Hot Climates: The fruits naturally hide deep under … Read more
Quick Summary of Rubin Zolotoy (Ruby Gold) 🌍 Origin: A historic American heirloom (Ruby Gold) that became highly popular among Russian and Ukrainian seed collectors (notably popularized by A.I. Kulik) under the translated name “Rubin Zolotoy”. 🌿 Plant Habit: A very powerful, vigorous indeterminate (vining) plant. In a greenhouse, it easily reaches the ceiling (over … Read more
Quick Summary of Russkiy Kazak (Russian Cossack) 🌍 Origin: Originally a US-bred variety (likely by Tom Wagner) that became highly popular among Russian seed collectors (like V. Redko and V. Popenko) under the translated name “Russkiy Kazak”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Semi-determinate to indeterminate. Generally stays relatively compact, with most growers reporting a medium height of … Read more
Quick Summary of Raiskoe Naslazhdenie (Heavenly Delight) 🌍 Origin: A highly regarded Russian commercial variety, officially included in the Russian State Register in 1999. The name translates to “Heavenly Delight” or “Paradise Delight”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (vining). While original seed packets claim a height of 1.2 m (4 ft), almost all growers report that … Read more