Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
🍅 Quick take: Queen Anne is a mid-season, compact indeterminate vine bred by renowned American breeder Tom Wagner (crossing Brandy Stripes x Vintage Wine). Fruits average around 7 oz (200 g) with an oblate shape and plump shoulders. Because Wagner’s early releases often display genetic segregation, growers report two distinct color phenotypes: one shimmering, pearlescent … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Pork Chop is an acclaimed indeterminate yellow striped beefsteak bred by Brad Gates (Wild Boar Farms, California). Vines produce 8-12 oz (220-350 g) ribbed, oblate fruits that start lime-green with dark stripes before maturing into a glowing golden-amber with metallic green streaks. Growers praise its complex, refreshing citrus sweetness, noting that peak … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Pearls of Wisdom is an indeterminate striped anthocyanin plum bred by Brad Gates (Wild Boar Farms, California). Vines produce 3.5-5 oz (100-150 g) elongated, teardrop-shaped fruits painted in dusky burgundy with metallic olive-green and purple striping. Growers highlight its slender, polite canopy, balanced sweet-savory flavor, and dense meat that excels both fresh … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Purple Bumblebee is an eye-catching indeterminate large cherry tomato bred by Fred Hempel of Artisan Seeds (California). The round, dusky purple fruits feature metallic olive-green striping and exceptionally firm flesh. While greenhouse growers report juicy, productive vines reaching nearly 6.5 ft (2 m), outdoor open-ground growers in cooler climates note thick, chew-resistant … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Pink Lemon (Reinhard Kraft strain) is a mid-season, semi-compact indeterminate bicolor producing 8-10 oz (220-280 g) oblate beefsteaks. The golden-yellow skin develops a soft pink blush at the blossom end, revealing a dense interior marbled with a red central starburst. Growers praise its ability to hold high sugar levels even when grown … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Purple Dragon is an indeterminate anthocyanin saladette tomato bred by American breeder Mark McCaslin (Frogsleap Farm). The 1.5-2.5 oz (40-70 g) pointed plums transition from jet inky-black when unripe to a glossy orange-red with purple splashes. Growers praise its candy-like, fruity-spicy sweetness and continuous blossom setting, though gardeners note stubborn calyx attachment … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Pastel Sleeves is an eye-catching indeterminate elongated paste variety bred by American breeder Tom Wagner. The 3-4.5 oz (80-130 g) cylindrical to pear-shaped fruits display shimmering, semi-translucent cream skin with a gentle pink blush and lime-green seed gel. Prized for its sweet fruity walls and suitability for dehydrating, growers report a stark … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Primary Colors is a distinctive saladette/cocktail variety bred by American heirloom breeder Tom Wagner. The indeterminate vines bear round, 2-3.5 oz (60-100 g) bright yellow fruits accented with dark purple anthocyanin shoulders. Growers highlight its heavy fruit set and solid sweet-tart profile. In southern climates, it thrives unpruned, though northern open-ground growers … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Piedmont Pear (often listed simply as Piedmont) is an indeterminate, heavy-setting cocktail tomato producing 2-4 oz (50-120 g) pear-shaped bicolors with a yellow-orange body and vivid pink blush. Gardeners praise its sweet flavor and meaty texture, making it legendary for whole-fruit canning in tomato juice. However, thin skins make it prone to … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Purple Sunrise (also circulated as Purpura Rīts or Purple Morning) is an indeterminate, mid-season anthocyanin slicer brought into wider cultivation by Latvian seed saver Valdis Puliņš via an Austrian collector. The vine yields gorgeous oblate fruits weighing 5 to 11 oz (150-300 g) with creamy pale-yellow skin splashed with glossy, ink-black shoulders … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Pink Tiger is an indeterminate, mid-season julienne cherry bred by Fred Hempel (Artisan Seeds). The plant produces slender, pointed pink mini-plums adorned with shimmering golden stripes, averaging around 0.7 oz (up to 20 g). Gardeners in USDA Zones 3 and 4 report solid crack resistance, great shelf life, and high sugar content … Read more
🍅 Quick take: P20 x Beauty King is an indeterminate anthocyanin breeding line originally crossed by Mark McCaslin (Frogsleap Farm) using Oregon State University’s blue P20 line and Brad Gates’ Beauty King. Fruits range from 4 to 10 oz (120-300 g), featuring electric indigo shoulders draped over gold, orange, or red striping with deep bicolor … Read more