Surpriz vs. Serendipity: Russian Tomato Naming Mix-Up

Quick Summary of Surpriz 🌍 Origin & The Translation Mix-Up: There is massive confusion surrounding this name in the Russian seed market! The true Surpriz is a French striped heirloom. However, some Russian seed vendors (like Gusev) took the American bicolor heirloom Serendipity and directly translated its name to “Surprise” (Surpriz) in Russian. 🔍 How … Read more

Sweet Carneros Pink Tomato Review

Quick Summary of Sweet Carneros Pink 🌍 Origin: Bred by the famous Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms (USA, California). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). Growers note that the plant is incredibly healthy, vigorous, and highly productive. It makes a highly decorative addition to any greenhouse or garden. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Small, round, pink cocktail-sized … Read more

Scabitha Tomato Review

Quick Summary of Scabitha 🌍 Origin: An exotic novelty variety bred by Brad Gates (Wild Boar Farms, USA). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching up to 2 meters (6.5 ft) in a greenhouse. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Small, predominantly round tomatoes weighing up to 100g (3.5 oz). They are red, heavily adorned with striking gold and … Read more

Tiger Plum (Sliva Tigrovaya) Tomato Review

Quick Summary of Tiger Plum (Sliva Tigrovaya) 🌍 Origin & Name: An Eastern European striped heirloom, also known in international circles as Plum Tigris. Translates from Russian directly as “Tiger Plum” (Sliva Tigrovaya). It is sometimes confused with “Striped Plum”, though growers note they are genetically different. 🌿 Plant Habit: Highly versatile. When grown outdoors … 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

Siberian Malachite Tomato: Green Striped Heirloom

Quick Summary of Sibirskiy Malakhit (Siberian Malachite) 🌍 Origin: A well-known commercial variety from Siberian Garden (SibSad). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. In open ground, it usually reaches 1.2-1.4 meters (4-4.5 ft), and slightly taller in greenhouses. The bush is regular, not overly spreading. Growers note it exhibits excellent disease resistance (particularly against leaf mold / … Read more

Northern Lights Tomato Review

Quick Summary of Severnoe Siyanie (Northern Lights) 🌍 Origin: This is the Russian-grown lineage of the famous American heirloom “Northern Lights” (translated directly into Russian as Severnoe Siyanie). It has been widely circulated and adapted by Russian seed savers. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). In a greenhouse, it easily reaches up to 2 meters (6.5 … Read more

Plum Drop (Slivovaya Kaplya ) Tomato Review

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

Stan Ley Tomato Review: The Sweet Bicolor

Quick Summary of Stan Ley 🌍 Origin: A bit of a mystery! Cultivated and popularized by Russian seed collector Alexey Kulik, who lists its origin as the USA. The name is likely a transliteration of “Stan Ley” (or Stan Lee). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, but on the shorter side. Outdoors in open ground, it reaches … Read more

Lilac Lake (Sirenevoe Ozero) Purple Beefsteak Tomato Review

Quick Summary of Sirenevoe Ozero (Lilac Lake) 🌍 Origin: A stunning dark heirloom variety from Eastern Europe. The name translates to “Lilac Lake.” Note: You may also see it sold under the name Buzkove Ozero, which is simply the Ukrainian translation of the exact same name. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. In a greenhouse, it typically … 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

Solar Flare (Solnechnaya Vspyshka) Tomato Review

Quick Summary of Solar Flare (Solnechnaya Vspyshka) 🌍 Origin: Known in Russia as “Solnechnaya Vspyshka,” this is the famous Solar Flare variety originally bred by Brad Gates at Wild Boar Farms (USA). However, this thread reveals a fascinating mystery: many seeds circulating among Russian vendors turned out to be heavily crossed or genetically unstable! 🌿 … Read more