Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Love dark tomatoes? You’re in the right place. We are gathering a worldwide collection of black, purple, and deep mahogany varieties, complete with real photos and honest reviews from actual growers.
If you’re growing dark heirlooms, you’ll quickly notice they fall into two main camps. The classic “black” tomatoes (like the famous Russian darks) aren’t actually black. They just retain green chlorophyll as they ripen, which mixes with red lycopene to give them a beautiful brick, mahogany, or muddy-brown color.
Then there are the modern purple/indigo varieties. These get their crazy dark colors from anthocyanins (the same stuff found in blueberries). The rule for these is simple: wherever direct sunlight hits the skin, it turns deep purple or jet black, while the shaded parts usually stay red or pink.
Most growers agree that dark tomatoes have a very specific taste profile. They are usually described as earthy, sweet, and sometimes slightly salty. Because they generally have lower acidity than classic red tomatoes, they are fantastic for fresh eating and slicing for sandwiches.
Scroll down to browse the varieties our community has tested. We document real yields, plant heights, and whether the seeds are actually worth saving for next year!
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Zefir v Shokolade (Marshmallow in Chocolate) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety from the “Poisk” seed company’s “Vkusnoteka” (Flavor Library) line. The name playfully translates to “Marshmallow in Chocolate”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). Usually reaches around 6 feet (1.9 m) in open ground. It sets fruit consistently without dropping blossoms. … Read more
Quick Summary of Zarzhavevshaya Dusha (Rusty Soul) 📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Zarzhavevshaya Dusha 🌍 Origin: A relatively recent artisanal variety developed by the famous Latvian tomato breeder, Valdis Puliņš. The name translates to “Rusty Soul” (or “Rusted Soul”). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. A massive, incredibly vigorous plant that can easily handle being pruned to multiple … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Dieticheskiy Chempion (Dietary Champion) 🌍 Origin: A Ukrainian variety developed by the Institute of Irrigated Agriculture in Kherson. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, tall, mid-season variety. Thrives in both greenhouses and open ground. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Oblate (flattened) beefsteaks weighing 8.8-12.3 oz (250-350 g). They ripen to a stunning dark purple/black-raspberry color. … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Jessica 🌍 Origin: An indeterminate heirloom variety originally from Argentina. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). Vigorously grows with very healthy, dark green foliage. Responds well to being pruned to 3 main stems in a greenhouse setting. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Dark (brown/black) cocktail-sized tomatoes shaped like little pears with thin necks. Average … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): De Barao Black 🌍 Origin: The dark/black variant of the legendary post-Soviet “De Barao” family. Widely available from commercial Russian seed companies, though growers report massive inconsistencies between different vendors. 🌿 Plant Habit: A vigorous indeterminate. Often grows over 6.5 ft (2 m) tall. Known for being a rugged, disease-resistant “tin … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Divo Divnoe (Wondrous Miracle) 🌍 Origin: A highly regarded private collection heirloom variety, with early seeds tracing back to Ukraine and Bulgaria. The name “Divo Divnoe” roughly translates to “Wondrous Miracle” or “Marvelous Wonder” from Russian folk tales. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). Produces strong, sturdy vines with dense foliage. 🍅 … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Scotsdale Road 🌍 Origin: A stunning novelty anthocyanin (blue/black) variety. Like many modern antho lines, its exact lineage is often compared to Brad Gates’ creations due to the distinct color patterns. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. The vines are notably thin and wispy, reaching about 5.5 feet (1.7m) in a greenhouse setting. … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Datterini Nero 🌍 Origin: An Italian-style grape/cherry tomato. The name “Datterini” translates from Italian as “Little Dates,” while “Nero” means black. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. Produces beautiful, long, organized trusses of fruit. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Dark brown/mahogany, elongated grape-type cherries with subtle striping and a cute little “beak” or nipple at … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Dikovinka 🌍 Origin: A fantastic commercial dark cherry variety from the Russian seed company “Aelita”. The charming name “Dikovinka” translates roughly to “A Rare Marvel” or “Novelty”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. An absolute monster of a plant. Extremely vigorous and fuss-free, performing exceptionally well even outdoors in open ground. 🍅 Fruit … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Blue Bayou 🌍 Origin: Created by legendary American independent breeder Tom Wagner (famous for Green Zebra). It has become highly popular overseas with Eastern European exotic seed collectors. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). One of its most striking features is the foliage—the stems and leaves exhibit a distinct blue/purple tint, especially … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Pierce’s Pride 🌍 Origin: A highly respected dark heirloom bred by Larry Pierce of Cabool, Missouri (USA). It has gained massive popularity overseas among Russian and Eastern European growers for its rich color and reliable performance. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, but frequently acts as a “short indeterminate,” with many growers reporting … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Brown Flesh Jumbo 🌍 Origin: Originally from Canada. It was introduced to the RU heirloom community under the translated name Gigantskaya Korichnevaya Plot. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), vigorous, and sun-loving. Outstanding heat tolerance! Even in extreme summer heat waves, it continues to set fruit without dropping blossoms. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: … Read more