Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary: Scheherazade (Fuzzy Peach Tomato) 🌍 Origin: A highly unique commercial variety developed by the Russian seed company “Siberian Garden” (SibSad). 🌿 Plant Habit: The official packet claims it is a determinate bush up to 1 meter (3.2 ft) tall. However, nearly all growers report it behaving like a tall semi-determinate or indeterminate, easily … Read more
Quick Summary of Dwarf Shimofuri (Frost Waterfall) 🌍 Origin & History: An incredibly unique variegated variety created by US tomato breeder and enthusiast Applestar. She crossed the trailing variety Whippersnapper with Faelan’s First Snow. The name “Shimofuri” is a Japanese term meaning “marbled” or “white-veined” (often used to describe premium Wagyu beef), which perfectly describes … Read more
Quick Summary of Shokoladnaya Zebra (Chocolate Zebra) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety (released by Siberian Garden / SibSad). The name translates to “Chocolate Zebra”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate / Semi-dwarf. The bushes are quite compact, usually growing only 1 to 1.2 meters (3.2 to 4 ft) tall. Despite their small stature, they are incredibly … Read more
Quick Summary of Cherry Strawberry F1 🌍 Origin: A commercial F1 hybrid produced by the Russian seed company SeDek. Its Russian name is “Cherri Klubnichnyi” (Strawberry Cherry). 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush), reaching about 1.2-1.4 meters (4-4.5 ft) in height. It can be grown both in open ground and greenhouses but requires staking and pruning … Read more
Quick Summary of Cherry Safari 🌍 Origin: A beautiful and productive cherry tomato variety actively shared and grown among Russian and Eastern European heirloom collectors. 🌿 Plant Habit: Highly versatile. When grown outdoors in open ground, the plants stay relatively compact, reaching about 80-100 cm (2.5-3.5 ft) in height, and only require pruning up to … Read more
Quick Summary of Cherry Blossom F1 🌍 Origin: A highly popular commercial F1 hybrid created by the Japanese breeding company Sakata. Widely grown and discussed in Eastern Europe. 🌿 Plant Habit: The official registry lists it as determinate (bush), but growers consistently report it acting like a vigorous semi-determinate or even indeterminate, reaching 1.2 – … Read more
Quick Summary of Chernyi Slon (Black Elephant) 🌍 Origin: A well-known Russian commercial heirloom. The name translates to “Black Elephant”. It is distributed by several seed companies in Russia (like TomAgros and Gisok). 🌿 Plant Habit: Mostly described as a tall determinate or semi-determinate that eventually tops itself (stops growing upward). Height ranges from 1m … Read more
Quick Summary of Chelnok (Shuttle) 🌍 Origin: A well-known Russian commercial variety. The name “Chelnok” translates to “Shuttle” (as in a weaving shuttle), referring to its elongated shape. 🌿 Plant Habit: A true tree-type determinate (compact bush). Usually maxes out at just 40-45 cm (16-18 inches) tall. No pruning or suckering is required! The seedlings … Read more
2.jpg.7d7b81a23310c2507968ff56d4a375d8.jpg)
Quick Summary of Dwarf Black Wizard 🌍 Origin: A beautiful dark-striped variety from the dwarf tomato family (often circulated among Russian collectors as “Gnom Chernyi Volshebnik”). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate dwarf (tree-type). It has a very sturdy, strong central stem and light-green rugose foliage. Perfect for small spaces or large containers, though it requires some … Read more
Quick Summary of Tsarskiy Podarok (Tsar’s Gift) 🌍 Origin: A commercial variety from the Russian seed company “Siberian Garden” (Sibsad). Interestingly, growers have discovered that it is the exact same genetic variety as Sibsad’s Koroleva Elizaveta (Queen Elizabeth), simply marketed under two different names. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate, compact, and very stocky bush. It grows … Read more
Quick Summary of Tsygan (Gypsy) 🌍 Origin: A very popular and reliable Russian commercial variety. The name translates to “Gypsy”, a traditional naming convention in Eastern Europe for dark, mahogany-colored tomatoes. 🌿 Plant Habit: Semi-determinate to indeterminate. It is relatively compact, typically growing 90–120 cm (3–4 ft) tall, though it can reach 1.5 m (5 … Read more
Quick Summary of Tsar Kolokol (Tsar Bell) 🌍 Origin: A famous Russian commercial heirloom, officially entered into the State Register in 2005 (bred by V. Dederko). The name translates to “Tsar Bell”, named after the massive historical bell on display in the Moscow Kremlin. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). The plant is relatively compact, typically … Read more