Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary of Tsypochka (Little Chick) 🌍 Origin: A very productive Russian commercial variety. The name “Tsypochka” translates to “Little Chick”, perfectly describing its bright yellow color and cute, slightly elongated plum shape with a distinct little beak. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching 1.7–2 m (5.5–6.5 ft) in height. It requires regular suckering and … Read more
Quick Summary of Citrina 🌍 Origin: A highly sought-after commercial heirloom variety of Czech breeding. Its name hints at its appearance—the bright yellow fruits are shaped exactly like miniature lemons, complete with a distinct little point (beak) at the blossom end. 🌿 Plant Habit: Vigorous and incredibly productive (indeterminate). Because it sets such massive amounts … Read more
Quick Summary of Tsitrusovyi Sad (Citrus Garden) 🌍 Origin: A famous Russian commercial/heirloom variety. It circulates under several synonymous names, most notably Chudo Sveta (Wonder of the World), Citrina, and sometimes mistakenly as Anna German. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), highly vigorous. It is a “multiflora” type, meaning it produces massive, highly complex flower trusses. … Read more
Quick Summary of Hong Cai Bao (Khon-Tsai-Bao) 🌍 Origin: An exotic striped cherry variety originating from China. The name is transliterated from Russian catalogs as Khon-Tsai-Bao, or more commonly in international seed exchanges as Hong Cai Bao. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and highly vigorous. It performs exceptionally well outdoors in open ground and boasts … Read more
Quick Summary of Huan U (Topaz) 🌍 Origin: An exotic cocktail/cherry variety originating from China. Often circulated among collectors under multiple names: Huan U, Topaz, Honey Topaz, or Pearlescent. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), highly vigorous, and tends to produce a ton of suckers. Can easily reach 3 meters (10 ft) in a greenhouse. Extremely … Read more
Quick Summary of Fitous 🌍 Origin: A highly resilient and dependable Russian variety. The name is “Fitous” (Фитоус). 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). It grows compactly to about 50-60 cm (20-24 inches) tall and features sparse/wispy foliage. It is incredibly rugged, requiring minimal care, and thrives even in poor soil and low-water conditions. Perfect for … Read more
Quick Summary of Florida Petite (Флорида петит) 🌍 Origin: A famous micro-dwarf commercial variety, originally developed by the University of Florida specifically for small containers and patio growing. 🌿 Plant Habit: Extremely compact, tree-type micro-dwarf. Plants typically stay between 25-40 cm (10-16 inches) tall. They require absolutely no pruning or suckering and tolerate lower light … Read more
Quick Summary of Fokus-Pokus (Hocus Pocus) 🌍 Origin: A Russian commercial variety from the “Aelita” seed company. The name translates to “Hocus Pocus”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Early season and indeterminate. It is a striking “Angora” type plant with silvery-green, heavily fuzzy (woolly) foliage. This dense fuzz makes the plant highly unattractive to insect pests. It … Read more
Quick Summary of Uboynaya Sila (Lethal Force) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety bred by the famous “Siberian Garden” (Sibsad) agricultural company. The name translates to “Lethal Force” or “Deadly Power”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). It forms a small, compact, slightly sprawling plant that requires minimal fuss. Excellent for open ground and container growing. … Read more
Quick Summary of Ultrafiolet (Ultraviolet) 🌍 Origin: A rare dark-fruited variety sent to Russian collectors in 2010 by Ukrainian tomato breeder D.G. Terentyev. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), vigorous, and forms a massive, strong plant (“like a tree”). Interestingly, it starts out looking very weak and wispy as a seedling, but explodes with growth once … Read more
Quick Summary of Unikalnyi Kulchitskogo (Kulchitsky’s Unique) 🌍 Origin: A Russian heirloom variety bred/selected by amateur vegetable grower M.G. Kulchitsky from Novorossiysk. The name translates to “Kulchitsky’s Unique”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching about 1.6 meters (5.2 ft) outdoors and taller in a greenhouse. Features large Potato Leaf (PL) foliage. Known for its incredible … Read more
Quick Summary of Tigrovyi (Tiger) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety introduced by the “Gavrish” seed company. The name translates simply to “Tiger”. 🌿 Plant Habit (Variable Genetics): Officially listed as growing up to 1.5 meters (5 ft). However, grower reports vary wildly. Some report it acting as a semi-determinate (where the main stem self-tops/terminates … Read more