Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): White Zebra 🌍 Origin: A novelty striped variety (originally developed by Tom Wagner in the US, widely circulated in Eastern Europe). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. Highly reliable. Growers report excellent fruit set even in bad weather years when other varieties drop their blossoms. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Small-to-medium round salad/cocktail tomatoes. When … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Bunte Pflaume 🌍 Origin: A German heirloom variety whose name translates to “Colorful Plum” or “Variegated Plum”. Widely circulated among Russian collectors (such as V. Popenko). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. Height varies depending on growing conditions: reaches about 180 cm (6 ft) in a greenhouse, but stays a more compact 1 … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Boloto (Swamp) 🌍 Origin & Name: A Russian commercial heirloom originally introduced by the seed company TomAgroS (formerly GISOK). The name “Boloto” translates to “Swamp”. It was named for its unusual muddy, bronze-green, olive color when fully ripe. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, but generally on the shorter side. Growers report it … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): White Queen 🌍 Origin: A classic white heirloom beefsteak variety, highly debated among tomato collectors for its unique flavor profile. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, typically reaching 5.2 – 6.5 ft (1.6 – 2.0 m). The plant is described as sturdy and “well-behaved” (not overly aggressive with suckers). 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Large … Read more
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📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Blazhenstvo (Bliss) 🌍 Origin: A stunning modern variety introduced by Russian breeder and collector Sofia Saakova. The name translates beautifully to “Bliss”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). It has proven to be quite resistant to Leaf Mold (Cladosporium), staying healthy late into the season. Note: It is a late-season variety in … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Pineapple Pig 🌍 Origin: A stunning striped bicolor variety bred by the legendary American breeder Brad Gates (Wild Boar Farms). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. A massive, powerful vine that sets very heavy fruits. Requires strong support, as the trusses can break under the weight. Being a “southern” (California) variety, it can … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Pineapple Zebra 🌍 Origin: A stunning stabilized cross, likely originating from a mix of the classic Pineapple and Green Zebra tomatoes. Widely known among US and European growers, it is highly prized by collectors for its adaptability and stunning appearance in colder climates. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and vigorous. Performs … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Pineapple Heart (Ananasnoe Serdtse) 🌍 Origin: An unstable exotic selection created by the well-known breeder A.I. Kulik. It originated as a genetic segregation (off-type) of another variety, and growers are still actively stabilizing it. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), mid-early to mid-late season. Because the variety is still segregating, growers report … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Almatinskiy Tricolor (Almaty Tricolor) 🌍 Origin: A relatively new but already highly sought-after variety bred by the famous tomato breeder Vitaly Alifirov from Almaty, Kazakhstan. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), vigorous, and highly productive. Usually ripens mid-season, though it can lean towards late-season in cooler climates. It keeps setting fruit well … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Cherokee Lime Stripes 🌍 Origin: An American heirloom variety discovered by breeder Bill Jeffers. It is believed to be a natural mutation or cross involving ‘Cherokee Green’. Sometimes traded as “Cherokee Lime Stripes (Purple Green)”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. In open ground, it can stay relatively compact (around 1 meter / … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Copper River 🌍 Origin: A breathtakingly beautiful tricolor heirloom bred by Lynn Brown in Napa Valley, California. It was later widely distributed by famous tomato collectors (such as Reinhard Kraft). 🌿 Plant Habit: Ranges from semi-determinate to a manageable indeterminate (usually topping out between 1.2m and 1.6m / 4–5.5 ft). It … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR) 🌍 Origin: A beautiful striped variety bred by the famous American tomato breeder Brad Gates (Wild Boar Farms). In Russia, it is known in translation as Svetlyi Kaban. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, mid-season. It grows tall and vigorous, easily reaching 2 meters (6.5 ft) when grown in a greenhouse. 🍅 Fruit … Read more