Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary of Black and Brown Boar 🌍 Origin: A famous American variety developed by Brad Gates (Wild Boar Farms). In Russia, it circulates under the translated name Cherno-Korichnevyi Kaban. It is fascinating to see how this California native performs in the harsh climates of Russia and Siberia! 🌿 Plant Habit: Tall indeterminate, reaching up … Read more
Quick Summary of Chernyi Medved (Black Bear) 🌍 Origin: Originally an American variety, circulating in Russia under the translated name Chernyi Medved (Black Bear). Some Eastern European growers suspect it is a larger-fruited selection or sibling of the Russian commercial variety Negritenok. 🌿 Plant Habit: Tall indeterminate. Highly vigorous and productive. It can easily support … Read more
Quick Summary of Brad’s Black Heart (Chernoe Serdtse Breda) 🌍 Origin: A famous American variety bred by Brad Gates (Wild Boar Farms, California), which found its way into the hands of Russian and Eastern European collectors. It is fascinating to see how this Californian heirloom performs in harsh climates like Siberia and the Urals! 🌿 … Read more
Quick Summary of Chile Verde (Green Chile) 🌍 Origin: A very popular green-when-ripe variety in Eastern Europe, often sold by commercial seed companies like Biotekhnika and Siberian Garden, as well as private collectors. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching about 1.5 – 2 meters (5 to 6.5 ft). Most growers report a Regular Leaf (RL), … Read more
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Quick Summary of Chinook Tomato 🌍 Origin: A gorgeous release from the renowned Canadian tomato breeder Karen Olivier. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (very tall) and vigorous. The vines are strong and easily reach the roof of a standard greenhouse (over 6.5 feet / 2 meters). It requires heavy-duty staking and tying due to the massive … Read more
Quick Summary of Ciondolo Orange 🌍 Origin: A collector’s variety with Italian roots (“Ciondolo” translates to pendant or charm), widely circulated among Russian heirloom growers under the transliterated name “Chiondollo Oranzhevyi”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). The plants are noted for being very sturdy and strong. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Large, beautiful orange tomatoes shaped like … Read more
Quick Summary of Tsao Fen 🌍 Origin: A collector’s variety sourced from Russian heirloom growers (originating from the Logunov collection). The name suggests Asian origins (often transliterated as Cao Fen or Tsao Fen). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching about 2 meters (6.5 ft) when grown in a greenhouse. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Medium-sized fruits, typically … Read more
Quick Summary of Violet Jasper (Tzi Bi U / Tszy-Yu) 🌍 Origin: A stunning commercial heirloom originally from China. It circulates under multiple translated names, including Violet Jasper, Purple Jasper, Tzi Bi U, and Tszy-Yu. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), typically reaching 1.2–2 m (4–6.5 ft) depending on whether it is grown outdoors or in … Read more
Quick Summary of Tsindao (Qingdao) 🌍 Origin: A well-known dark/black tomato variety popular among Russian and Eastern European heirloom growers. Originally named after the Chinese city of Qingdao. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), but growers frequently note that the plant has a rather fragile, wispy structure (not overly aggressive in growth) and usually stops around … 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 Hazel Mae 🌍 Origin: A well-known American heirloom originating from Ohio. Prized for its massive bi-color fruits. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). Needs a long, warm season to perform well. In regions with short or cool summers, yields can be disappointingly low unless seeds are started very early indoors. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: … Read more