Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Yellow Brandywine (Platfoot Strain) 🌍 Origin: A legendary American heirloom from Ohio, popularized by Gary Platfoot. It is fascinating to see how highly prized and widely grown this specific US strain is among Russian and Siberian greenhouse growers! 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. True to the Brandywine family, it has Potato Leaf … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Banan Zholtyi (Yellow Banana) 🌍 The Controversy: This variety is sold in Russia by the “Poisk” seed company under the name “Yellow Banana.” However, Russian growers who ran side-by-side grow-outs have universally concluded that this is simply a repackaged, renamed version of the famous American heirloom Banana Legs (originally bred by … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Big Yellow Zebra 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), but the vines aren’t overly aggressive or huge (usually around 1.6m / 5.2 ft). Known for being quite early, especially in difficult or short summer seasons. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Oblate (flat-round) bright yellow beefsteaks with very subtle, faint light-yellow stripes (which can sometimes … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Big Rainbow (Bolshaya Raduga) 🌍 Origin: A famous American heirloom originally from Minnesota. In Russia, it is widely grown and traded among collectors under the translated name “Bolshaya Raduga” (Большая радуга). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). Usually grows between 1.8 – 2 meters (6-6.5 ft) in a greenhouse, but can be … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Buratino 🌍 Origin & Name: A popular collector’s heirloom. “Buratino” is the Russian version of Pinocchio, and the tomato is aptly named for its distinct, long, pointed “nose.” Note: There is also an official commercial red determinate variety named Buratino in the Russian State Register, but the heirloom community uses this … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Bizon Oranzhevyi (Orange Bison) 🌍 Origin: A popular Russian commercial variety introduced by the “Poisk” seed company as part of their “Vkusnoteka” (Flavor Library) series. The name means “Orange Bison”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). Does well in both greenhouses and out in the garden. It responds great to pruning (a … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Bolshoy Plombir (Big Ice Cream) 🌍 Origin & Name: A commercial Russian variety. It is named after “Plombir,” which is a famous, rich Russian vanilla ice cream. The name reflects the tomato’s pale, creamy white/yellow color. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, but generally medium-tall, usually topping out around 1.5m (5 ft). Performs … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Buyan Zheltyi (Buyan Yellow) 🌍 Origin: A Russian commercial variety, officially registered in the Russian State Register for the West Siberian region. Also known as “Boets Yellow” (Fighter Yellow). 🌿 Plant Habit: Rugose determinate dwarf (tree-type). Extremely compact, sturdy, and short, typically reaching only 30-60 cm (1-2 ft). Seedlings do not … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Bychie Serdtse Oranzhevoe (Orange Oxheart) 🌍 Origin & Confusion: A popular commercial Russian variety sold by various seed companies (Russkiy Ogorod, Poisk, Sibsad, etc.). However, growers report massive variations depending on the seed vendor. It is often confused with varieties like Liskin Nos (Fox Nose), Oranzhevoe Serdtse (Orange Heart), and Korol … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Huge Lemon Oxheart (Limonnyi Okskhard) is a tall indeterminate vine that produces exactly what its name promises: massive pale yellow/lemon-colored oxhearts frequently weighing 14-21 oz (400-600 g). Most growers report exceptional yields and a delicate, mild flavor, though opinions are slightly split on whether that mildness leans toward sweet or just plain … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Apricot Brandywine 🌍 Origin: A beautiful variation within the famous Brandywine family, prized among heirloom collectors for its unique coloration and classic flavor profile. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, PL (Potato Leaf). A very vigorous and sturdy plant that can easily reach 6 ft (1.8m+) in a greenhouse. Responds well to being … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Burracker’s Favorite 🌍 Origin: A famous heirloom variety from the USA (Virginia), named after the Burracker Hollow in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was introduced to the gardening world by Craig LeHoullier. In Russia, it’s known as “Burrakerskie Lyubimtsy”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. The plant is notorious for having somewhat “wimpy” … Read more