Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Welcome to one of the most unique and comprehensive tomato databases on the English-speaking web. This catalog isn’t based on generic seed packet descriptions—it is built entirely on the real, hands-on experience of everyday gardeners.
For over a decade, thousands of growers have shared their successes, failures, and harvest photos on one of the oldest and largest Russian-speaking gardening forums. We have taken this massive, multi-year knowledge base and carefully translated and summarized the very best of it for you.
What you will find in our catalog:
Whether you are looking for a bulletproof hybrid for a short season, an exotic anthocyanin variety, or the sweetest beefsteak you’ve ever tasted, the collective experience of our gardening community will help you find the perfect seed for your next harvest. Browse our subcategories below to explore!
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Quick Summary of Cerise Noire du Layon 🌍 Origin: A French dark cherry variety (“Cerise Noire” translates to Black Cherry). Russian growers often note that it appears to be a twin of the popular Russian commercial variety Sladkaya Grozd Shokoladnaya (Sweet Chocolate Bunch). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and extremely vigorous. Growers note that you … Read more
Quick Summary of Chudo Zemli Orange 🌍 Origin: An orange variant/strain of the famous Russian heirloom “Chudo Zemli” (Wonder of the Earth). Some growers note a strong visual resemblance to the Fox Nose (Liskin Nos) variety, though they behave differently in the garden. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and extremely vigorous. When grown in a … Read more
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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
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Quick Summary of Chernyi Shokolad (Black Chocolate) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian cherry tomato variety, most notably distributed by the “Poisk” seed company as part of their “Vkusnoteka” (Flavor Library) series. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). The bush is vigorous but has somewhat sparse foliage, meaning it doesn’t get overly bushy. Growers successfully prune it … Read more
Quick Summary of Ananas Noire (Black Pineapple) 🌍 Origin: A famous variety discovered in Belgium by Pascal Moreau. It is widely grown by Russian collectors under the translated name “Chernyi Ananas”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), typically reaching 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m). It has regular leaf (RL) foliage. It is generally a strong and vigorous … Read more
Quick Summary of Chernyi Prints (Black Prince) 🌍 Origin: A legendary Soviet-era heirloom dating back to the 1960s-1970s. Note: There is a massive issue with modern commercial seed companies selling incorrect strains (off-types). The “true” original Black Prince is highly sought after by collectors. 🌿 Plant Habit: The original is indeterminate (tall), typically reaching 1.5–1.8 … 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 Tsarskiy Lyubimets (Tsar’s Favorite) 🌍 Origin: A popular Russian commercial and collector’s variety. The name translates to “Tsar’s Favorite” or “Royal Favorite”. Note: There appear to be two distinct strains circulating in the community (a red-orange regular leaf version and a raspberry-pink potato leaf version). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), typically reaching … 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 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 Tsarevich (The Prince) 🌍 Origin: A highly regarded Russian heirloom. The name “Tsarevich” translates to “The Tsar’s Son” or “Prince”, fitting for such a noble and beautiful yellow oxheart. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and mid-early. It exhibits the classic oxheart growth habit: “wispy” or drooping, fragile-looking foliage that shouldn’t be mistaken … Read more