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!
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Alye Svechi (Scarlet Candles) 🌍 Origin: A very popular commercial Russian variety. The name translates to “Scarlet Candles” due to its elongated shape. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate and incredibly vigorous. Growers warn that this bush is a monster, easily reaching 2 to 3 meters (6.5–10 ft) tall, requiring serious staking. 🍅 … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Anita 🌍 Origin: A reliable, early-season commercial variety of Siberian selection, specifically bred for outdoor growing (open ground). 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Compact and sturdy, reaching about 50–70 cm (20–27 inches) in height. Requires very little to no pruning. Known for being incredibly tough and resilient. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Bright … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Aligote 🌍 Origin: A commercial French cherry tomato from the well-known seed company, Vilmorin. Often discussed online as an F1 Hybrid, though sometimes sold without the hybrid label. 🌿 Plant Habit: Can reach up to 1.5m (5 ft) tall. The official seed packet suggests severe pruning (topping the plant after just … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Akulina 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety. “Akulina” is a traditional, old-fashioned Russian female name. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). It is a short-growing plant, reaching about 80 cm (31 inches) in height. Highly versatile, doing well both outdoors in open ground and in plastic greenhouses. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Red, oblate … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Altaysky Rozovy (Altai Pink) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Siberian heirloom from the famous “Sibirsky Sad” (Siberian Garden) seed company. The name translates to “Altai Pink,” named after the Altai Mountains region in Siberia. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and very vigorous. Known for being a highly productive and heavy yielder. 🍅 … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Andreevsky Syurpriz 🌍 Origin: A renowned Siberian selection. The name translates to “Andreev’s Surprise” (or Andrew’s Surprise). 🌿 Plant Habit: Officially listed as indeterminate and tall (1.6–1.8m / 5.2–5.9 ft) for greenhouses. However, growers note that when planted outdoors in open ground, it often behaves more like a determinate (bush) plant … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Best & Worst Cherry Tomatoes of the Season 🏆 The Sweetest Winners: Summer Sun F1, Blush, and Sweet Cream dominated the summer with incredible, fruit-like sweetness. 😲 The Late Surprise: Yasik was average all summer, but late in the season, the fruits left on the vine turned into an absolute sugar … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Pineapple Fog 🌍 Origin: A stunning bicolor variety known among collectors for its exotic appearance and incredible sweetness. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching about 1.8m (6 ft) in height. Known for excellent disease resistance and vigor. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Round, cocktail-to-salad sized tomatoes. Officially listed up to 120g (4.2 oz), … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Amerikanskoe Vytyanutoe Serdtse (American Elongated Heart) 🌍 Origin & The Naming Mystery: This is where international tomato collecting gets tricky! In Russia, two very similar names circulate: Amerikanskiy Vytyanutyi (American Elongated) and Amerikanskoe Vytyanutoe Serdtse (American Elongated Heart). Many suspect it is the exact same North American heirloom that suffered from … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Altayskiy Oranzheviy (Altai Orange) 🌍 Origin: A renowned commercial heirloom from the Altai region in Siberia. The name translates to “Altai Orange”. It is highly sought after by collectors for its incredible texture and flavor. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. Some growers report it being a “short” indeterminate, while others see it … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Amurskiy Shtamb (Amur Dwarf) 🌍 Origin: A rugged commercial variety bred by the Russian seed company “SeDeK”. Named after the Amur River region in the Russian Far East, an area known for its harsh climate. “Shtamb” means it is a “tree-type” dwarf plant. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate, tree-type dwarf. Reaches only … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Amerikanskiy Rebristyi (American Ribbed) 🌍 Origin: This is the famous, classic “American Ribbed” heirloom, known and loved in the West (similar to the Costoluto types). It was brought over to Russia and quickly gained popularity among collectors for its stunning appearance. 🌿 Plant Habit: Generally indeterminate (tall), though some growers report … Read more