Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Cream Sausage 🌍 Origin: Originally bred by the legendary American breeder Tom Wagner under the name “Banana Cream”. It was later renamed “Cream Sausage” without his permission, and this is the name it is most commonly traded under in Russia and Eastern Europe. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Generally reaches about … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Klubnichnoe Derevo (Strawberry Tree) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety released in 2015 by the Siberian Garden (Sibsad) seed company. Not to be confused with the old European heirloom “German Red Strawberry”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), but stays somewhat manageable. Outdoors it reaches about 3.3-4 feet (1-1.2 m), though it … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Koster 🌍 Origin: A popular Russian commercial heirloom variety. The name translates to “Campfire” or “Bonfire”. Popularized by the Russian seed vendor Valery Medvedev. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Very compact and stocky, typically staying between 16 to 27 inches (40-70 cm) tall. Does exceptionally well outdoors but can drop blossoms … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Boar’s Hoof 🌍 Origin: A rare dark cocktail variety from the USA (Brad Gates; Wild Boar Farms). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). A vigorous, highly productive vine. It is widely praised for its incredible disease resistance—specifically its ability to completely shrug off Leaf Mold (Cladosporium) in humid greenhouse conditions. 🍅 Fruit … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Kolokolchik (Bellflower) 🌍 Origin: A highly regarded Russian commercial variety. The name “Kolokolchik” translates to “Bellflower” or “Little Bell.” It is deeply cherished on Russian forums, with a specific heirloom strain being passed around in memory of a legendary grower (Esme). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). Very vigorous. In a greenhouse, … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Kumquat Pink Opal 🌍 Origin: A stunning Russian stabilization project. It was selected out of a segregation of the Indigo Kumquat variety by breeders Mira Almakaeva and Olga Degtyareva. Currently at the F5 generation and showing excellent stability. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate but tends to be on the shorter, bushier side, … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Calcutta (Kalkutta) 🌍 Origin: Sourced and popularized by Russian seed collector V. Redko. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching over 8 feet (2.5 m) in a greenhouse. Like many heart and paste varieties, it has long, droopy, “wispy” foliage that often looks wilted even when perfectly watered. It handles heat well … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Californian Tulip 🌍 Origin: The exact origin and breeder are unknown, but it circulates widely in Eastern European seed-saving networks under the name “Kaliforniyskiy Tyulpan”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Mid-season indeterminate. Stays relatively compact, reaching around 5 feet (1.5 m) in open ground or 5.2 feet (1.6 m) in a greenhouse. Unbelievably … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Izumitelnye (Amazing) 🌍 Origin: A Russian heirloom/commercial variety. The name “Izumitelnye” translates directly to “Amazing” or “Marvelous”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Appears to be semi-determinate or a shorter indeterminate, reaching about 4 feet (1.2 m) in height. It is highly valued by growers for its strong resistance to Late Blight. 🍅 Fruit … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Italiansky Delikates (Italian Delicacy) 🌍 Origin: Sourced from Eastern European seed swaps, specifically popularized by the legendary Ukrainian private seed collector V.F. Siray. The name translates to “Italian Delicacy”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). Grows up to 6.5 feet (2 m) outdoors. It has very short internodes, meaning the plant gets … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Ivanushka 🌍 Origin: A very old Russian commercial variety. The name “Ivanushka” is an affectionate diminutive of Ivan (John), a name incredibly popular in classic Russian folklore and fairy tales. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate bush. It stays relatively compact, reaching around 31.5 inches (80 cm) in height, making it a great … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Ilya Muromets 🌍 Origin: Commercial variety from the “Poisk” seed company. It is named after Ilya Muromets, a legendary folklore hero and knight known for his immense strength. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, reaching about 5-6 feet (150-180 cm). A very sturdy, strong plant that is not overly sprawling and shows great … Read more