Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
🍅 Quick take: Konfetka Bez Kostochek (Sweet Seedless) is a genetically unstable variety that has caused major confusion among Russian growers. While it is sold as a short, early, seedless determinate bush, most growers end up with run-of-the-mill, heavily-seeded red tomatoes that taste incredibly bland. The root of the problem? The original “Sweet Seedless” was … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Kazachka (Cossack Woman) is an indeterminate, late-season dark tomato from Siberian Garden (Sibsad). It produces long, braided clusters of brownish-cherry cocktail/plum fruits weighing 1-3 oz (30-80 g). While growers warn that it ripens late and has tender skin that can split when picked, it is highly praised for its massive yields and … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Colibri F1 is a vigorous indeterminate French hybrid from Clause. While technically marketed as a “salad/slicer plum,” growers find its firm texture and uniform 5.5-6 oz (160-170 g) red fruits absolutely perfect for canning whole. It features short internodes and throws massive, often forked clusters, making it a heavy yielder in the … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Kuraga (Dried Apricot) is an indeterminate orange paste tomato. It produces meaty, very sweet 5 oz (150 g) plum-shaped fruits on skinny, wispy vines. While it can be grown outdoors, it performs much better and yields higher when given the shelter of a greenhouse. Full summary ↓ Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Kecskemeti Jubileum is a famous Hungarian determinate variety bred specifically for processing and canning. Staying highly compact at around 3 ft (1 m) tall, it pumps out uniform 4 oz (100-120 g) red fruits with firm skin that won’t turn to mush in a jar. Full summary ↓ Growers’ Notes and Photos … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Krokha (which translates to “Crumb” or “Tiny Tot”) is an ultra-early determinate red cherry tomato from Belarus. Originally bred to be a compact, no-prune 1.5 ft (40-50 cm) bush for outdoor growing, it can reach over 3 ft (1 m) in a greenhouse. It produces sweet, glossy 1 oz (25-40 g) fruits … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Kazakhskaya Sliva (Kazakh Plum) is an indeterminate red plum tomato that grows on tall, wispy vines. The fruits average about 5 oz (150 g) and have a tender, sweet flesh. Because of their shape and meaty texture, forum growers highly recommend this variety for making sun-dried tomatoes. It performs well both in … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Kiryukha is a dark-fruited (black) semi-determinate variety that grows very compactly, reaching only about 5 feet (1.5 m) in the greenhouse. It produces uniform 5-7 oz (150-200 g) round slicing tomatoes with excellent flavor. Unusually for black tomatoes, it has a decent shelf life and doesn’t get mushy quickly. It sets fruit … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Karmen (Carmen) is an indeterminate pink paste tomato known for its large plum-shaped fruits that can reach up to 8 oz (230 g). Growers praise it for its firm, sugary flesh that makes it perfect for canning, as well as its impressive productivity when grown outdoors in the dirt. Full summary ↓ … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Katya F1 is a very early determinate hybrid by the Russian seed company Semko. It is known as a reliable “workhorse” variety that pumps out 4 oz (110-130 g) red fruits on compact 20-inch (50 cm) bushes. While growers have mixed feelings about its flavor (most agree it’s better for canning than … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Strawberry Tiger is a highly productive, indeterminate variety that produces beautiful, striped plum-shaped tomatoes. Reaching up to 6.5 feet (2 m) tall in a greenhouse, it performs equally well outdoors. While growers rate its yield and appearance highly, the flavor is generally considered good but not exceptionally sweet. Full summary ↓ Growers’ … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Kudesnik (Magician) is a very compact determinate bush tomato that produces uniform, pinkish-red slicing/canning tomatoes weighing 3.5-4 oz (100-110 g). Reaching only 1.5 feet (0.5 m) tall outdoors, it requires almost zero pruning and is highly disease-resistant. Growers prize it for its unexpectedly sweet flavor and its ability to ripen a heavy … Read more