Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary of Serdce Tibeta (Heart of Tibet) 🌍 Origin: A highly productive Russian collector’s variety (seeds originally distributed by breeder Gusev). The name translates to “Heart of Tibet”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. It exhibits classic oxheart traits, meaning the bush is not overly vigorous and has delicate, “wispy” foliage. Outdoors it grows to about … Read more
Quick Summary of Sakharnaya Nastasya (Sugar Nastasya) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety introduced by the “Gavrish” seed company. The name translates to “Sugar Nastasya” (Nastasya is a traditional, folksy diminutive of the name Anastasia). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate and very vigorous. While the seed packet claims it grows up to 1.5m (5 ft), real … Read more
Quick Summary of Skifeya (Scythian Fairy) 🌍 Origin & Fascinating History: This variety has an incredible backstory. The seeds were discovered by a Russian collector in a remote Siberian village near Abakan, right next to the ruins of Zinkhir—the oldest stone city in the world, once belonging to the ancient Scythian civilization. The local village … Read more
Quick Summary of Sibirskiy Khottabych (Siberian Khottabych) 🌍 Origin: A beloved Russian heirloom originating from the Altai Mountains region. Named “Khottabych” (a famous genie from a Russian fairy tale), likely owing to the magical, bottle-like shape of the fruits. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate and very tall (reaching up to 3m / 10ft in a greenhouse). … Read more
Quick Summary of Sibirskie Shangi (Siberian Shangi) 🌍 Origin: A commercial variety from the famous Russian seed company “SibSad” (Siberian Garden). “Shangi” refers to traditional Siberian flat, open-faced savory tarts/pastries, which describes the shape of these tomatoes. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching over 1.5m (5 ft). Vigorous and beautiful vines. Growers report that it … Read more
Quick Summary of Syzranskaya Roza (Syzran Rose) 🌍 Origin: An old, legendary heirloom from Syzran (often considered the tomato capital of the Volga region in Russia). The name translates to “Syzran Rose”. 🌿 Plant Habit: The true heirloom is indeterminate (tall) and mid-early, with a long and abundant fruiting period. ⚠️ Buyer Beware: Commercial seed … Read more
Quick Summary of Sakharnyi Bizon (Sugar Bison) 🌍 Origin: A famous Russian amateur selection that has become a commercial classic (popularized by companies like Siberian Garden / SibSad). The name translates to “Sugar Bison” and it is considered the forefather of many modern Russian pink varieties. 🌿 Plant Habit: Highly debated! Seed packets often list … Read more
Quick Summary of Sgt. Pepper’s 🌍 Origin: A very popular anthocyanin (blue/purple) cross bred in the USA by Jason Haynes. It’s named after the iconic Beatles album. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. This variety is famous for its extremely “wispy,” slender, and weeping foliage. In the seedling stage and out in the garden, it looks incredibly … Read more
Quick Summary of Syzranskaya Pipochka 🌍 Origin: A treasured, historic Russian heirloom from the city of Syzran, known to be over 100 years old. The name translates to “Syzran Little Beak,” referring to its pointed shape. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall vining), mid-early season. The bush is powerful, highly vigorous, and completely disease-resistant. Growers recommend … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozovyi Shlem (Pink Helmet) 🌍 Origin: A fantastic commercial variety released by the highly respected Russian seed company “Siberian Garden” (SibSad). The name translates to “Pink Helmet”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, growing up to 2 meters (6.5 ft) tall in a greenhouse. Like many classic oxheart varieties, it has a “wispy” or … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozovye Shchechki (Pink Cheeks) 🌍 Origin: A Russian commercial variety originally developed by the “Manul” seed company. The name translates to “Pink Cheeks”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Generally grows 0.6-0.8 m (2-2.5 ft) tall outdoors, but can reach 1.5 m (5 ft) in a greenhouse if trained properly. Note: The bush … Read more
Quick Summary of Rozda 🌍 Origin: An excellent heirloom variety that gained popularity through seed-sharing networks in Ukraine and Russia. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall vining). Highly productive. Grows very well in greenhouses when pruned to 2 stems. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Large, red, elongated tomatoes. The shape can vary slightly on the same bush—ranging from … Read more