Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zone 4 Experience)
My seeds came from our very own Svetlana (lana_s_Kavkaza).
The description said: Traditional Croatian heirloom, fruits are meaty, juicy, ribbed at the stem. Tall, up to 6.5 ft (2 m) in the greenhouse, sturdy plant, heavy foliage cover, red round fruits. Classic tomato flavor. Heavy yielder.
My results matched the description perfectly. The vine is an absolute powerhouse, fruits are massive, though my yield ended up being just average. But I totally forgive it because the taste is out of this world. Incredibly delicious tomato, seriously! The flavor is rich and perfectly balanced. This variety definitely has huge potential. I’ll absolutely be growing it again. It’s a shame that early in the season all my tomatoes tasted totally bland and washed out (thanks to a cold, rainy summer) and I ended up throwing most of them into the sauce pot. This one took a while to dial in its flavor, too. Because of that, I didn’t really get around to taking proper pictures of all the fruits. Anyway, here are the ones I managed to snap…
Full Summary: Plant Size, Flavor, and Origin
- 🌿 Plant: A highly vigorous, sturdy indeterminate vine with heavy foliage cover. Easily reaches 6.5 ft (2 m) when grown in a greenhouse.
- 📈 Yield: Rated as average to heavy. Weather plays a significant role; cold, rainy seasons can dampen production.
- 👅 Taste: Phenomenal, old-school flavor. Growers describe it as incredibly rich, balanced, and classic. Note that like many heirlooms, the flavor can be washed out if grown in prolonged cold or rainy conditions, but it truly shines once the weather warms up.
- 🍅 Fruit: Large, red, round beefsteaks characterized by distinct ribbing around the stem/shoulders. The flesh is very meaty and juicy.
- 🌎 Origin: A traditional heirloom variety originally from Croatia.
