De Barao Tsarsky (De Barao Royal) Tomato Review

Mid-season. The vines are incredibly vigorous and powerful, true indeterminates. Trusses hold 8-10 oval tomatoes with a cute little point on the end. Average weight is around 3.5 to 4 oz (100 – 120g). They are firm, gorgeous, and the absolute perfect size, texture, and shape for canning. Plus, they store really well and taste great in salads! Bulletproof against bad weather and disease. And a huge yielder! Absolute standout variety for me this year! Even though I planted late on May 4th, it still managed to set 5 full trusses.

Continued

Lena, is the color red or pink?

Lena, your photos make me want to grow it right now.

It’s a really deep, rich pink! The camera flash just washed the color out.

Lena, I have seeds for De Barao Kabardinsky. Haven’t grown it yet, do you know anything about it?

bozon said:
Lena! When taking photos, you need to adjust the “white balance” first………….

Volodya, thanks for the heads-up! I actually messed around with the white balance setting today!

Elfiya said:
Lena, I have seeds for De Barao Kabardinsky. Haven’t grown it yet, do you know anything about it?

No, Elfiya, I haven’t grown it. I have seeds for it too, but I’m pretty sure it’s a completely different strain.

Gorgeous tomatoes! Lena, where did you get the seeds from?

We seem to have so many different De Baraos floating around here, probably five different versions just in one color. Early, mid-season, and late… I’ve even seen an ultra-early one. Kind of blew my mind.

Another forum member sent me the seeds. In her area, they actually have a local nickname for it: “Canning Budenovka”, which just goes to show what an amazing canning tomato it is!

 I actually planted the Ukrainian De Barao Royal this year, which isn’t supposed to have a beak.

I’m growing both the Ukrainian strain and the Canning Budenovka from Olya… but I have a sneaking suspicion they are the exact same tomato. Both plants are throwing out fruits where the beak is obvious and others where it isn’t, but otherwise they look identical.

Here are my Royal De Baraos. Red and pink, blocky shape, large, and heavy yielders. And surprisingly delicious! Seeds are from local breeders here.

Here are mine, they have the beak just like Angelina’s.

And here are a few more shapes from different seed packets and sources. This is my first time growing this variety, and I’m honestly really impressed.

Must be nice to just buy these strains at the store without worrying about mixed-up seeds!

My De Baraos throw different shapes on the exact same truss. They look like all three of the top left tomatoes.

Lyoka said:
Must be nice to just buy these strains at the store without worrying about mixed-up seeds!
My De Baraos throw different shapes on the exact same truss. They look like all three of the top right tomatoes.

Does it really matter if they look a bit different? As long as they pump out fruit and taste great!

You can always find a good fruit to save seeds from. I always inspect the vines, pick the most perfect-looking ones, and save seeds from them.

Lidiya said:
Here are mine, they have the beak just like Angelina’s.

Mine look exactly the same. Here’s a pic of my late-season ones.

Amira-12 said:
And here are a few more shapes from different seed packets and sources.
This is my first time growing this variety, and I’m honestly really impressed.

Raya, the ones from the commercial packet you sent me grew out identical to Lida’s. It’s just that the beak is really obvious on some, and barely noticeable on others.

Amira-12 said:
Does it really matter if they look a bit different? As long as they pump out fruit and taste great!
You can always find a good fruit to save seeds from. I always inspect the vines, pick the most perfect-looking ones, and save seeds from them.

It doesn’t bother me at all. I’ve been growing it for over 30 years and it never disappoints. I just save seeds from the biggest ones.

Nadusha, almost forgot, I want the Royal strain!

Nadine said:
Raya, the ones from the commercial packet you sent me grew out identical to Lida’s. It’s just that the beak is really obvious on some, and barely noticeable on others.

Nadya, was it a heavy yielder for you?

I managed to lose my seeds from that packet. The ones I grew had beaks, but they came from Olya in Voronezh.

Amira-12 said:
Nadya, was it a heavy yielder for you?
I managed to lose my seeds from that packet. The ones I grew had beaks, but they came from Olya in Voronezh.

Raya, they are basically clones. In the photo, the Ukrainian strain is on one side, and Olya’s is on the other.

Lyoka said:
Nadusha, almost forgot, I want the Royal strain!

Got it!

What’s the best way to prune De Barao? How many leaders?

I run mine to 3 or 4 stems. The plant supports them all perfectly.

mopsdad1 said:
I run mine to 3 or 4 stems. The plant supports them all perfectly.

Same here. I’ve even let it go to 5 stems before.

The top snapped off during transport to the garden. Total bummer. It’s the only one I have. Will anything come of it?

Lyubashka said:
The top snapped off during transport to the garden. Total bummer. It’s the only one I have. Will anything come of it?

Just root the broken top in water, you’ll definitely get seeds from it.

Thanks Vera! Put it in a glass of water, waiting for roots.

Roots will push fast in water, give it 4 or 5 days. Just wait until it establishes a decent root mass before planting.

I can confidently say De Barao Royal is my best-tasting tomato this season. Yield and appearance are top tier. Holding up well against Leaf Mold so far. Planted one in the greenhouse and one outdoors this year. It absolutely hated being outside, but the greenhouse plant took off on five leaders, going strong, and was setting fruit right up until I topped it yesterday. I counted 55 small and green tomatoes hanging on it. I gave it a prime spot by the door and it’s really showing off. I’m definitely planting a bunch next year, it’s just that delicious. I was canning them in their own juice today and practically had to fight off my mother-in-law—she said it’s a crime to put tomatoes this good into jars, they should only be eaten fresh…

First time growing DB Royal, started it on two stems in the high tunnel. It wants to grow super tall, so I just let it do its thing in July and it didn’t get too crazy. Trusses hold 6-7 beautiful fruits with a tiny beak weighing up to 3.5 oz (100 grams). They blush gradually, not all at once. Flavor is a solid 4 out of 5. Going into jars with cucumbers. Haven’t tasted the canned ones yet.

Grew De-Barao Tsarsky from Angelina in the Moscow region. Absolutely loved it—great for fresh eating or canning. Started it on 2 leaders, but it could easily handle more. Trusses are packed with 5-8 fruits, no skipped blossoms, and the tomatoes look picture-perfect. Thick-walled and juicy, which is a rare combo. Started ripening with the early varieties and kept going until the bitter end. Shows good resistance to Leaf Mold. Definitely upping my plant count for 2016.

De Barao Royal Pink (Ukraine). Seeds from a Ukrainian store packet. Description: Tall indeterminate. Reaches up to 10 feet (3m), 2.8-5.3 oz (80-150g), yields up to 44 lbs (20kg) per plant. Great culinary qualities.

Grew it outdoors, mid-season, tall vine, didn’t drop a single blossom. Great all-purpose tomato, pink, no beak, incredibly sweet and flavorful. The taste held up perfectly even when ripened off the vine. Definitely growing it again, but in the greenhouse next time.

Zolushka said:
Grew De-barao Tsarsky from Angelina in the Moscow region.

Where did you grow it, outdoors or in a greenhouse?

Dona70 said:
I can confidently say De Barao Royal is my best-tasting tomato this season… I was canning them in their own juice today and practically had to fight off my mother-in-law. She said it’s a crime to put tomatoes this good into jars, they should only be eaten fresh…

Tatyana! Hats off to you! I was on the fence about planting it, but after a review like that I’m definitely growing a few!

Elena, even with this wet summer it performed like a champ, definitely earned a permanent spot in my garden.

Dona70 said:
Elena, even with this wet summer it performed like a champ, definitely earned a permanent spot in my garden.

Where did you get the seeds for such an awesome tomato?

There’s nothing mind-blowing about the flavor.

It’s totally average, honestly kind of bland.

Plus it’s prone to splitting.

Andrey_K said:
There’s nothing mind-blowing about the flavor.
It’s totally average, honestly kind of bland.
Plus it’s prone to splitting.

Bland? Like low acid? Or just sweet?

Elena 62 said:
Where did you get the seeds for such an awesome tomato?

Elena, I don’t remember, probably got them at a seed swap.

Evening everyone! I grew De Barao Royal and Orange this year. A fellow forum member, Marina, shared the seeds. Just so you know, growing tomatoes here is a nightmare—the heat, pests, and fungal issues are relentless. Well, De Barao didn’t care about the heat or anything else, didn’t drop blossoms even at 104°F (40°C), set trusses perfectly. Huge yielders. Grew them to two stems. Massive vines over 6.5 feet (2m). Didn’t get sick at all. Classic tomato flavor. Didn’t split from overwatering and hold together perfectly in jars.

Grew it outdoors in the Moscow area.

Total fail. This variety strictly belongs in a greenhouse around here.

Aglaya said:
Grew it outdoors in the Moscow area.
Total fail. This variety strictly belongs in a greenhouse around here.

Olya, what exactly failed?

Andrey_K said:
There’s nothing mind-blowing about the flavor.
It’s totally average

Yeah, mine tasted completely average too, and the yield wasn’t anything special. Just a basic canning tomato.

Galina P. said:
Olya, what exactly failed?

Everything failed with it! Yield was terrible. I also tried to grow it out as a ‘tomato tree’ over the winter—you know, start seeds early, keep potting up, build a huge root mass, all that tedious stuff.

So I planted it on Feb 10th without grow lights. It tried its best… grew massive, obviously. Was in a 2-gallon bucket before transplanting.

Once it went in the ground it just bolted straight up. Got maybe 10 tomatoes off it, then Late Blight hit in September right when it was finally bulking up trusses.

So yeah, maybe it works if you know what you’re doing…

Grew De Barao Royal in 2014. Outdoors, indet, highly productive, good balanced flavor, firm tomatoes. Awesome for canning. Olya from Voronezh gave me the seeds.

Aglaya said:
Then I planted it out, and it just bolted straight up. Got maybe 10 tomatoes off it, then Late Blight hit in September right when it was finally bulking up trusses.

Olya, you basically loved it to death, that’s why it bolted.

Galina P. said:
Grew De Barao Royal in 2014. Outdoors, indet, highly productive, good balanced flavor, firm tomatoes.

See, that’s what I’m saying… for people like me it’s greenhouse only.

Galina P. said:
Olya, you basically loved it to death, that’s why it bolted.

Tell me about it. I grew two of them. My husband snapped one seedling in half while we were hauling them out. I started yelling so much he threatened to snap the other one. I shut up… shouldn’t have bothered, got squat from it anyway.

Aglaya said:
Tell me about it. I grew two of them. My husband snapped one seedling in half while we were hauling them out. I started yelling so much he threatened to snap the other one. I shut up… shouldn’t have bothered, got squat from it anyway.

So we know who’s really to blame! Tell your husband thanks! The tomato decided to take revenge on him.

Galina P. said:
So we know who’s really to blame! Tell your husband thanks! The tomato decided to take revenge on him.

Galya, obviously it’s his fault! I’m completely innocent!

Here’s how mine turned out. A bit late for my liking, which is a bummer because it’s the perfect canning tomato. Seeds were from the forum.

I plant De Barao Royal in the high tunnel every year. Super reliable, always delivers. Ripens mid-season for me.

De Barao Royal was a bust for me. Started setting fruit way too late, probably just ran out of time in our weird snowless summer.

I absolutely loved De Barao Royal, great yield, perfect canning size, and awesome flavor. Seeds were from Olya-Yanina, thanks again! Indet, grew in a poly greenhouse on 2-3 stems, set fruit all the way to the roof. Let them vine-ripen completely. Like the rest of the De Barao family, it has insane yield potential.

De Baraos are a staple in my garden every year. Productive, tasty, and top-tier for canning (especially the pink royal with the beak).

Pink Royal (with beak)

Red Royal (shorter vines, around 4.5 feet)

My De Barao Royal seems off. Only grew to about 6.5 feet, thin stems, sparse foliage, but it sets well and the fruits look right. Think it’s something else?

The red strain actually has those thin stems and wispy foliage. The pink one with a beak has much beefier vines, more typical for DB. I grew the red one from two different sources and they grew out identical.

Here’s my De Barao Royal. The vine is wispy but gets insanely tall. Reaches the roof of the greenhouse and then I train it horizontally. Pushes a ton of suckers up top and sets fruit right up until frost. It was a slow grower this summer, started blushing late. Probably too cold. Sweet flavor, but could use a bit more acid. Seeds from Sveta.

My De Barao Royal is almost raspberry-colored, with a beak (Aelita packets show a different red, larger version), bought mine from a collector.

Can confirm the flavor is a 5 out of 5, a fantastic tomato!