Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 4-6)
Author of the photos below is Nadine.
1. It is an indeterminate.
2. It’s a mid-season variety.
3. The fruits are large and they don’t shrink in size on the higher clusters.
4. It is best grown pruned to 1 or 2 stems. 🌺🌺🌺
I saved the seeds and will definitely try it. I was super confused when I searched online and saw that “Deep Pink Giant” is sold as both an F1 hybrid and an heirloom – how does that work? But she grows hers strictly from saved seeds.
Sweet wrote:
Packet description: Early (105-110 days) slicer type for open ground… The plant is determinate, sprawling, 2.3-3 feet (70-90 cm) tall.
My Deep Pink Giant was incredibly tall. Growing completely outside, it reached almost 9.8 feet (3 m) in height! It produced steadily from June all the way to October. Super tasty, a great balance of sweetness and tang, not bland at all. I will absolutely grow it again. My seeds were from the Transnistrian Research Institute of Agriculture (*see Editor’s Note*).
Full Summary: Deep Pink Giant (Malinovyi Gigant)
- 🌿 Plant & Foliage: There are two conflicting genetics circulating under this name. Commercial seed packets often describe it as an early, sprawling determinate bush staying under 3 feet (90 cm). However, the heirloom strain saved and traded by most hobbyist growers is a vigorous, soaring indeterminate that easily hits 6.5 feet (2 m) indoors and nearly 10 feet (3 m) outdoors.
- 🍅 Fruit & Shape: Produces classic oblate (flattened globe) beefsteaks in a beautiful deep pink/crimson color. The first fruits are massive, often weighing 1.1-1.3 lbs (500-600 g). The indeterminate strain is noted for keeping its large fruit size consistent even on the upper clusters.
- 📈 Yield & Health: Yields are highly rated across the board. The heirloom strain is praised for having incredibly strong flower trusses that can support massive tomatoes without snapping, even when left untied. The fruiting window is very long, stretching from June to October in warmer zones.
- 👅 Taste: Universally praised as an excellent slicer. The flesh is dense and meaty with a rich, sweet flavor balanced by a pleasant tang. Not bland or watery.
