🍅 Quick take: Mechta-2 (Dream-2) is a very rugged, early-season determinate variety that thrives outdoors. It produces 7-9 oz (200-250 g) lemon-yellow beefsteaks that develop a distinct red “star” or blush on the blossom end when fully ripe. Growers highly praise it for being extremely low-maintenance, setting fruit reliably even in partial shade or bad weather. Despite having pale flesh, the flavor is surprisingly sweet and delicious. Full summary ↓
Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zone 4 Experience)
Wonderful determinate variety. Early season, the bush stays pretty short, only hit about 2 ft (60 cm) tall out in the dirt. Super productive and low maintenance, didn’t drop a single blossom even when the weather got nasty. Mine actually grew in the shade, but that didn’t stop it from setting fruit at all.
The tomatoes are 7-9 oz (200-250 g) lemon-yellow beefsteaks, and when they ripen up, a little red “star” shows up on the blossom end. When I first sliced into one of these beauties, I looked at the totally pale, unappetizing flesh ☹️ and thought, “Well that’s a bummer, such a productive bush too.”
But then I tasted it… 😲 actually, the flavor is really good! It even had a nice sweet kick to it. Seeds were from Alexey Kulik.
2015 season:
Full Summary: Plant, Yield, Taste and Storage
- 🌿 Plant: A highly compact determinate bush that reaches only about 2 ft (60 cm) outdoors. It is incredibly rugged, showing excellent shade tolerance and the ability to set fruit even during poor weather conditions without dropping blossoms.
- 📈 Yield: Extremely heavy and reliable producer, especially for an early-season compact variety.
- 👅 Taste: Deceivingly good. While the interior flesh is pale and might look bland to some growers, it actually packs a great flavor with a noticeable sweet kick.
- 📦 Texture/Usage: The fruits are lemon-yellow beefsteaks weighing 7-9 oz (200-250 g). They feature a beautiful bicolored trait where a red starburst appears on the blossom end as they reach full ripeness. Excellent for early summer fresh eating.
