Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 4-6 Experience)
Here is the official description from the seed packet: An early-ripening, large-fruited variety with orange skin and pink flesh. Matures in 100-105 days. The plant is indeterminate, suitable for both open ground and high tunnels. Fruits are round, smooth, meaty, and very sweet. Crack-resistant, handles transportation well, and stores for a long time without losing commercial quality.
Photo credit: Ladoga
I’ve been growing Honey Giant (from Aelita seeds) since 2010.
The first couple of years were incredible! Absolutely delicious, huge tomatoes up to 2.2 lbs (1 kg), honey-colored on the outside with a pink blush on the inside 😋😋😋
Then I bought a fresh packet of seeds, and something entirely different grew. All four plants were identical. They were a dead ringer for Verlioka (same height, size, disease resistance, even the leaves matched), except they were yellow 😠
Just little yellow bouncy balls 😞
I’m going to try and revive the original line. Huge shoutout to Ladoga for sharing authentic seeds with me! 🌸🌸🌸
Still green in this shot, but making progress. Seeds are from Aelita.
Large and quite meaty. It tasted pretty good considering the rough season we had. With better weather, I bet the flavor profile would really pop.
Here is the resulting beauty! I can’t draw any firm conclusions on the yield yet, because early on the plant pushed way too much vegetative growth. Then, that first tomato got massive and you could clearly see it stalled the whole plant out. I really liked the taste, though.
It didn’t quite earn the “giant” title for me, though the fruit was still a decent size. Yield was fantastic, though. Reached about 6.5 feet (2 m) tall in the greenhouse. Super tasty and sweet.
I grew 2 plants from Aelita seeds this year. Outdoors in the northern Moscow suburbs, they reached about 3.3-4 feet (1-1.2 m) tall. Very tasty, sweet, and has this wonderful buttery texture. Didn’t grow into a true giant for me, though. Most fruits were around 5.3-8.8 oz (150-250 g). I will definitely be repeating this one, the flavor was just too good. Gonna make sure I save my own seeds this time.
Hands down one of the best-tasting varieties I’ve ever grown. Fantastic flavor and incredibly productive. A stellar variety!
Grew out Aelita’s Honey Giant this year and ended up with a determinate bush pumping out tiny 1 oz (30 g) red tomatoes. Total mix-up!
Full Summary: Honey Giant (Medovyi Gigant)
- 🌿 Plant & Foliage: Indeterminate vines that easily reach 6.5 feet (2 m) in a greenhouse, though outdoor plants may top out around 3.3-4 feet (1-1.2 m). Note that early nitrogen overfeeding can cause it to stall after setting its first cluster.
- 🍅 Fruit & Shape: Round, smooth, bi-color fruits featuring orange skin with a striking pink blush inside. True to type, they can get massive (up to 2.2 lbs / 1 kg), though many growers average a very respectable 5.3-8.8 oz (150-250 g) in cooler climates.
- 📈 Yield & Health: Excellent production when true to seed. However, this variety is notorious for seed mix-ups from commercial Russian vendors (especially Aelita), resulting in off-types ranging from yellow tennis balls to tiny red determinates.
- 👅 Taste: Universally praised for its flavor. Growers describe it as incredibly sweet, meaty, and boasting a rich, buttery texture. Frequently ranked as a top-tasting variety by those who get the true genetics.
