🍅 Quick take: Minusinskie Shary (Minusinsk Globes) is a red, indeterminate heirloom from the famous Minusinsk region in Siberia. It produces large, blunt heart-shaped tomatoes on vines with classic wispy foliage. While one grower praised its meaty, sweet flesh, another noted that the fruits were very juicy but had disappointingly thin walls. Full summary ↓
Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 4-7 Experience)
Minusinskie Shary (Minusinsk Globes). A local heirloom from Minusinsk. Indeterminate, reached about 5.5-6.2 ft (1.7-1.9 m) tall in the greenhouse.
The fruits are bright red, blunt hearts. Very meaty, sweet, and delicious. The trusses definitely needed to be tied up for support. I grew this vine pruned to 2-3 stems.
Minusinsk Globes. Hit about 5.5 ft (1.7 m) for me. The shape is kind of a roundish heart. The plant itself is pretty wimpy with wispy foliage.
It set fruit really well on the lower trusses. The tomatoes ended up being pretty large and red. Very juicy with tons of seeds, and a classic old-school tomato flavor. Gotta admit I was a bit bummed when I sliced into it, though 😞 the tomato had very thin walls.
Full Summary: Plant, Yield, Taste and Storage
- 🌿 Plant: Indeterminate. Exhibits classic “wimpy” oxheart characteristics with wispy foliage. Can reach 5.5-6.2 ft (1.7-1.9 m) in a greenhouse. Heavy fruit clusters will require extra support.
- 📈 Yield: Reliable producer. Sets fruit well, especially on the lower trusses.
- 👅 Taste: Sweet with an old-school tomato flavor. It is very juicy and contains a lot of seeds.
- 📦 Texture/Usage: Growers noted the shape as a roundish or blunt heart. While one grower found the flesh meaty, another was disappointed by the very thin walls when sliced. Best used for fresh eating or juicing rather than thick slices.
🍅 Grown Minusinsk Globes? Share your zone and how it did for you in the comments below, and add your photos!
👨🌾 Editor’s Note: The Minusinsk Tomato Heritage
Minusinsk is a town in Eastern Siberia famous for its unique microclimate that allows for the cultivation of incredibly large, sweet heirloom tomatoes. Every August, the town hosts the “Day of the Minusinsk Tomato,” a festival where growers compete to weigh in the largest tomato (often exceeding 4-5 lbs). Varieties bearing the “Minusinsk” name are highly prized among Russian heirloom collectors for their hardiness and exceptional flavor.
Minusinsk is a town in Eastern Siberia famous for its unique microclimate that allows for the cultivation of incredibly large, sweet heirloom tomatoes. Every August, the town hosts the “Day of the Minusinsk Tomato,” a festival where growers compete to weigh in the largest tomato (often exceeding 4-5 lbs). Varieties bearing the “Minusinsk” name are highly prized among Russian heirloom collectors for their hardiness and exceptional flavor.
