Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 4-5 Experience)
Here is the description off the seed packet:
“Early season. Medium-height, sturdy plant. The leaves are lacy and finely cut, looking exactly like carrot tops. Fruits are large, 5-9 oz (150-250 g), oblate, ribbed, red with a carrot-orange hue. Meaty, multi-locular, and sweet. Highly valued for stable, heavy yields, good flavor, and resistance to major tomato diseases.”
Photo credit: Natella_14
Edited March 16, 2019 by Pomidoroved
Does anyone have photos of the ripe fruit and actual reviews on the taste? Please share! 🙏 Also, has anyone grown the Alena-Lux commercial version of Morkovnyi?
Edited January 26, 2015 by Svetikk
I don’t have photos, but I definitely have a review. This variety used to be incredibly popular in the villages out in the Kirov region where my mom used to live. I grew it once, and my mom only grew it once too, because we both thought it tasted terrible. And that was back before we even knew about all the amazing heirloom varieties out there. It looks exactly like the picture from the Alena-Lux packet, though.
On 1/26/2015 at 1:15 PM, Sweet said:
…because we both thought it tasted terrible.
Sveta, I actually have to disagree about the taste. It just has a standard, classic tomato flavor. But its true value is in how incredibly early it is. In 2013, mine ripened at the exact same time as my June (Iyunskiy) tomatoes, and the flavor was just as good. However, the Morkovnyi bush is much larger than June, so the overall yield is way higher.
And as for looks… 👍 I honestly think it is the most beautiful tomato plant out there, starting right from the seedling stage. I’m planning to grow three different varieties with this lacy foliage this year, and Morkovnyi is definitely on the list. My seeds actually trace back to the 1980s.
(My photos loaded in reverse order from green to ripe, that’s just how the forum search pulled them 😂)
Ninul, I remembered that you liked it! Maybe your strain is slightly different from the one I had. I don’t consider myself a picky eater—I’ll even eat store-bought tomatoes in the winter if I’m really craving one. But I just can’t stand heavily acidic/sour tomatoes, and mine were tart.
Ninul, how tall does it get, and is it better for outside or in the greenhouse?
On 1/31/2015 at 9:45 AM, Lyudasik said:
Ninul, how tall does it get, and is it better for outside or in the greenhouse?
Lyuda, it’s a det. Gets about 20-24 inches (50-60 cm) tall. The fruit clusters are simple. I’ve grown it both outside and in the greenhouse, and in both places, it’s always one of the very first to ripen.
On 1/26/2015 at 6:20 PM, Sweet said:
…But I just can’t stand heavily acidic/sour tomatoes…
I grew this variety about 20 years ago. I kept second-guessing myself, wondering if maybe breeders had improved the strain since then. The foliage really is stunning and carved out, and it truly is incredibly early and productive. But that taste… ???… definitely not my thing. I’d rather wait a few extra weeks for something sweet to ripen. And I don’t consider myself a tomato snob either! 😉
Morkovnyi: Determinate, 24 inches (60 cm) tall, grown outside. Fruits maxed out at 5-5.5 oz (150-160 g). Very productive and was one of the first to ripen. The flavor was mildly sweet with a strong, classic tomato aroma.
It performed exceptionally well for canning 👍. I’m definitely growing it again this year. My seeds were originally from Ninulia. I don’t have photos of the fully ripe ones, unfortunately.
Ninulia, Verunchik, thank you! I had it on my grow list but wasn’t sure whether to put it inside or out. I get it now—it’s going outside! I already sowed the seeds on Feb 23!
Morkovnyi is a solid variety, I got mine from Ninulia. 😊 The fruits aren’t huge, but they are tasty. 😊
I bought a packet of Morkovnyi from the Gavrish brand. I’m really hoping it turns out exactly like everyone else’s… I really want that foliage! But I’m taking a risk here… Gavrish has a reputation for selling crossed/off-type seeds. 😂
Edited February 1, 2017 by Drosera
On 1/26/2015 at 1:15 PM, Sweet said:
…because we both thought it tasted terrible.
I recently found a stash of these seeds at my mom’s place. She grew this as her main crop about 15 years ago. The seeds were completely pale and flat, so I had to throw them out. But I distinctly remember the fruits being delicious with a really nice tart zing to them. Such a bummer the strain got lost!
I grew a variety called Yantarnyi (Amber) from the “Mars” seed company this year. It is a 100% identical clone to Morkovnyi. Both the bush and the fruits.
For me, Morkovnyi acted as a mid-early variety. The seedlings were absolutely gorgeous. The bushes hit about 32 inches (80 cm) tall and were very productive. The flavor is a classic tomato profile with a punchy acidic bite.
Can anyone tell me what the difference is between Morkovnyi and the Tayana variety?
Full Summary: Striking Foliage, High Yields, and Divisive Flavor
- 🌿 Plant & Foliage: Early determinate. This is the variety’s main selling point—it features incredible, deeply serrated/lacy foliage that closely resembles carrot tops (hence the name Morkovnyi). The bushes stay very compact, usually between 20 and 32 inches (50-80 cm), making them highly suitable for open field growing and container gardening.
- 🍅 Fruit & Shape: Round to slightly oblate red slicers with minor ribbing at the shoulders. Average fruit weight is highly consistent, sitting right around 5-9 oz (150-250 g).
- 📈 Yield & Health: An exceptional early yielder. It routinely competes with hyper-early varieties like Iyunskiy but produces larger fruits and heavier overall yields. Extremely rugged and disease-resistant outdoors.
- 👅 Taste: The flavor profile is highly debated. It has a strong, old-fashioned, high-acid tomato flavor. Growers who prefer sweet, mild tomatoes often find it far too tart and sour for fresh slicing. However, growers who appreciate a punchy, acidic “zing” love it. Due to its acidity, it performs incredibly well in canning and processing.
Tomatoes with deeply cut, feathery, or lacy foliage belong to a specific genetic mutation often referred to in the West as “Silvery Fir” type foliage (named after the famous Russian heirloom Silvery Fir Tree). The genetics are entirely cosmetic, but they make for incredibly beautiful ornamental plants that look stunning in front-yard landscapes and patio pots. The user at the end of the thread correctly points out the similarity to Tayana—both are classic examples of this unique Russian lacy-leaf breeding lineage.
