Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 4a-8a Experience)
Novichok, a variety registered back in 1986. The official info states it’s mid-early, bush height 20–33 inches (50–85 cm), fruit weight 3.5 oz (100g). For us, the height of both bushes ended up being no more than 20 inches (50 cm); one had 3 trusses, the other had 4 trusses, and then the plant just topped itself out after that, no suckers at all. Overall, a totally fuss-free variety—no pruning, no thinning out leaves, just tied it up once. Yield per bush was up to 2.2 lbs (1 kg), no more than that, and it gives its harvest gradually.
The first tomato we picked off the bush got a 5/5 taste rating from both me and my husband. Both sweetness and tartness are present in good measure, and it has medium firmness. And, of course, the fruit has a really unique shape, like a pouch with a little dimple on the bottom. As you can see from the photos, it grew outdoors in the dirt. Seeds were from Rossortsemovoshch. I only came across one photo of Novichok on the internet and that one was much taller than ours.
My seeds were from Angelina. According to her description it’s a plum tomato, but in reality, the fruits turned out round. Grew outdoors in the dirt, all three bushes were identical. Very firm fruits, stores really well…
I grew Novichok. It grew as a plum tomato, very firm, stores and transports well, relatively late-season, and there aren’t many seeds inside. I will absolutely be planting it again. It actually handles partially shaded areas quite well.
We’ve always planted Novichok, but for the last 2 years the seedlings just refused to grow. The seeds were from Gavrish.
Full Summary: Plant, Yield, Taste and Storage
- 🌿 Plant: A highly compact, determinate bush that naturally tops itself out at 20 to 33 inches (50–85 cm). It is a “plant it and forget it” variety that requires zero pruning or suckering. Known to tolerate partial shade.
- 📈 Yield: Moderate and progressive. While individual bushes may only yield around 2.2 lbs (1 kg), their compact size allows for dense planting.
- 👅 Taste: Very highly rated for a processing tomato. It boasts a balanced, classic tomato flavor with an excellent mix of sweetness and tartness.
- 📦 Texture/Usage: Fruits average 3.5 oz (100g) and are typically shaped like a plum or a small pouch with a bottom dimple. The flesh is dense and firm with low seed count, making it a legendary choice for canning, long-term storage, and transport.
“Novichok” translates to “Newcomer” or “Novice” in Russian. Officially registered in the USSR state registry in 1986, it was developed as a commercial workhorse variety by the Volgograd Agricultural Experimental Station. Its thick skin, disease resistance, and ability to survive long truck rides made it an incredibly popular variety for large-scale agricultural operations and home canners alike. If you get a commercial seed packet that throws round fruit (as noted by one grower above), you likely got a seed mix-up—true Novichok is always a plum/pouch shape.
