Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Arbuz (Watermelon) 🌍 Origin & The Name Controversy: “Arbuz” translates directly to “Watermelon”. There is a famous old heirloom called Watermelon Beefsteak which is strictly Potato Leaf (PL). However, the strain discussed in this thread (popularized by our forum member Svetikk from Lithuanian seeds) is distinctly Regular Leaf (RL). Because of … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Alsou (Алсу) 🌍 Origin: A very famous commercial variety developed by Siberian Garden (SibSad). Named “Alsou”, a beautiful traditional Tatar name meaning “rose-colored water”. It is highly regarded by growers in short-season climates around the world. 🌿 Plant Habit: Tricky! It is technically semi-determinate. If grown outdoors in the open garden, … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Pineapple Zebra 🌍 Origin: A stunning stabilized cross, likely originating from a mix of the classic Pineapple and Green Zebra tomatoes. Widely known among US and European growers, it is highly prized by collectors for its adaptability and stunning appearance in colder climates. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and vigorous. Performs … Read more
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📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Abbat (Abbot) 🌍 Origin: A reliable commercial Russian variety offered by seed companies like SeDeK. The name translates to “Abbot”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Compact, usually reaching about 80 cm (31 inches) tall. It is an absolute workhorse that performs exceptionally well outdoors in the open garden, but can also … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Alisa (Alice) 🌍 Origin: A highly regarded heirloom variety with somewhat mysterious origins. While often credited to Russian breeders (like N. Alexandrov or Egorov), some growers trace their seed lines back to Portuguese heirlooms. The name translates to “Alice”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching 1.7–2.0 m (5.5–6.5 ft) in height. … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Afro-Cherry 🌍 Origin: A commercial dark-fruited cocktail tomato variety developed by Russian breeders. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). The plant grows to about 1.8-2.2 m (6-7.2 ft) in height. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Dark mahogany/cherry-colored cocktail tomatoes weighing 40-50 g (1.4-1.8 oz). They are very glossy, thick-walled, and grow in clusters of … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Altaechka 🌍 Origin: A fantastic commercial heirloom from Siberian breeders (Altai region). The name affectionately translates to “Little Altai Girl”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Compact, reaching about 70-90 cm (27-35 inches) in height. It produces beautiful stocky seedlings and is perfectly suited for open ground. Does not require strict pruning. … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Aburida 🌍 Origin: A magnificent heirloom popularized by the well-known Ukrainian breeder and collector V.F. Syrai. Highly sought after by collectors of giant paste tomatoes. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), mid-late season variety. Reaches 1.8 – 2 meters (6-6.5 ft) in height. The bushes are robust and produce very beautiful, heavy … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Vela Scarlatta 🌍 Origin: A magnificent heirloom variety (the name translates from Italian as “Scarlet Sails”). It is highly prized by collectors of giant oxheart tomatoes. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). An incredibly vigorous and powerful plant that exhibits intensive, fast growth and produces a massive yield. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Giant … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Almaty Yellow Tulip (Almatinskiy Zheltyi Tyulpan) 🌍 Origin: The gorgeous yellow sister-variety to the Red Tulip, bred in the Almaty region (city of Esik), Kazakhstan, by the highly acclaimed breeder Vitaliy Gennadievich Alifirov. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (very tall) and mid-season. Just like its red counterpart, it features Potato Leaf (PL) … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Almaty Red Tulip (Almatinskiy Krasnyi Tyulpan) 🌍 Origin: A fantastic modern heirloom bred in the Almaty region (city of Esik), Kazakhstan, by the highly respected tomato breeder Vitaliy Gennadievich Alifirov. The name translates to “Almaty Red Tulip”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), mid-season variety. It notably features Potato Leaf (PL) foliage. … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): AH Scorpii 🌍 Origin: A relatively new variety created by the famous American heirloom collector and breeder Dale Thurber (Delectation of Tomatoes). It is a cross between two legendary giant tomatoes: Hoy x Delicious. It is named after AH Scorpii, a red supergiant star in the Scorpius constellation. 🌿 Plant Habit: … Read more