Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary: Shokoladnoye Chudo (Chocolate Miracle) 🌍 Origin: A highly popular Russian commercial variety, heavily popularized by the “Siberian Garden” (SibSad) seed company. 🌿 Plant Habit: Controversial! The commercial packet lists it as a determinate bush. However, nearly all growers report it growing as an indeterminate or a very vigorous semi-determinate, reaching 1.5 to 2 … Read more
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Quick Summary: Shokoladnaya Glyba (Chocolate Chunk) 🌍 Origin: A commercial variety released by the Russian seed company “Nash Sad” (Our Garden). The name translates to “Chocolate Chunk” or “Chocolate Block.” 🌿 Plant Habit: Advertised as a compact indeterminate reaching about 1.5 meters (5 ft) tall with large, dark green leaves. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Supposed to … Read more
Quick Summary: Scheherazade (Fuzzy Peach Tomato) 🌍 Origin: A highly unique commercial variety developed by the Russian seed company “Siberian Garden” (SibSad). 🌿 Plant Habit: The official packet claims it is a determinate bush up to 1 meter (3.2 ft) tall. However, nearly all growers report it behaving like a tall semi-determinate or indeterminate, easily … Read more
Quick Summary: Shedevr (Masterpiece) 🌍 Origin: A highly regarded commercial variety from the Altai region of Russia. (Note: Do not confuse this with similar-sounding varieties like Slavyanskiy Shedevr or Altayskiy Shedevr). The name translates to “Masterpiece”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, mid-season. It reaches about 1.5 to 1.8 meters (5 to 6 ft) in a greenhouse. … Read more
Quick Summary: Aunt Swarlo’s Delight (Red) 🌍 Origin: A highly sought-after new variety developed in England. It is a distinct, separate variety from the original US heirloom Aunt Swarlo’s Polish Plum, though it shares its massive size and shape. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, mid-season. The plant is incredibly vigorous, powerful, and produces large, dark green … Read more
Quick Summary: Abrikosovye ot Gulzhanat (Gulzhanat’s Apricot) 🌍 Origin: A rare amateur heirloom variety tracing back to a collector named Gulzhanat. The name translates directly to “Apricot from Gulzhanat.” 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate and very tall (easily reaches the roof of a standard greenhouse). Despite its height, growers note it performs well even when planted … Read more
Quick Summary: Peony Planting, Dividing & Care 🗓️ Best Time to Transplant: The golden rule of peonies—always divide and transplant in the Autumn (mid-August to mid-September). Spring transplanting should only be done as a last resort with young, undivided root balls. ✂️ The “3-to-5” Division Rule: When dividing an adult bush (5-7 years old), ensure … Read more
Quick Summary of Shokoladny (Chocolate) 🌍 Origin: A very popular Russian commercial variety sold by several seed companies (Aelita, Siberian Garden, Prestige, Myazina). The name translates simply to “Chocolate”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Officially classified as semi-determinate (1.1 to 1.5 meters / 3.6 to 5 ft). However, depending on the seed source and growing conditions, many … Read more
Quick Summary of Stormin Norman 🌍 Origin: A US variety developed by breeder Blane Horton. It is part of his famous “Keyes” multiflora line. The variety was named in honor of General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., famous for his command during Operation Desert Storm. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), vigorous, and early-season. This variety is a … Read more
Quick Summary of Matt’s Hornet 🌍 Origin: A beautiful artisan-style novelty tomato. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. It is a very manageable plant, reaching about 1.3 meters (4.3 ft) when grown in a greenhouse. Pro Tip: Growers recommend letting it branch out freely—after the first flower truss appears, you can completely stop pruning (suckering) the plant. … Read more
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Quick Summary of Reinhard’s Chocolate Heart (and the Kraft Trilogy) 🌍 Origin: Developed by the renowned German tomato breeder Reinhard Kraft. This variety is part of the famous “Reinhard’s Heart Trilogy,” which includes Chocolate, Green, and Purple heart-shaped tomatoes. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), vigorous plants. Like many classic oxhearts, they possess “wispy” or droopy … Read more
Quick Summary of Dwarf Shimofuri (Frost Waterfall) 🌍 Origin & History: An incredibly unique variegated variety created by US tomato breeder and enthusiast Applestar. She crossed the trailing variety Whippersnapper with Faelan’s First Snow. The name “Shimofuri” is a Japanese term meaning “marbled” or “white-veined” (often used to describe premium Wagyu beef), which perfectly describes … Read more