Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Aztek (Ацтек) 🌍 Origin: A commercial variety popular in Eastern Europe, designed specifically for small spaces. The name translates to “Aztec”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Micro-dwarf (determinate). The plant is extremely compact, reaching only 30-40 cm (12-16 inches) in height. It requires absolutely no pruning or staking. Perfect for balcony containers, patio … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Accordion Bi-Color 🌍 Origin: This is a known commercial heirloom variety (likely tracing back to the classic American Pink Accordion or Red Accordion lines). In Russia, it was aggressively marketed and sold by the boutique seed seller D. Gusev as “Accordion Bi-Color”. ⚠️ The “Bi-Color” Controversy: Is it actually a bicolor? … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Alpinog (Альпиног) 🌍 Origin: A fantastic yellow heirloom tomato. The seeds in this thread trace back to the collection of Evgeny Fech, a well-known tomato breeder and collector from Russia. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). An incredibly vigorous and powerful plant that can easily reach 2 meters (6.5 ft) in height. … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Armyanskie (Armenian) 🌍 Origin: A magnificent heirloom bicolor tomato. The name simply translates to “Armenian”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), but generally has a somewhat frail, wispy, or “weeping” bush structure. Despite the delicate foliage, it has incredibly strong fruit stems (pedicels), meaning the heavy trusses rarely need extra support. Throws … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Aisberg (Iceberg) ⚠️ The “Two Icebergs” Mystery: Be aware that there are two completely different varieties circulating under this name. The commercial company “SeDeK” sells an Aisberg that is a short, early determinate with round fruits. However, the much more famous and sought-after heirloom (popularized by breeder V. Syrai) discussed in … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Appetitnyi (Appetizing) 🌍 Origin: A commercial variety from the Russian seed company Siberian Garden (SibSad). The name translates perfectly to “Appetizing” or “Mouthwatering”. 🌿 Plant Habit: It behaves as a semi-determinate or a compact indeterminate. Outdoors in the open garden, it usually stops around 80-100 cm (31-40″). Inside a poly greenhouse, … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Antonovka Medovaya 🌍 Origin & Name: A commercial variety from the Russian company “Premium Seeds”. It is named after the famous Russian winter apple, Antonovka, known for its green-yellow color and ability to be stored in cellars all winter. “Medovaya” means “Honey”. ⚠️ The Big Misunderstanding: The seed packet markets this … Read more
📌 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