Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 4-8 Experience)
Indeterminate, highly productive variety. It sets heavy trusses of large, round red fruits. A single truss ripens 6-8 tomatoes at once, weighing about 7-8.8 oz (200-250 g) each.
The fruits themselves are firm, the flesh is dense, and the flavor is very pleasant, mostly sweet. A really solid variety for all types of processing and for fresh eating.
Seeds came from Baden-Baden (Germany).
Edited October 13, 2014 by Yaroslavna
Natasha, your info isn’t quite right. This is a French variety, bred by the seed company La Ferme de Sainte Marthe, which is where it gets its name. In German, this variety is called Königin de Sainte Marthe.
For me, it wasn’t super productive, only about 5.7 lbs (2.6 kg) total. It needs a lot of sun and space, the foliage is dense, and it’s a vigorous vine. It kind of reminds me of Marmande, which is another French variety.
Vine height by August 1st: around 4 ft (1.2 m)
Yield per plant: 5.7 lbs (2.6 kg)
Max fruit weight: 13 oz (372 g)
Taste rating: 4.5 out of 5
Grown in 2010.
To be fair, the first post didn’t say the variety was German. Just that the seeds came from there to the author.
It’s no surprise, a lot of seed companies and hobbyists sell this variety over here. Often, there’s absolutely no info on the packet about where the variety is from, or even if it’s an heirloom at all. Just generic words like “tasty, plant at this time.” You really can’t compare the detailed variety descriptions in Russia with what we get here. I bought a packet of Cherrola, and only found out online that it’s an F1 hybrid. If it had said that on the packet, I wouldn’t have bought it. I really don’t like them, I’m super disappointed in the local hybrids.
So thanks to Aleksander we now know the true origin of the variety, thank you.
Rodebielesumer said:
To be fair, the first post didn’t say the variety was German. Just that the seeds came from there to the author… So thanks to Aleksander we now know the true origin of the variety, thank you.
Exactly right, I never claimed the variety was German, just that I received the seeds from Germany.
Alexander, thanks for the detailed review on this one!
The funny thing is, I had a few vines of it growing in my brand new polycarbonate greenhouse (oriented East-West). They were right on the south side, so those plants got absolutely baked with as much sun and heat as possible 😄
Maybe that’s why the variety rewarded me with such a rich flavor and great yield. A few of the tomatoes even got a little sunscald on the vine because the sun was so intense. The flesh was super dense, and I let them all ripen on the vine, didn’t have to pull a single green one…
Full Summary: Plant, Yield, Taste and Vigor
- 🌿 Plant: Indeterminate, vigorous vine with dense foliage. Produces round red tomatoes ranging from 7-8.8 oz (200-250 g), with some reaching up to 13 oz (372 g). Needs plenty of space and sunlight to thrive.
- 📈 Yield: Varies depending on sun exposure. In a hot, sunny greenhouse, it sets heavy, impressive trusses (6-8 fruits per truss). In less ideal outdoor conditions, yields might be lower (around 5.7 lbs / 2.6 kg per plant).
- 👅 Taste: Rated highly (4.5/5). Features dense, meaty flesh with a predominantly sweet and rich flavor. Great for both fresh slicing and processing/canning.
- 🛡️ Vigor & Resilience: A heat-lover. It performs best and develops its richest flavor when exposed to intense sun and high temperatures, making it a great candidate for the sunniest spots in your greenhouse or garden.
As pointed out in the thread, this variety originates from France, taking its name from La Ferme de Sainte Marthe, a well-known French organic seed company dedicated to preserving heirloom varieties. The name translates to “Queen of Sainte Marthe.” Its growth habit and fruit shape share many similarities with Marmande, another classic and beloved French heirloom tomato.
