Quick Summary of Solnechnoe Zatmenie (Solar Eclipse)
- 🌍 Origin: An original breeder’s variety created by Nikolai Zhigalin. It is a stunning cross between Sart Roloise and Dirty Curty Striped. The Russian name translates to “Solar Eclipse”.
- 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, but relatively compact. In a greenhouse, it typically grows up to 1.5 meters (~5 ft). It has regular leaf foliage and a somewhat delicate, wispy growth habit.
- 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Highly original and beautiful appearance. The fruits have a yellow base covered with pronounced purple-brown anthocyanin stripes and streaks. Average weight is 200–300g (7–10.5 oz), though individual fruits can reach up to 500–600g (1–1.3 lbs). Inside, the flesh is milky-white, occasionally with pink marbling.
- 👅 Flavor: Juicy, tender, and very delicious with a distinct aroma of exotic fruits. Best enjoyed fresh.
- ⏳ Maturity & Yield: Mid-season. It sets fruit reliably without skipping trusses, providing an average to high yield.
Solnechnoe Zatmenie (Solar Eclipse) is an original variety by breeder Nikolai Zhigalin. It is the result of crossing Sart Roloise x Dirty Curty Striped.
The variety is indeterminate, mid-season, and productive. The plant is not very tall and rather compact, reaching up to 1.5 meters (5 ft) in a greenhouse. Regular leaf. The fruits are medium-sized, weighing 200–300g (7–10.5 oz). Some individual fruits can be 500–600g (1.1–1.3 lbs). The coloring of the fruits is highly original and very beautiful. Pronounced purple-brown stripes and streaks run across a yellow background. When sliced open, the flesh is milky-white, sometimes with pink marbling. It is juicy, tender, and very tasty, with an aroma of exotic fruits. Highly recommended for fresh eating.
I grew it based on a recommendation from a friend in Tallinn, who absolutely loved this tomato and grew it two years in a row. The seeds were at the F5 stage. It showed no segregation (grew completely true to type). I grew it in a polycarbonate greenhouse; the bush was delicate, about 1.60m (5.2 ft) tall. The yield turned out to be average, although it set fruit on every truss without dropping any blossoms. The fruits are stunningly beautiful. I really liked the taste, the flesh is tender and aromatic.
