Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
Quick Summary of Tiger Plum (Sliva Tigrovaya) 🌍 Origin & Name: An Eastern European striped heirloom, also known in international circles as Plum Tigris. Translates from Russian directly as “Tiger Plum” (Sliva Tigrovaya). It is sometimes confused with “Striped Plum”, though growers note they are genetically different. 🌿 Plant Habit: Highly versatile. When grown outdoors … Read more
Quick Summary of Solokha 🌍 Origin & Name: A popular Eastern European variety. “Solokha” is a female name, famously known as the lively, mischievous village witch in Nikolai Gogol’s classic tale “The Night Before Christmas”. 🔍 The “Two Strains” Mystery: Forum discussions reveal there are at least two distinct genetic lines circulating under this name: … Read more
Quick Summary of Superekzotik (Super Exotic) 🌍 Origin: A highly popular Eastern European/Russian commercial heirloom. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). It is a very vigorous vine, with growers reporting heights anywhere from 1.7 m to almost 2.5 m (5.5 to 8 ft) in a greenhouse. The foliage is relatively sparse/airy, allowing good light penetration. 🍅 … Read more
Quick Summary of Santa Cruz 🌍 Origin: Often circulated by Russian seed collectors (like V. Popenko). It is widely positioned in the community as an “improved De Barao” (referencing the legendary Eastern European canning variety). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (very tall), easily reaching 2.5 meters (8+ ft). Growers describe the bush as a “monster”—very vigorous … Read more
Quick Summary of Sibirskiy Malakhit (Siberian Malachite) 🌍 Origin: A well-known commercial variety from Siberian Garden (SibSad). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. In open ground, it usually reaches 1.2-1.4 meters (4-4.5 ft), and slightly taller in greenhouses. The bush is regular, not overly spreading. Growers note it exhibits excellent disease resistance (particularly against leaf mold / … Read more
Quick Summary of Smilyanskiy Rudasa 🌍 Origin & History: A rare Eastern European heirloom with a great backstory. It was bred by Ukrainian breeder A.P. Rudas. The seeds in this thread took a fascinating journey: bought at a market in Hungary, brought to Germany, and then shared with Russian growers. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). … Read more
Quick Summary of Sladkiy Bochonok (Sweet Barrel) 🌍 Origin: A Russian commercial variety. The name translates to “Sweet Barrel”, which perfectly describes its shape and flavor. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching 1.8-2 meters (6-6.5 ft). Pro Tip: The official description notes it is prone to excessive vegetative growth, so it requires strict pruning and … Read more
Quick Summary of Sibirskiy Piruet (Siberian Pirouette) 🌍 Origin: A Russian/Siberian variety specifically valued for its commercial-grade shelf life and suitability for long-term storage. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Red, cylindrical (plum/paste type), smooth, and very dense. They typically have 2 to 3 seed locules (cavities). Because of its structural integrity, it … Read more
Quick Summary of Smuglyanka (Dark-Skinned Girl) 🌍 Origin: This thread highlights a classic naming conflict! There are two completely different tomatoes sold in Russia under the name Smuglyanka (which translates to “Dark-Skinned Girl,” a famous Russian term of endearment and song). 🌿 Version 1 (Breeder N. Borzykh): A moderately tall, mid-season indeterminate. It is notably … Read more
Quick Summary of Stolypin 🌍 Origin: A very famous Russian commercial variety introduced by the seed company “Aelita.” It is officially listed in the Russian State Register of Varieties (added in 2012). 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). An early to mid-season variety that stays compact but produces heavily. It is widely grown outdoors in open … Read more
Quick Summary of Sanka 🌍 Origin: A massively popular Russian commercial variety. “Sanka” is an affectionate, folksy nickname for Alexander. It is widely considered a staple “workhorse” tomato across Eastern Europe. 🌿 Plant Habit: Ultra-early determinate (bush) type. Very compact, typically reaching 40-60 cm (16-24 inches) in height. The main stem thickness at the base … Read more
Quick Summary of Black Icicle (Russian: Сосулька чёрная) 🌍 Origin: A very popular commercial heirloom variety originating from Ukraine/Russia, known natively as “Chornaya Sosulka”. It has gained worldwide fame among collectors as “Black Icicle”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, tall, and highly productive. It easily reaches up to 2 meters (6.5 ft) in a greenhouse. Like … Read more