Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Demidov 🌍 Origin: A rugged, commercial Russian variety bred specifically for harsh, short-summer climates like Siberia and the Altai Mountains. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate, compact tree-type dwarf (*shtambovyi* in Russian). It typically grows only 24-25 inches (60-64 cm) tall and requires absolutely no pruning or suckering. Excellent for container gardening or … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Don Juan 🌍 Origin: A very popular, reliable commercial variety, heavily distributed by the “Sedek” seed company. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate, often growing as a sturdy tree-type (rugose) bush. It is very compact, typically maxing out around 20–28 inches (50–70 cm) tall. Exceptionally fuss-free and performs incredibly well in open ground. … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Drova (Firewood) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety famously distributed by the “Aelita” seed company. The name translates to “Firewood” or “Logs”, perfectly describing the elongated shape of the fruit. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate, tree-type (rugose foliage). Extremely compact, stocky, and sturdy, usually maxing out around 16–24 inches (40–60 cm) tall. … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Gordost Sibiri (Pride of Siberia) 🌍 Origin: A well-known commercial heirloom released by the Russian seed company “Siberian Garden” (SibSad). The name translates to “Pride of Siberia”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Semi-determinate / Indeterminate. Typically stays relatively short, often topping out around 3.3–5 ft (1–1.5 m) even in a greenhouse. Does very … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Gaspacho 🌍 Origin: A very popular and reliable Russian variety named after the famous Spanish cold tomato soup. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). It stays relatively compact but produces heavily. Bonus: It has built-in genetic resistance to Verticillium and Fusarium wilt (VF resistance), making it a bulletproof choice for problem soils. … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Volgogradskiy 5/95 🌍 Origin: A legendary old-school Soviet commercial variety. Note: There are two famous “Volgogradskiy” strains. “323” is the early bush variety, while “5/95” is the vigorous, late-season strain bred for the warm, long summers of southern Russia. 🌿 Plant Habit: Vigorous with a very thick, sturdy main stem. Because … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Valentina Tomato 🌍 Origin: A Russian commercial variety, heavily distributed by the “SeDeK” seed company. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Typically grows about 24-28 inches (60-70 cm) tall. The Great Leaf Debate: Growers report two distinct strains circulating—one with Regular Leaf (RL) foliage and one with Potato Leaf (PL) foliage. Both … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Vzryv (Explosion) 🌍 Origin: A Russian commercial variety. The name translates to “Explosion”. It was developed as an improved, modern version of the classic old Soviet variety Belyi Naliv. Specifically recommended for northern regions and short-season climates. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Very compact and sprawling, usually growing only 12-18 inches … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Vishnya Zimnyaya (Winter Cherry) 🌍 Origin: A Russian commercial variety. The name translates to “Winter Cherry”. Intended for outdoor growing in middle and northern climates. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). The seed packet claims it is a stout, tree-type dwarf that requires zero pruning, but growers report it grows as a … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Banan Zholtyi (Yellow Banana) 🌍 The Controversy: This variety is sold in Russia by the “Poisk” seed company under the name “Yellow Banana.” However, Russian growers who ran side-by-side grow-outs have universally concluded that this is simply a repackaged, renamed version of the famous American heirloom Banana Legs (originally bred by … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Baron Solemacher 🌍 Origin: A unique Eastern European dwarf tomato. (Note: Not to be confused with the famous alpine strawberry variety of the same name!). 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate / Micro-Dwarf. Officially listed at 30 cm (12 inches) tall, though it can reach 45-50 cm (18-20 inches) in ideal conditions. The … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Boni MM (Boney M) 🌍 Origin: A very famous commercial Russian variety, primarily distributed by the Gavrish seed company. Named in honor of the popular disco group Boney M. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate rugose dwarf (tree-type). Extremely compact, usually topping out around 40-50 cm (1.5 ft). Highly prized because the seedlings … Read more