Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
🍅 Quick take: Kamenny Tsvetok (Stone Flower) is a rugged, tree-type determinate bush variety bred for outdoor growing. It is known for producing incredibly dense, rock-solid red fruits that store for a very long time. However, grower reviews are heavily polarized. While some praise its yields and utility for canning/storage, others report that it tastes … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Colibri F1 is a vigorous indeterminate French hybrid from Clause. While technically marketed as a “salad/slicer plum,” growers find its firm texture and uniform 5.5-6 oz (160-170 g) red fruits absolutely perfect for canning whole. It features short internodes and throws massive, often forked clusters, making it a heavy yielder in the … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Korol Gigantov (King of Giants) is an indeterminate Siberian heirloom that throws out absolutely massive beefsteaks, regularly hitting 1-1.5 lbs (500-700 g) and occasionally topping 2.2 lbs (1 kg). Unlike most giant heirlooms, it actually stores fairly well without cracking. However, there are multiple crossed seed lines circulating (some with PL foliage … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Kecskemeti Jubileum is a famous Hungarian determinate variety bred specifically for processing and canning. Staying highly compact at around 3 ft (1 m) tall, it pumps out uniform 4 oz (100-120 g) red fruits with firm skin that won’t turn to mush in a jar. Full summary ↓ Growers’ Notes and Photos … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Korolevich (Prince) is an indeterminate pink oxheart bred by the Russian seed company Semena Altaya. It is a mid-season variety known for producing massive heart-shaped fruits that can weigh up to 28 oz (800 g). Growers praise it for its outstanding flavor and versatility in the kitchen. Full summary ↓ Growers’ Notes … Read more
🍅 Quick take: King Kong is an indeterminate, mid-season red beefsteak that fully lives up to its name. It is highly prized by growers for producing massive, sweet fruits that regularly exceed 2 lbs (1 kg), with one grower hitting 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg). It thrives in greenhouses but requires careful pruning and is best … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Kazakhskaya Sliva (Kazakh Plum) is an indeterminate red plum tomato that grows on tall, wispy vines. The fruits average about 5 oz (150 g) and have a tender, sweet flesh. Because of their shape and meaty texture, forum growers highly recommend this variety for making sun-dried tomatoes. It performs well both in … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Canadian Giant (Kanadskiy Velikan) is an indeterminate, potato leaf (PL) variety that produces heavy yields of massive, sweet beefsteaks. Growers should be prepared to give it plenty of room, as the vines are known for their vigorous, sprawling habit. Full summary ↓ Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zone 4 Experience) I ilja … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Karmen (Carmen) is an indeterminate pink paste tomato known for its large plum-shaped fruits that can reach up to 8 oz (230 g). Growers praise it for its firm, sugary flesh that makes it perfect for canning, as well as its impressive productivity when grown outdoors in the dirt. Full summary ↓ … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Kanary (Canaries) is an indeterminate Russian tomato with a bit of an identity crisis. Due to expired seed patents, there are multiple strains floating around the market. The official registry lists it as a mid-season, red round/heart tomato weighing up to 18 oz (500 g). However, a highly popular “rogue” strain circulates … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Katya F1 is a very early determinate hybrid by the Russian seed company Semko. It is known as a reliable “workhorse” variety that pumps out 4 oz (110-130 g) red fruits on compact 20-inch (50 cm) bushes. While growers have mixed feelings about its flavor (most agree it’s better for canning than … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Kamennoe Serdtse (Stone Heart) is an indeterminate, mid-early to mid-season pink oxheart. Growers rave about its exceptional yields, reliable blossom set in fluctuating temperatures, and most notably, its extremely dense, heavy fruits that perfectly match the “Stone” in its name. It features a wispy plant habit ideal for greenhouse spacing. Full summary … Read more