Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
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 Slivovaya Kaplya (Plum Drop) 🌍 Origin: This thread reveals a classic seed industry scandal! The commercial seed company Russkiy Ogorod (Russian Garden) sells this variety as an expensive “F1 Hybrid” called Slivovaya Kaplya (Plum Drop). However, clever growers have figured out that it is actually just the American open-pollinated variety Indigo Kumquat … 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 Red King 🌍 Origin: A highly reliable variety sourced from the collection of Russian tomato expert V.D. Popenko. 🌿 Plant Habit: Mid-season and indeterminate (tall vining). It performs exceptionally well outdoors in the open ground, especially when pruned to two stems. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Bright red, perfectly round tomatoes weighing up to … Read more
Quick Summary of Russo Sicilian Togetta 🌍 Origin: A beautiful traditional heirloom variety, highly prized for its deeply ruffled, classic Italian appearance. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (vining). Highly productive in a greenhouse when pruned to 2 stems, but also demonstrates extreme resilience when grown outdoors in harsh conditions. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Bright red, oblate (flattened), … Read more
Quick Summary of Petrusha-Ogorodnlk (Petrusha the Gardener) 🌍 Origin & Name: A very famous commercial Russian variety from the “Siberian Garden” (SibSad) seed company. The name translates to “Petrusha the Gardener” (Petrusha is an affectionate diminutive of Peter). 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). It is highly prized for its compact, stocky “tree-type” seedlings that do … Read more