Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Abakanets 🌍 Origin: A stabilized red off-type (mutation) originally discovered in a seed packet of the famous Abakansky Rozovy (Abakan Pink) produced by the Siberian Garden seed company. “Abakanets” roughly translates to “The guy from Abakan.” 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), mid-season variety. Highly productive and will continue fruiting right up … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Altaysky Shedevr (Altai Masterpiece) 🌍 Origin: A highly acclaimed Siberian heirloom variety. The name translates to “Altai Masterpiece,” and it truly lives up to its name among collectors. Often sold by Russian seed company Aelita. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), with a very thick, sturdy main stem and short internodes. Despite … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Alesha Popovich 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety from the “Poisk” seed company. It is part of their “Three Bogatyrs” (Three Epic Knights) series, named after legendary heroes of Russian folklore: Alesha Popovich, Dobrynya Nikitich, and Ilya Muromets. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching about 1.5–1.6m (5–5.2 ft). The bush is … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Alye Svechi (Scarlet Candles) 🌍 Origin: A very popular commercial Russian variety. The name translates to “Scarlet Candles” due to its elongated shape. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate and incredibly vigorous. Growers warn that this bush is a monster, easily reaching 2 to 3 meters (6.5–10 ft) tall, requiring serious staking. 🍅 … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Akulina 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety. “Akulina” is a traditional, old-fashioned Russian female name. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). It is a short-growing plant, reaching about 80 cm (31 inches) in height. Highly versatile, doing well both outdoors in open ground and in plastic greenhouses. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Red, oblate … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Altaysky Rozovy (Altai Pink) 🌍 Origin: A commercial Siberian heirloom from the famous “Sibirsky Sad” (Siberian Garden) seed company. The name translates to “Altai Pink,” named after the Altai Mountains region in Siberia. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and very vigorous. Known for being a highly productive and heavy yielder. 🍅 … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Andreevsky Syurpriz 🌍 Origin: A renowned Siberian selection. The name translates to “Andreev’s Surprise” (or Andrew’s Surprise). 🌿 Plant Habit: Officially listed as indeterminate and tall (1.6–1.8m / 5.2–5.9 ft) for greenhouses. However, growers note that when planted outdoors in open ground, it often behaves more like a determinate (bush) plant … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Altayskiy Oranzheviy (Altai Orange) 🌍 Origin: A renowned commercial heirloom from the Altai region in Siberia. The name translates to “Altai Orange”. It is highly sought after by collectors for its incredible texture and flavor. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate. Some growers report it being a “short” indeterminate, while others see it … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Abkhaziya Rozovaya (Abkhazia Pink) 🌍 Origin: A fantastic heirloom tomato originating from Abkhazia, a region in the Caucasus Mountains famous for its rich agricultural heritage and outstanding southern tomatoes. The name translates to “Abkhazia Pink”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), though it tends to stay somewhat stocky (around 1.5m / 5ft) … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Pineapple Zebra 🌍 Origin: A stunning stabilized cross, likely originating from a mix of the classic Pineapple and Green Zebra tomatoes. Widely known among US and European growers, it is highly prized by collectors for its adaptability and stunning appearance in colder climates. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and vigorous. Performs … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Alisa (Alice) 🌍 Origin: A highly regarded heirloom variety with somewhat mysterious origins. While often credited to Russian breeders (like N. Alexandrov or Egorov), some growers trace their seed lines back to Portuguese heirlooms. The name translates to “Alice”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), reaching 1.7–2.0 m (5.5–6.5 ft) in height. … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Vela Scarlatta 🌍 Origin: A magnificent heirloom variety (the name translates from Italian as “Scarlet Sails”). It is highly prized by collectors of giant oxheart tomatoes. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). An incredibly vigorous and powerful plant that exhibits intensive, fast growth and produces a massive yield. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Giant … Read more