Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
🍅 Quick take: Marek’s Pointy Heart is an indeterminate, mid-season heirloom oxheart with characteristic wispy foliage, originally obtained from Polish gardener Marek via Tatiana Kouchnareva. The vines set dense, elongated, tapered red hearts typically running 8-16 oz (220-450 g). The interior is solid, dense, and sweet with almost no seeds, though northern growers recommend greenhouse … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Malcolm Lincoln is a storied American family heirloom preserved for over 60 years in West Virginia. The indeterminate vine reaches 6-6.5 ft (1.8-2 m) and carries the classic delicate, wispy oxheart foliage. It produces smooth, deep-pink hearts with a distinctive pointed beak weighing 10.5-17.5 oz (300-500 g). Immature fruit start as a … Read more
🍅 Quick take: IPK LYC 859 El Salvador is an indeterminate, mid-season, multi-purpose red plum tomato with a distinctive pointed tip. While the flavor is described as mild or slightly bland (making it better suited for processing or canning rather than fresh eating), its main standout feature is its massive yield. Growers report that this … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Sofia’s Fiery Comet (Ognennaya Kometa Sofii) is an indeterminate, incredibly striking anthocyanin variety bred by Sofia Saakova. Fruits weigh up to 7 oz (200 g), featuring deep pink flesh, stripes, antho shoulders, and typically long, prominent beaks. Growers rave about its breathtaking appearance in the greenhouse and its exceptional, sweet flavor, though … Read more
🍅 Quick take: Pink Monisto is a cocktail-sized pink tomato that seed companies claim will produce massive trusses, but in reality, it often delivers much smaller clusters. While visually attractive and great for canning, growers report average flavor and a somewhat mealy texture. Full summary ↓ Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 8 Experience) R … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Zheltye Grebeshki (Yellow Crests) 🌍 Origin: A very popular Russian heirloom variety. The name “Yellow Crests” comes from the unique shape of the fruits, which often feature a pronounced, sharp, curved point (beak) at the blossom end. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall) and vigorous. Best grown pruned to 2-3 main stems. … Read more
Quick Summary of Principe Borghese 🌍 Origin: A classic and legendary Italian heirloom variety, famous worldwide as the ultimate tomato for sun-drying. 🌿 Plant Habit: Vigorous indeterminate (though some Russian commercial strains behave as bushy determinates). If left unpruned in a greenhouse, it can easily reach 3.5 meters (11.5 ft). Growers often let it grow … Read more