Heirloom Tomato Varieties & Reviews | Tomat-Pomidor
Honest reviews of global tomato varieties from a 15-year-old growers community.
🍅 Quick take: Kemerovets is a tough, cold-tolerant determinate tomato from Western Siberia. It produces firm, small red oxhearts weighing around 3.5-5.3 oz (100-150 g). Growers report excellent disease resistance and great performance both for fresh eating and canning. While the seed packet boasts up to 100 fruits per plant, forum members note that real-world … 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: Königsberg Heart-Shaped (Kenigsberg Serdtsevidnyi) is a mid-season, indeterminate pink oxheart. Reaching about 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, it is a highly reliable producer that rarely drops blossoms. Growers prize it for its incredibly tender, meaty pinkish-red flesh, low seed count, and a rich, sweet flavor that is never bland. Full summary ↓ … Read more
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🍅 Quick take: Canopus (Kanopus) is a rugged, determinate bush variety originally bred for harsh Siberian conditions. Maxing out around 24 inches (60 cm) tall, it requires very little pruning and produces a heavy yield of red, egg-shaped to barrel-shaped tomatoes weighing 3 to 9 oz (80-250 g). Growers highly value it for its extreme … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): King of Siberia (Korol Sibiri) 🌍 Origin: A highly regarded commercial heirloom from Russia (Siberia). Beware: Due to its popularity, several major Russian seed companies have released completely incorrect seeds under this name (selling yellow plums, round, or striped off-types). Procuring seeds from a trusted private collector is crucial to getting … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Krupnyi iz Khakasii (Large from Khakassia) – Real Siberian Heirloom. 🌍 Origin: A beloved family heirloom from the Askizsky District of the Republic of Khakassia (Siberia, Russia). The name literally translates to “Large from Khakassia”. It was widely popularized among collectors by Lyudmila Gladilova from Kazakhstan. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Zyryanka 🌍 Origin: A commercial Russian variety from the “Semena Altaya” (Seeds of Altai) company. The name “Zyryanka” references a town/river in northern Siberia, signaling its hardy genetics. 🌿 Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Mid-season maturity. A very vigorous, strong, and wide-spreading plant. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Red, perfectly round/oblate tomatoes. They are … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Zolotye Kupola (Golden Domes) 🌍 Origin: A very popular commercial Russian heirloom developed by the Siberian Garden (SibSad) seed company. The name translates to “Golden Domes”, referencing the shape of Russian Orthodox church roofs. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, but often acts semi-determinate depending on the climate. Typically reaches about 4 to … Read more
Quick Summary of Zoloto Khakasii (Gold of Khakassia) 📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Zoloto Khakasii 🌍 Origin: A stunning heirloom from the Republic of Khakassia in Siberia. The name translates to “Gold of Khakassia”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall vine), mid-season ripening. Vigorous growth typical of Siberian varieties. 🍅 Fruit Characteristics: Large, chubby oxhearts (blunt heart … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Gonsiorovski’s Home Heart 🌍 Origin: A legendary family heirloom from Minusinsk, Siberia, maintained by the Gonsiorovski family. It is sometimes sold or traded under the name “Minusinsk Hearts from Gonsiorovski”. The name translates to “Gonsiorovski’s Home Heart”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate, growing up to 6.5 feet (2m). Like many classic oxhearts, … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Gigant Limonnyi (Lemon Giant) 🌍 Origin: A famous Russian heirloom. It is widely distributed by the renowned seed company Siberian Garden (SibSad), as well as kept pure by private collectors. The name translates directly to “Lemon Giant”. 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), typically reaching around 6 to 6.2 ft (1.8 – … Read more
📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR): Gusinoe Yaytso (Goose Egg) 🌍 Origin: A very popular commercial heirloom released by the Russian seed company Siberian Garden (SibSad). 🌿 Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), highly vigorous. It frequently exceeds 6.5 ft (2 m) in a greenhouse. Standout feature: It exhibits “wispy” or drooping foliage, which is common for large paste … Read more