{"id":400,"date":"2026-08-20T12:56:03","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:56:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/?p=400"},"modified":"2026-08-20T12:56:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:56:57","slug":"pink-cheeks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/pink-cheeks\/","title":{"rendered":"Pink Cheeks (Rozovye Shchechki) Determinate Tomato Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<div class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-auto kksr-align-left kksr-valign-top\"\n    data-payload='{&quot;align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;valign&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;ignore&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;reference&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;count&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;legendonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;readonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;score&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;starsonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;best&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;gap&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;greet&quot;:&quot;Rate this&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;0\\\/5 - (0 votes)&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Pink Cheeks (Rozovye Shchechki) Determinate Tomato Profile&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;_legend&quot;:&quot;{score}\\\/{best} - ({count} {votes})&quot;,&quot;font_factor&quot;:&quot;1.25&quot;}'>\n            \n<div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 0px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"kksr-legend\" style=\"font-size: 19.2px;\">\n            <span class=\"kksr-muted\">Rate this<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<h2>Quick Summary of Rozovye Shchechki (Pink Cheeks)<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83c\udf0d <strong>Origin:<\/strong> A Russian commercial variety originally developed by the &#8220;Manul&#8221; seed company. The name translates to &#8220;Pink Cheeks&#8221;.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf3f <strong>Plant Habit:<\/strong> Determinate (bush). Generally grows 0.6-0.8 m (2-2.5 ft) tall outdoors, but can reach 1.5 m (5 ft) in a greenhouse if trained properly. <em>Note:<\/em> The bush tends to grow very wide and takes up a lot of horizontal space.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf45 <strong>Fruit Characteristics (The TRUE variety):<\/strong> Pink, oblate (flattened) beefsteaks weighing 200-350 g (7-12 oz). The fruits are very meaty and dense.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udc45 <strong>Flavor &amp; Performance:<\/strong> The authentic strain has a great taste and an exceptionally long shelf life. However, it forms complex, fan-shaped trusses and is highly prone to &#8220;blossom drop&#8221; (flowers falling off without setting fruit), which can lower the overall yield.<\/li>\n<li>\u26a0\ufe0f <strong>Seed Warning:<\/strong> As seen in the forum thread, there is a massive issue with off-type (incorrect) seeds on the market depending on the seed company. If you get plants that produce tiny 60 g (2 oz) tomatoes\u2014you got a bad batch!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">L<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Lyubov <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,491 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Russia<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p><strong>Description from the seed packet:<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>&#8220;Pink Cheeks \u2014 a determinate variety with a unique combination of early ripening and large fruit size. 108-115 days from germination to ripening. Plants are 0.6-0.8 m tall (up to 1.5 m in a greenhouse). The fruits are large, weighing 200-350 g (7-12 oz), multi-chambered, with dense flesh. The unripe fruits are green with dark green shoulders; upon ripening, they acquire a beautiful crimson-pink color.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>My actual experience:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn July 2014, there were still no tomatoes. By September, only 2 fruits finally set, and they grew to a mere 60 grams (2 oz) each. Maybe I missed something in my growing technique? It grew in the greenhouse and was pruned. I don&#8217;t know what went wrong.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">S<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Serg (Sergey) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (6,381 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Kimry, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I planted it back in 2013. It didn&#8217;t impress me at all. I don&#8217;t even remember the taste, only the name. :-\\<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">L<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">LLL (Vyacheslav) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (15,626 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Russia<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Quote from Lyubov:<\/strong><br \/>\nBy September, only 2 fruits finally set, and they grew to a mere 60 grams&#8230;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Are you sure you didn&#8217;t just get an off-type (crossed\/wrong seeds)?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">L<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Lyubov <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,491 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Russia<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>It&#8217;s hard to even call it an off-type! Thanks for the answers. I wanted to test it again, but I think these seeds just fall into the &#8220;pretty pictures on the packet, garbage inside&#8221; category.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">M<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Meri <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (3,474 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Western Siberia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Lyuba, I also grew &#8220;Pink Cheeks&#8221; last season (seeds were from the &#8220;Manul&#8221; brand). I had 2 bushes, and they completely matched the description! I really liked them\u2014they were early, productive, and tasty tomatoes. I will definitely plant a couple of bushes again this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">L<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Lyubov <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,491 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Russia<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I think the seed packers just threw whatever they had on hand into my packet. :- I read some other reviews online just now, and they aren&#8217;t great either, so I definitely won&#8217;t plant them again. But yours look very decent\u2014and you say they are tasty and productive! :yep: Thanks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">D<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Drosera (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,413 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Yekaterinburg, Ural Region (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>It&#8217;s surprising that the packet calls it &#8220;early.&#8221; Even in their own description, it says 108-115 days, which makes it mid-late.<\/p>\n<p>I grew 2 bushes three years ago outdoors. The yield was so-so; apparently, our summer was just too short for them to finish. However, the fruits did match the description perfectly\u2014they were pink, oblate, and tasty.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">S<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">SvetaR (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (27,453 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I am not surprised at all that you got off-type seeds from the &#8220;Manul&#8221; company. I already talked about their &#8220;Dessert&#8221; variety on the forum, which I grew for two years and got a monstrous off-type both times.<\/p>\n<p>I also grew Pink Cheeks (if I&#8217;m not mistaken, in 2012). I got the exact same misunderstanding as Lyubov did (tiny 60g tomatoes).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">L<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Lora_27 (Larisa) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,248 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Krasnoyarsk, Siberia (USDA Zone 2\/3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Back in 2008, I had an excellent harvest of this variety, but my seeds were packed by &#8220;Aelita-Agro&#8221;. It grew outdoors in the open ground and was very unfussy and highly productive. That&#8217;s why I liked it. I had 5 bushes, and they were all perfectly uniform.<\/p>\n<p>The taste is just standard. They didn&#8217;t have time to finish ripening on the vine before the frost, so they ripened indoors. (I keep strict garden records: I sowed them for seedlings on April 4th, 2008).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Anzhelika <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (385 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Russia<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>And here are my Pink Cheeks! I bought the seedlings at the Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. I really liked them, both in terms of yield and taste.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/97\/14946-051115121208.jpeg\" alt=\"Anzhelika's true Pink Cheeks tomatoes\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">M<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Marina <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,483 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Russia<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I grew Pink Cheeks for several years. They are indeed determinate, pink, large, truly tasty, and on top of that, they store for a long time in the pantry. Are they early? Maybe compared to other dense tomatoes, but generally, I&#8217;d call them mid-season.<\/p>\n<p><strong>But here are the downsides:<\/strong> The trusses are complex\/multiflora, and a lot of the flowers suffer from &#8220;blossom drop&#8221; (they fall off without setting fruit). The bush grows very wide and takes up a lot of space. I kept growing it because of the great taste and long shelf life, but I got so sick of the blossom drop. Overall, the final yield per bush is low.<\/p>\n<p>I stopped growing it this year; there are too many other new varieties to try.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Quick Summary of Rozovye Shchechki (Pink Cheeks) \ud83c\udf0d Origin: A Russian commercial variety originally developed by the &#8220;Manul&#8221; seed company. The name translates to &#8220;Pink Cheeks&#8221;. \ud83c\udf3f Plant Habit: Determinate (bush). Generally grows 0.6-0.8 m (2-2.5 ft) tall outdoors, but can reach 1.5 m (5 ft) in a greenhouse if trained properly. Note: The bush &#8230; <a title=\"Pink Cheeks (Rozovye Shchechki) Determinate Tomato Profile\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/pink-cheeks\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Pink Cheeks (Rozovye Shchechki) Determinate Tomato Profile\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,52,65,5],"tags":[131,313,96,160,314],"class_list":["post-400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beefsteak-large-slicers","category-bush-and-dwarf","category-pink-tomatoes","category-russian-eastern-european-heirlooms","tag-blossom-drop","tag-determinate-pink-tomato","tag-long-shelf-life","tag-off-type-seeds","tag-russian-tomato-seeds"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=400"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":403,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400\/revisions\/403"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}