{"id":418,"date":"2026-08-20T13:43:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T13:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/?p=418"},"modified":"2026-11-11T17:52:12","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T17:52:12","slug":"surovaya-dynya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/surovaya-dynya\/","title":{"rendered":"Surovaya Dynya (Volga German Harsh Melon) Tomato Review & Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n \n
\n \n
\n
\n \n\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n
\n Share your rating<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\ud83c\udf45 Quick take:<\/strong> Surovaya Dynya Nemtsev Povolzhya (Volga German Harsh Melon)<\/strong> is a remarkable Russian heirloom indeterminate<\/strong> vine producing massive 12-21 oz (350-600 g)<\/strong> fruits with an unusual dark ochre, caramel-bronze skin and green shoulders. Gardeners praise its rich, buttery, sweet melon-and-spice flesh, high productivity, and strong disease resistance across Zones 3 through 6. The variety shows genetic shape variations, throwing both blunt oxhearts and ribbed flat-round beefsteaks. Full summary \u2193<\/a><\/div>\n

Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 3-6 Experience)<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
I<\/div>\n
\n
Irina Volga (Irina Rubleva) \u2b50 Pro Grower (902 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Volgograd, Russia (USDA Zone 6a)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 January 18, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
This one is genuinely exotic and one of a kind! A vigorous, tall, mid-season vine reaching up to 6 ft (1.8 m), draped in heavy clusters of massive fruit running 12-18 oz (350-500 g). The coloration is breathtaking, a completely unique blend of bronze-orange and deep caramel chocolate that never fails to turn heads.
\nThe flavor is rich, intense, sweet and tomatoey with lingering notes of fruit and warm spice. The melting, buttery texture dissolves on your tongue, it really feels like a sweet melon had a say in creating this exotic flavor profile!
\nFruit shape comes as both blunt heart and ribbed oblate with full, rounded shoulders. True to its rugged name, Volga German Harsh Melon handles temperate climates with ease. It carries strong natural disease tolerance, shrugs off crazy weather swings, and pumps out consistent yields whether in the ground or in the greenhouse.
\nMine produced predominantly heart-shaped fruit. This season I picked up seeds for the flat-round boat-shaped variation to compare flavor and flesh texture next summer.
\nA high-yielding workhorse with an exceptionally long harvest window.
\n\"Volga<\/a>
\n\"Volga<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
L<\/div>\n
\n
Lyusiena (Lyudmila) \u2b50 Active Member (274 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Zlatoust, Chelyabinsk Region, Russia (USDA Zone 3b)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 September 26, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Irina Volga wrote:<\/strong>
\nThis season I picked up seeds for the flat-round boat-shaped variation to compare flavor and flesh texture next summer.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hi Irina! Did you ever get to compare the two shapes, and which one won? Dying to grow this variety! The closest seed source near me only carries the flat-round version, so I’m curious if there is any real difference in taste.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
I<\/div>\n
\n
Irina Volga (Irina Rubleva) \u2b50 Pro Grower (902 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Volgograd, Russia (USDA Zone 6a)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 September 26, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Hey there! Unfortunately ran completely out of garden space for the flat version this summer, so didn’t plant it. But chatting with folks on the forum, I’ve already seen several different shape variations and varying shoulder ribbing. The variety still throws segregating phenotypes, so what shape you will end up with is half the fun!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
K<\/div>\n
\n
Kirina (Irina) \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,440 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Stupino District, Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 September 26, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Here is my Volga German Melon from fruits counter-ripened indoors in September. Mid-summer the color was noticeably more ochre.
\nLoved this variety: early, highly productive, and while the taste wasn’t quite as intense as Uluru Ochre, it was still very respectable with a smooth, buttery texture. On top of that, harvested fruit holds well on the shelf. Definitely a keeper for next year. Seeds came from Tomatanya.
\nEdited September 26, 2023 by Kirina
\n\"Volga<\/a>
\n\"Volga<\/a>
\n\"Volga<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
G<\/div>\n
\n
galia (Galina) \u2b50 Pro Grower (4,914 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Tula, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 September 26, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Kirina wrote:<\/strong>
\nLoved this variety: early, highly productive, and while the taste wasn’t quite as intense as Uluru Ochre…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Irina, huge props for the seeds! Mine turned out crazy productive and downright delicious. Honestly, to my taste buds, it beat Uluru Ochre hands down!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
S<\/div>\n
\n
Svetikk (Svetlana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (29,846 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd South Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 October 3, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Surovaya Dynya Nemtsev Povolzhya (Volga German Harsh Melon).
\nLoved this variety! \ud83d\udc4d Didn’t get max yield or fruit size on mine because an ant colony moved directly into the root ball, so the plants couldn’t show their full potential, but I still got to enjoy the incredible beauty and that wonderful, complex sweet fruity flavor! \ud83d\ude0b
\nSkin is a deep antique ochre with greenish shoulders. Everything about this tomato is unusual, from its name to its color and taste. \ud83e\udd70 Fruits grew heart-shaped, some with sharp pointed tips and others with blunt ends. Seeds from Tomatanya.
\nFrom what I can tell looking online, fruit shape is still variable across lines, you can easily get round beefsteaks too.
\n\"Volga<\/a>
\n\"Volga<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
P<\/div>\n
\n
priora (Natalya) \u2b50 Pro Grower (17,019 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Tolyatti, Samara Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 October 9, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
So delicious! \ud83d\ude0b Seeds from Tomatanya.
\n\"Volga<\/a>
\n\"Volga<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
N<\/div>\n
\n
Nadindina (Dina) \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,593 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Altai Krai, Russia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 October 13, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Apparently this Melon couldn’t adapt to Siberian conditions. Even though it grew in a greenhouse, it was watery, had a totally washed-out flavor, and went soft immediately off the vine. Yield was fine, but it doesn’t even hold a candle to Uluru Ochre here. Seeds were also from Tomatanya.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
T<\/div>\n
\n
Tomatanya (Tatyana) \u2b50 Moderator (10,253 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Leningrad Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 October 13, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
In my garden this season, one vine came out slightly different: firmer meat, a shade lighter than the original ochre, variable fruit shapes, but turned out distinctly sweeter.
\nEdited October 13, 2023 by Tomatanya<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
M<\/div>\n
\n
Marin@M (Marina) \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,177 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Domodedovo District, Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 October 13, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Count me among the big fans of this variety! Early, loaded with fruit, and that luscious, buttery flesh completely won me over. Grew two vines, and both threw elongated blunt oxhearts. Will definitely keep it in the rotation. Seeds from Tomatanya.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
N<\/div>\n
\n
Nadine (Nadezhda) \u2b50 Pro Grower (11,454 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Volgograd, Russia (USDA Zone 6a)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 October 22, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Really enjoyed it. Very intriguing variety with a prolonged harvest window, pulled fruit off it right up to the very end of the season. Solid flavor, definitely repeating it.
\n\"Volga<\/a>
\n\"Volga<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
M<\/div>\n
\n
Mama Antona (Svetlana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (6,814 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kemerovo, Siberia (USDA Zone 3a)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 December 14, 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Kirina wrote:<\/strong>
\nearly, highly productive, smooth buttery texture, fruit holds well in storage…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Totally agree, and want to add: the seedlings have a very slender, wispy habit early on, but that doesn’t hold back their production one bit once they get growing.
\n\"Volga<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
M<\/div>\n
\n
Murka (Masha) \u2b50 Pro Grower (9,804 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Nizhny Novgorod Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 January 10, 2024<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Surovaya Dynya Nemtsev Povolzhya: indeterminate, mid-early. Very heavy yielder, ochre colored fruit. Flavor is rich, sweet, and tomatoey with distinct fruity-spiced notes. Flesh is silky, tender, and buttery. Loved it completely!
\n\"Volga<\/a>
\n\"Volga<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
S<\/div>\n
\n
Svetikk (Svetlana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (29,846 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd South Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 October 11, 2024<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Surovaya Dynya Nemtsev Povolzhya.
\nAn absolute masterclass of a variety! \ud83d\udc4d Show-stopping looks, genuine antique ochre color, delicious, heavy-bearing, nothing but praise! Weight heavily depends on placement and vine vigor. Given a prime sunny spot at the edge of the greenhouse on a raised bed, it pumped out real heavyweights tipping the scales at 21 oz (600 g).
\n\"Volga<\/a>
\n\"Volga<\/a>
\n\"Volga<\/a>
\n\"Volga<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
S<\/div>\n
\n
sofochkamai (Svetlana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (4,296 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Yekaterinburg, Russia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 November 2, 2024<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
100% agreed, superb variety! Taste, yield, looks, it has the whole package. Just wrapped up my second season growing it, and it has officially earned a permanent spot in my yearly lineup!
\n\"Volga<\/a>
\n\"Volga<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
L<\/div>\n
\n
Luba51 (Lyubov) \u2b50 Member (188 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 January 10, 2025<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Nadindina wrote:<\/strong>
\nApparently this Melon couldn’t adapt to Siberian conditions… watery, washed-out flavor…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Same story here this year. Both Volga German Melon and Uluru Ochre just fail to deliver in my soil season after season.
\nOn the bright side, Great White + Pink Stripes was unbelievably delicious! You really just have to keep trialing until you find the varieties that match your specific dirt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
T<\/div>\n
\n
tomatinka (Vera) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,911 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Tyumen Region, Russia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 August 20, 2025<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Second year in a row in love with this one. Many thanks to Tanya (Tomatanya)!
\n\"Volga<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
O<\/div>\n
\n
OlyaSashina (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (5,360 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Bor, Nizhny Novgorod Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcc5 February 7, 2026<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Surovaya Dynya Nemtsev Povolzhya: indeterminate. Heavy yielder, large ochre-colored heart fruit. Meat is smooth, juicy, and buttery. Not bland in the slightest.
\nGrew in full sun. Photo from July 30, 2025.
\nFound it considerably more rewarding than Uluru Ochre, both in total yield and eating quality.
\n\"Volga<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Full Summary: Plant, Yield, Taste and Shape Variations<\/h2>\n