{"id":4800,"date":"2026-10-09T11:35:57","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T11:35:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/?p=4800"},"modified":"2026-10-15T11:38:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T11:38:50","slug":"kolokolchik","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/kolokolchik\/","title":{"rendered":"Kolokolchik (Bellflower) Tomato Review &#038; Photos"},"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;4800&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;Kolokolchik (Bellflower) Tomato Review \\u0026amp; Photos&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<div class=\"tldr-box\" style=\"background: #f4f9f4; padding: 20px; border-left: 5px solid #4CAF50; margin-bottom: 30px; border-radius: 4px;\">\n<h3>\ud83d\udccc Quick Summary (TL;DR): Kolokolchik (Bellflower)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83c\udf0d <strong>Origin:<\/strong> A highly regarded Russian commercial variety. The name &#8220;Kolokolchik&#8221; translates to &#8220;Bellflower&#8221; or &#8220;Little Bell.&#8221; It is deeply cherished on Russian forums, with a specific heirloom strain being passed around in memory of a legendary grower (Esme).<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf3f <strong>Plant Habit:<\/strong> Indeterminate (tall). Very vigorous. In a greenhouse, it behaves like a classic paste vine\u2014it will easily hit 8 feet (2.5 m) and keep growing until you top it. Performs beautifully when pruned to 2 or 3 stems.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf45 <strong>Fruit Characteristics:<\/strong> Smooth, red, elongated plums (often called &#8220;rackets&#8221; or &#8220;bullets&#8221; by growers). They weigh between 3 and 5.5 oz (80-160 g). Extremely crack-resistant with a fantastic shelf life.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udc45 <strong>Flavor &amp; Use:<\/strong> Surprisingly sweet and juicy for a paste tomato! It is fantastic for fresh eating, but its dense, non-watery flesh makes it the ultimate workhorse for canning, pickling, and sun-drying.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"add-review-cta\" style=\"margin: 20px 0; padding: 15px; background: #f9f9f9; border-left: 4px solid #4CAF50; border-radius: 4px;\"><strong>\ud83c\udf45 Grown this variety?<\/strong> <a href=\"#wpdcom\">Click here to add your own photos and review below!<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">E<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Esme (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,701 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown Zone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I even clarified the seed brand in the thread title because there are different versions of Kolokolchik floating around. Here is what grew from my seeds. Of course, my tomatoes didn&#8217;t weigh 12 oz (350 g) or even 7 oz (200 g) (very few got up to 5 oz \/ 150 g), but otherwise they were an absolute joy. Picked the first ripe one on July 8th, weighed 3.7 oz (105 g) (I grow everything outdoors in the dirt!). The fruits didn&#8217;t crack. The most important part is the taste, it has a very noticeable sweetness. A friend of mine who got my leftover seedlings noticed it too. The plant is indeterminate, regular leaf. Doesn&#8217;t spread out too wide, but it&#8217;s not a wimpy plant either. Yield is also solid.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3808_7cb1663486c31fd13c47ca8cc2433f9ee9409072.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3808_7cb1663486c31fd13c47ca8cc2433f9ee9409072.jpg\" alt=\"Kolokolchik red plum tomato on scale\" width=\"374\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3810_de9e6b333012ebe1d541e2713aeba1dc2b9d2354.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3810_de9e6b333012ebe1d541e2713aeba1dc2b9d2354.jpg\" alt=\"Harvest of red Kolokolchik tomatoes\" width=\"424\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3812_69deb77c0c64cda752f3148b4258c64493c3a8f6.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3812_69deb77c0c64cda752f3148b4258c64493c3a8f6.jpg\" alt=\"Kolokolchik red plum tomato shape\" width=\"450\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3814_50e5d144247801adf9d8ddc709338dff5a80782d.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3814_50e5d144247801adf9d8ddc709338dff5a80782d.jpg\" alt=\"Cross section of Kolokolchik red tomato\" width=\"450\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">E<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Esme (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,701 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown Zone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>More photos:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3816_4343c1f84878420ffd2c566b3614215905cd46ef.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3816_4343c1f84878420ffd2c566b3614215905cd46ef.jpg\" alt=\"Meaty cross section of Kolokolchik\" width=\"462\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3818_9b149aa7a7dda418335aac821c7837ff50c38a75.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3818_9b149aa7a7dda418335aac821c7837ff50c38a75.jpg\" alt=\"Kolokolchik tomatoes loaded on the vine\" width=\"600\" height=\"548\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3820_8f2bbbc3655552f1ef485c0db16efb8a46c4f725.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3820_8f2bbbc3655552f1ef485c0db16efb8a46c4f725.jpg\" alt=\"Kolokolchik plant outdoors\" width=\"600\" height=\"554\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">T<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">tomatinka (Vera) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (14,911 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Tyumen region (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Awesome variety, very pretty. If it&#8217;s tasty too, then it&#8217;s just super&#8230; But it reminds me of something from SibSad&#8230; I can&#8217;t remember which one, but it definitely has a twin out there. I was just looking at the catalog recently&#8230; \ud83d\ude33 gotta go take another look&#8230;<\/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\">Svetikk (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (29,384 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow region, Stupino district (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>tomatinka wrote:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Awesome variety, very pretty. If it&#8217;s tasty too, then it&#8217;s just super&#8230; But it reminds me of something from SibSad&#8230;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Not K\u00f6nigsberg by any chance? \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">E<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Esme (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,701 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown Zone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>It might resemble K\u00f6nigsberg in fruit shape, but it&#8217;s a completely different variety.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">T<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">tomatinka (Vera) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (14,911 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Tyumen region (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>No, Galya, compared to your Kolokolchik, K\u00f6nigsberg is garbage. I didn&#8217;t like it at all.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">C<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Cherry (Olga) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (6,822 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Baranovichi (USDA Zone 5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Galochka, your fruits have a different shape than the ones on the packet. Yours are perfect smooth plums, and in the photo they look like semi-pears. Right?<\/p>\n<p>You sent me this one (\ud83d\ude4f), do you think it would be good for sun-drying?<\/p>\n<p>My oldest daughter just can&#8217;t get enough of sun-dried tomatoes, she won&#8217;t stop until she finishes the whole bag (I froze the sun-dried ones based on a tip from Valyusha from Pyatigorsk (\ud83d\udc96) &#8211; they are so good!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">E<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Esme (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,701 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown Zone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Yeah, Olenka, it doesn&#8217;t look much like its portrait. They are all perfectly smooth on every plant, and the plants themselves are identical.<\/p>\n<p>It might be great for sun-drying, but honestly, I don&#8217;t think you&#8217;ll even have time to dry them, the flavor is just&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">C<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Cherry (Olga) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (6,822 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Baranovichi (USDA Zone 5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Tasty is wonderful! That means instead of planting 2 of the tasty ones, I can plant 5 for example \ud83d\ude0b<\/p>\n<p>I just meant, is it watery? Judging by the cross-section photo, it looks like &#8220;just what the doctor ordered&#8221; for sun-drying.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">E<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Esme (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,701 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown Zone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Not watery at all.<\/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\">murjulia <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Beginner (55 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown Zone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Galochka, thank you for this variety.<\/p>\n<p>I really loved it, it performed beautifully even this year.<\/p>\n<p>Heavy yielder, nice sized beauties, very tasty \ud83d\udc4d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">E<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Elena_T (Elena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf45 Member (893 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Yekaterinburg (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Galyush, Esme, I saved Kolokolchik for seeds. Today some friends walked through my outdoor beds and were blown away \ud83d\ude32 by my harvest, and I just keep thinking of you. You are such a smart, hardworking lady, and I&#8217;m so lucky I got some of your seeds!!! The variety actually performed really well in our Ural region climate, definitely deserves respect.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">E<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Esme (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,701 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown Zone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Ladies, this year it only showed one flaw for me, blossom end rot (didn&#8217;t have it last year), but definitely not on the same massive scale as on Auria (let alone the Monti F1 hybrid).<\/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\">MADanilich (Andrey) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (22,092 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd North of Tomsk (USDA Zone 2)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>\ud83d\ude4f On the packet they look like pears. Some fruits on my &#8220;Truffles&#8221; look like pears too. Seriously, where do they get these variety names????? Maybe they should group them somehow?! I&#8217;m completely confused. It&#8217;s the exact same variety, just in a different wrapper with a different name&#8230;.. PEOPLEEEE! Help me make sense of this!!!!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/49638_29b2ae7d8c0ce4e581936479b99fb2a6859e2237.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/49638_29b2ae7d8c0ce4e581936479b99fb2a6859e2237.jpg\" alt=\"Kolokolchik seed packet\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">E<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Elena_T (Elena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf45 Member (893 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Yekaterinburg (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Esme wrote:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ladies, this year it only showed one flaw for me, blossom end rot (didn&#8217;t have it last year)&#8230;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Mine didn&#8217;t have any blossom end rot at all, Galya.<\/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 Unknown Zone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Galyush, my Kolokolchik grew out just like yours. Elongated, smooth, firm. We usually call this shape &#8220;rackets&#8221; (bullets), because plums are usually short, just typical plums. But in the greenhouse, mine got up to over 6.5 feet (2 m) tall. Has a great shelf life too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">E<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Esme (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,701 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown Zone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Marina, that&#8217;s exactly what it is, elongated-oval, you could say.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">N<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Natalya Khotkovo (Natalya) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,753 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown Zone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/20\/411-280614131918.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/20\/411-280614131918.jpeg\" alt=\"Kolokolchik tomatoes ripening\" width=\"506\" height=\"900\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">T<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">trofi (Elena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (10,716 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Southern Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Tasty, juicy, yield is above average, pruned to 2 stems. Planted out in the dirt under low tunnels. It ended up being mid-late because I had weak seedlings (planted them tiny, took a long time to catch up), BUT it still managed to set 3 solid trusses.<\/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\">Svetikk (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (29,384 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow region, Stupino district (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Excellent variety. Thank you for the seeds to Galochka-Esme (blessed memory to her \ud83d\ude18) and Irina from St. Petersburg \ud83d\ude4f<\/p>\n<p>Indeterminate, heavy yielder, mid-early. Grew 2 plants in the greenhouse, pruned to 2 stems. The fruits are tasty, slightly sweet, juicy red plums around 3-5.5 oz (80-160 g)&#8230; yum-yum \ud83d\ude0b If you&#8217;re using them for canning, it&#8217;s better to pick them slightly underripe so they stay firmer.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/30\/166-120814134210.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/30\/thumb_166-120814134210.jpeg\" alt=\"Beautiful red Kolokolchik tomatoes on the plant\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/30\/166-120814134007.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/30\/thumb_166-120814134007.jpeg\" alt=\"Harvest of red paste tomatoes\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><\/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\">Murka (Masha) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (9,736 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Nizhny Novgorod Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Excellent variety. Smooth red fruits, very tasty, heavy yielder. Pruned it to 2 stems. Thanks to Svetik for the seeds.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/141\/12464-230816143246.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/141\/thumb_12464-230816143246.jpeg\" alt=\"Red elongated plum tomatoes on plant\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">K<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Katrinka (Ekaterina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,736 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Volgograd (USDA Zone 6)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>This year I grew Kolokolchik from 2013 seeds that Galya-Esme sent me. I grew it in 2014, but the plant turned out wimpy and didn&#8217;t yield much. I didn&#8217;t even bother saving seeds. So after 5 years, I decided to give it another shot. Surprisingly, I had zero issues with germination, even though the seeds were 6 years old. And this year I really loved the variety. It did great both in the greenhouse and out in the dirt. Heavy yielder, fruits are smooth, beautiful, zero cracking. Tasty for fresh eating, but for canning, this variety is just absolutely perfect. One of my favorites this year. Highly recommend!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2019_12\/835912637_6(1).jpg.17a731db19924eb192cf1de0b2fa6fb5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2019_12\/568450321_6(1).thumb.jpg.425c1f505ba3a6e3fc4289175d91ab29.jpg\" alt=\"Canned Kolokolchik tomatoes\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><\/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\">Svetikk (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (29,384 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow region, Stupino district (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Kolokolchik<\/p>\n<p>I grew this wonderful variety again, sent to me a long time ago by Galochka-Esme \ud83d\ude18 The old-timers here remember her. Unfortunately, she hasn&#8217;t been with us for a long time, but the memory of her kindness lives on in our hearts and in her seeds.<\/p>\n<p>It was in the very first seed mail I ever received from this forum, from a true fanatic of tomato growing.<\/p>\n<p>Indeterminate, can be pruned to 3 stems, very long production window. The tomatoes are red, elongated-oval, weighing up to 4.5 oz (130 g). Very tasty and sweet \ud83d\ude0b The last ones I picked are storing really well without losing their flavor. Today is November 8th, and I still have one beauty sitting on the counter.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2024_11\/1447801486_.JPG.daf612efec4003017ee26e579a05a1b5.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2024_11\/363099415_.thumb.JPG.1b937f4ceb7ab6fa383ccb376b6083c5.JPG\" alt=\"Beautiful red paste tomatoes on the vine\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2024_11\/1884649502_2.JPG.40147e1eee331b0ffadb665742237b37.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2024_11\/199601100_2.thumb.JPG.f59aabbe9e2004fa2ec995eec6fa389e.JPG\" alt=\"Harvested Kolokolchik tomatoes\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2024_11\/1684128877_3.JPG.2a2d511475b7ded5f08f8e3d9ea65961.JPG\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2024_11\/1714396183_3.thumb.JPG.43d333e79d12ef520c33e65a5d54eff1.JPG\" alt=\"Kolokolchik tomatoes in late storage\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><\/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\">Murka (Masha) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (9,736 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Nizhny Novgorod Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Svetikk wrote:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Kolokolchik. I grew this wonderful variety again, sent to me a long time ago by Galochka-Esme \ud83d\ude18<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Svet, I absolutely adore this variety. It was in the very first seed mail I got from you \ud83d\ude18<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">T<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">T@tka (Tatiana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (35,011 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Kazan (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Svetikk wrote:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Indeterminate, can be pruned to 3 stems, very long production window, tomatoes are red, elongated-oval up to 4.5 oz (130 g).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Svetikk, how tall does it get in the greenhouse?<\/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\">Svetikk (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (29,384 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow region, Stupino district (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>T@tka wrote:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Svetikk, how tall does it get in the greenhouse?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Like a lot of icicle\/paste types, it will just keep growing until you force it to stop by topping it. It grew on 3 stems near the greenhouse wall, then I tied it to the ceiling, it reached all the way to the walkway and I topped it there. Probably around 8.2 feet (2.5 m). I love varieties like this. Sure, they get tall, but they set every single truss, and in October I can still take a whole crate off the plant back to the city with me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"editor-note\" style=\"background: #eef7ff; padding: 15px; border-left: 4px solid #2196F3; margin-top: 15px; font-size: 1.2em;\"><strong>\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83c\udf3e Editor&#8217;s Note: The Legacy of Heirloom Growers<\/strong><br \/>\nThis thread is a beautiful reminder of why seed saving and sharing is so important in the heirloom tomato community. The original poster, Galina (username <em>Esme<\/em>), was a beloved and generous seed-saver who passed away years ago. However, you can see growers in 2019 and 2024 still planting the seeds she mailed them, raving about her specific strain of Kolokolchik, and passing those seeds on to the next generation of gardeners. True heirloom varieties are preserved not by massive seed companies, but by the love and community of backyard growers!<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ud83d\udccc Quick Summary (TL;DR): Kolokolchik (Bellflower) \ud83c\udf0d Origin: A highly regarded Russian commercial variety. The name &#8220;Kolokolchik&#8221; translates to &#8220;Bellflower&#8221; or &#8220;Little Bell.&#8221; It is deeply cherished on Russian forums, with a specific heirloom strain being passed around in memory of a legendary grower (Esme). \ud83c\udf3f Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall). Very vigorous. In a greenhouse, &#8230; <a title=\"Kolokolchik (Bellflower) Tomato Review &#038; Photos\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/kolokolchik\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Kolokolchik (Bellflower) Tomato Review &#038; Photos\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4800,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[162,4,438],"tags":[56,30,33,96,1110,1203],"class_list":["post-4800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-plum-tomatoes","category-paste-canning","category-red-tomatoes","tag-canning-tomato","tag-heavy-yielder","tag-indeterminate","tag-long-shelf-life","tag-red-paste-tomato","tag-sweet-plum-tomato"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4800","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=4800"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5458,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4800\/revisions\/5458"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}