{"id":5592,"date":"2026-10-16T17:16:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T17:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/?p=5592"},"modified":"2026-10-16T17:24:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T17:24:09","slug":"mandalay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/mandalay\/","title":{"rendered":"Mandalay Tomato Review: A Unique Fuzzy Vine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\ud83c\udf45 Quick take:<\/strong> Mandalay<\/em> is a highly unique indeterminate<\/strong> variety known for its fuzzy (pubescent) foliage and upright branches that resemble a date palm. It produces dense, meaty, orange fruits (often with a reddish interior) weighing 7-17.5 oz (200-500 g). Most growers praise its sweet, rich flavor and excellent disease resistance. However, it is extremely sensitive to excess nitrogen and will easily “fatten up” (produce massive vegetative growth with no fruit) if overfed. Note: There is a known seed mix-up circulating that produces a watery yellow\/pink fruit or even red cherries, so verify your leaf type (fuzzy and upright) early on! Full summary \u2193<\/a><\/div>\n

Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 3-4 Experience)<\/h2>\n
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PanIrina \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,208 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Nizhny Novgorod Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mid-season, tall vine, round orange fruits with red-orange flesh. Weight is about 7-10.5 oz (200-300 g). The fruits are very dense, meaty, and have a long shelf life. Heavy yielder and sweet. I really loved that it didn’t get sick at all. The foliage stayed perfectly clean until the very end of the season.<\/p>\n

\"Mandalay<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Belka (Elena) \u2b50 Pro Grower (5,499 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Chekhov (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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It left me with negative emotions. Way too much liquid inside, and it just didn’t look appetizing when sliced. The flavor tasted watered down to me. Just not a good one at all. Sorry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Nataliya (Nataliya Mikhaylova) \ud83c\udf45 Member (526 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Elena, sorry, but maybe you didn’t have the real one? Mandalay had absolutely zero watery gel in it, it was pure meat. Dense, sweet, and gorgeous on the inside. The vine is completely unique, it stands out from all the others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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PanIrina \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,208 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Nizhny Novgorod Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Here is the flesh of Mandalay, sorry for the low-quality photo. My seeds were originally from Lidiya Ganzen, sent to me by Lena Ch, big thanks to both of them.<\/p>\n

\"Mandalay<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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PanIrina \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,208 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Nizhny Novgorod Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I want to add some details about the vines themselves. The plants are truly unusual. The branches point straight up like a date palm.<\/p>\n

Edited October 14, 2018 by Drosera<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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tomatinka (Vera) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,911 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Tyumen Region (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I really liked this variety. Interesting color, great taste, and excellent yields.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Belka (Elena) \u2b50 Pro Grower (5,499 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Chekhov (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mine was from Redko. My soul just didn’t connect with it. Even the internal color was off-putting to me. Brought me zero joy and no flavor. Doesn’t seem like a seed mix-up though. Closer to orange on the outside, red flesh inside. Is that the one?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Nataliya (Nataliya Mikhaylova) \ud83c\udf45 Member (526 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Belka said:<\/strong>
\nMine was from Redko. My soul just didn’t connect with it. Even the internal color was off-putting to me. Brought me zero joy and no flavor. Doesn’t seem like a seed mix-up though. Closer to orange on the outside, red flesh inside. Is that the one?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It is intensely orange both inside and out. I don’t have a sliced photo, but trust me on this. It’s excellent. Let me send you a few seeds.<\/p>\n

\"Mandalay<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Jamilya \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,215 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd North Kazakhstan (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mine was yellow on the outside, leaning towards orange, and pink on the inside. A seed mix-up? All the tomatoes were round, firm, and not very large. Here it is with some other yellows, the two with the stems facing up.<\/p>\n

Edited October 15, 2018 by Jamilya<\/em><\/p>\n

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Belka (Elena) \u2b50 Pro Grower (5,499 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Chekhov (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Yep, that’s the one. Pinkish-red flesh.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Nataliya (Nataliya Mikhaylova) \ud83c\udf45 Member (526 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jamilya said:<\/strong>
\nMine was yellow on the outside, leaning towards orange, and pink on the inside. A seed mix-up? All the tomatoes were round, firm, and not very large.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Not the real one. Mandalay has a highly characteristic vine. The leaves are fuzzy and point straight up. The color is very orange, not yellow at all. The flesh is the same color.<\/p>\n

Edited October 20, 2018 by Drosera<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Jamilya \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,215 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd North Kazakhstan (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Shame that it wasn’t the real deal…<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Nadia (Nadezhda) \u2b50 Pro Grower (10,763 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kaluga Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Growing Mandalay for the second year. I love it, very tasty, doesn’t turn to mush. Definitely planting it again next year. I agree, those last photos show a seed mix-up. These photos are from last year.<\/p>\n

\"Mandalay<\/a>
\n\"Mandalay<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Nataliya (Nataliya Mikhaylova) \ud83c\udf45 Member (526 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mine actually came from you, Nadezhda! Huge thanks for this variety!<\/p>\n

Edited October 20, 2018 by Drosera<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Nadia (Nadezhda) \u2b50 Pro Grower (10,763 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kaluga Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Nataliya said:<\/strong>
\nMine actually came from you, Nadezhda! Huge thanks for this variety!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Natasha, I’m so glad you liked it!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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elja1968 (Elya) \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,914 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Bashkortostan (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Everyone loved this variety. The vine is beautiful, dark green with a really strong constitution. The fruits are firm, bright orange on the outside and reddish on the inside. Incredible flavor with obvious sweetness and I even picked up some spicy hints on the finish. Grown outdoors, the fruits were significantly larger than the ones in the greenhouse.<\/p>\n

Edited September 14, 2019 by elja1968<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Mandalay<\/a>
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\n\"Mandalay<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Stepanych (Vladimir) \ud83c\udf45 Member (4 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Murom (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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This variety is incredibly prone to nitrogen toxicity (fattening up). Because of that, I ruthlessly ripped one plant straight out of the dirt and stomped on it in frustration. On the second one, I violently chopped off almost all of its FAT leaves. Left just one FAT main stem. Even the name sounds suspicious. Man, I was so mad!<\/p>\n

But the vine must’ve gotten terrified of imminent death and understood the weight of my hatred toward it, because by early September it turned out to be an absolutely magnificent producer (over 11 lbs (5 kg) from that one plant, even with all the drama described above!). Best flavor (solid 5+) out of all the yellows I grew (and there were some heavy hitters in that lineup!).<\/p>\n

The fruits are orange with a pinkish, buttery flesh weighing 10.5-17.5 oz (300-500 g). GETS A PERMANENT SPOT IN THE GARDEN FOR SURE!!!<\/p>\n

Grew it in the greenhouse. Reached about 4 ft (120 cm). Pruned it to two stems.<\/p>\n

P.S. If anyone risks planting this monster, do not overfeed the bastard! Don’t dump extra fertilizer in the planting hole. A pinch of superphosphate and a handful of ash is plenty for it. Seeds from L. Ganzen.<\/p>\n

Edited March 7, 2020 by Stepanych<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Mandalay<\/a>
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T@tka (Tatyana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (35,075 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kazan (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On 9\/13\/2019 at 12:59 PM, elja1968 said:<\/strong>
\nEveryone loved this variety. The vine is beautiful…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Elya, whose seeds did you have? Did your leaves also point straight up like the folks mentioned above?<\/p>\n

Edited June 30, 2020 by T@tka<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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arel1982 (Valeria) \ud83c\udf45 Member (6 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Vitebsk Region, Belarus (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The tastiest tomato of 2020, and the yields didn’t disappoint either.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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arel1982 (Valeria) \ud83c\udf45 Member (6 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Vitebsk Region, Belarus (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Mandalay<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Malanka (Anna) \u2b50 Pro Grower (8,065 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Minsk, Belarus (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On 3\/14\/2021 at 4:47 PM, arel1982 said:<\/strong>
\nThe tastiest tomato of 2020, and the yields didn’t disappoint either.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Valeria, did it grow in a greenhouse? How was the timing?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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arel1982 (Valeria) \ud83c\udf45 Member (6 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Vitebsk Region, Belarus (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Grew it in a poly greenhouse, it was late for me. Dropped fruit from August 10th through the end of September, but honestly, with a flavor like that, you forgive the late timing. Might have been my fault with the sowing dates. Sowed it earlier this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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elja1968 (Elya) \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,914 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Bashkortostan (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On 6\/30\/2020 at 9:14 PM, T@tka said:<\/strong>
\nElya, whose seeds did you have? Did your leaves also point straight up like the folks mentioned above?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Tanya, just saw your question today, sorry! \ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2640\ufe0f<\/p>\n

Yes, exactly, the leaves on the vine point straight up. To be honest, it was my first time ever seeing a plant structure like that.<\/p>\n

Lena Ch sent me the seeds, she got them from Lidiya Ganzen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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priora (Natalya) \u2b50 Pro Grower (17,019 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Tolyatti, Samara Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There it is! What a beauty! Fuzzy leaves pointing straight up, a very unusual plant.<\/p>\n

\"Mandalay<\/a>
\n\"Mandalay<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Olgazve (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,614 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kostroma Region (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On 10\/4\/2023 at 8:55 PM, priora said:<\/strong>
\nThere it is! What a beauty! Fuzzy leaves pointing straight up, a very unusual plant.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I ended up with crossed seeds. Waited so long for it. Grew into a determinate plant throwing little red cherry spheres.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Full Summary: Foliage, Feeding, and Yield<\/h2>\n