{"id":6379,"date":"2026-10-26T14:37:19","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T14:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/?p=6379"},"modified":"2026-10-26T14:37:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T14:37:19","slug":"faelans-first-snow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/faelans-first-snow\/","title":{"rendered":"Faelan’s First Snow Tomato Review & Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\ud83c\udf45 Quick take:<\/strong> Faelan’s First Snow (also distributed as Cherokee Purple Variegated) is an indeterminate<\/strong>, mid-season<\/strong> heirloom discovered as a sport of Cherokee Purple. It produces large, meaty purple beefsteaks on vines that sport unique white, cream, and green variegated foliage. Growers note the variegation is strongest in cool weather and often fades in summer heat. Reviews praise its rich, balanced, true heirloom flavor and solid yields, though the foliage can be a bit unpredictable. Full summary \u2193<\/a><\/div>\n

Jump to: Origins & Background<\/a> | Foliage Photos<\/a> | Taste & Yield Reports<\/a><\/p>\n

Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 3-6 Experience)<\/h2>\n
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ElenaN (Elena) \u2b50 Pro Grower (28,513 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kostroma (USDA Zone 4a)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Indeterminate, mid-season slicer variety with beautiful variegated leaves, they look like they were painted \ud83d\ude03 : dark green \/ blue-white \/ white \/ yellow. Strong vine. The fruits are large, black-pink, meaty beefsteaks. Aromatic, meaty, very good balanced flavor, few seeds, beautiful when sliced. Good yield, it was one of the first to start setting fruit in the greenhouse.<\/p>\n

Edited January 30, 2017 by Drosera<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Faelan's<\/a>
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ElenaN (Elena) \u2b50 Pro Grower (28,513 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kostroma (USDA Zone 4a)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I want to add a clarification about this variety. I planned to plant Cherokee Purple Variegated this year. While looking up information online, I realized that Faelan\u2019s First Snow and Cherokee Purple Variegated are most likely the exact same variety.<\/p>\n

It is worth mentioning a few quirks of variegated tomato leaves and stems. And indeed, both are variegated. A stem may be divided lengthwise into white, cream, and shades of green. The variegation shows best in cool conditions. In my own growing experience of these types, the bright light does not seem to affect the variegation\u2019s disappearance as much as the heat. With my climate, by sunny and hot mid-May, the plants are turning solid green.<\/p>\n

Edited March 28, 2017 by ElenaN<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Selena-tlt (Natalia) \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,157 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Elena, did you end up planting the Cherokee Variegated this year? I want to clarify if these two names are really the exact same thing. \ud83d\ude33<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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ElenaN (Elena) \u2b50 Pro Grower (28,513 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kostroma (USDA Zone 4a)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Elena, did you end up planting the Cherokee Variegated this year? I want to clarify if these two names are really the exact same thing. \ud83d\ude33<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

No, Natalia, I didn’t end up planting the Cherokee, every single planting hole was accounted for this season)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lelikovna (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,504 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Samara Region (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Hey folks, is anyone growing this variegated beauty this year? \ud83d\ude33<\/p>\n

I got Cherokee Purple Variegated from Olya-lya, sowed 3 seeds, all of them germinated, and all were beautifully variegated in the seedling stage. One was lagging behind in growth a bit, but I couldn’t bear to cull the handsome little guy. Out in the dirt all 3 are sturdy now, you can’t even tell which one was the runt, the trusses are powerful, tomatoes are setting, but the variegation has completely disappeared from the leaves \ud83d\ude22<\/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 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I’m growing it. Still has its variegation. Very vigorous plant, but not tall. Shorter than the others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ninulia (Nina) \u2b50 Pro Grower (39,667 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Nizhny Novgorod Region (USDA Zone 4a)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Olga, I grew it last year. As a seedling, yes, it’s very unusual. But once planted out, the variegation is practically unnoticeable, lots of carved leaves, and the small white speckles are basically invisible. Still stands out from the rest though \ud83d\ude03. But what I liked most was the flavor of the tomatoes, I thought they were the most interesting ones that year. Too bad the harvest wasn’t great \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lelikovna (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,504 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Samara Region (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I’m growing it. Still has its variegation. Very vigorous plant, but not tall. Shorter than the others.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Elena, that’s awesome that the variegation stuck around. I totally regret not taking pictures during the seedling stage \ud83d\ude22 By the way, yeah, my plants are also on the shorter side, but very stocky \ud83d\udc4d Are yours setting fruit well? How many tomatoes per truss?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lelikovna (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,504 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Samara Region (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Olga, I grew it last year. As a seedling, yes, it’s very unusual. But once planted out, the variegation is practically unnoticeable, lots of carved leaves, and the small white speckles are basically invisible. Still stands out from the rest though \ud83d\ude03. But what I liked most was the flavor of the tomatoes, I thought they were the most interesting ones that year. Too bad the harvest wasn’t great \ud83d\ude09<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nina, weren’t you thinking about repeating the variety? \ud83d\ude09 Maybe the yield wasn’t great because of last year’s weather \ud83e\udd37 On mine, the top leaves are completely solid green, I need to take a photo. Recently I was walking past and couldn’t even find them \ud83d\ude32 Started looking really closely, and only identified them by the stem — their stems are striped \ud83d\ude03<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ninulia (Nina) \u2b50 Pro Grower (39,667 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Nizhny Novgorod Region (USDA Zone 4a)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Olga, I only repeat a variety when I run out of seeds \ud83d\ude03. Gotta grow as many new-to-me varieties as possible, right!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lana_s_Kavkaza (Svetlana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (19,269 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Pyatigorsk (USDA Zone 6b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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My foliage is spotted all over the plant. Maybe direct sun makes the spotting stronger?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lelikovna (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,504 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Samara Region (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Olga, I only repeat a variety when I run out of seeds \ud83d\ude03. Gotta grow as many new-to-me varieties as possible, right!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nina, for sure \ud83d\udc4d But when a variety is just incredibly awesome, you want to repeat it \ud83e\udd2b<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lelikovna (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,504 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Samara Region (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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My foliage is spotted all over the plant. Maybe direct sun makes the spotting stronger?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Svetlana, do you have this variety out in the dirt or in a greenhouse? Mine is right out in the blazing sun.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lana_s_Kavkaza (Svetlana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (19,269 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Pyatigorsk (USDA Zone 6b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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In the greenhouse, among the other plants.<\/p>\n

P.S. Maybe it’s the exact opposite, less spotting in the sun?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lelikovna (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,504 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Samara Region (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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P.S. Maybe it’s the exact opposite, less spotting in the sun?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Could be \ud83e\udd37<\/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 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Elena, that’s awesome that the variegation stuck around. I totally regret not taking pictures during the seedling stage \ud83d\ude22 By the way, yeah, my plants are also on the shorter side, but very stocky \ud83d\udc4d Are yours setting fruit well? How many tomatoes per truss?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nothing to count just yet. Looks like there were a couple of baby fruits on there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lelikovna (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,504 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Samara Region (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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One of my charges came to its senses and gifted me a variegated leaf \ud83e\udd2b<\/p>\n

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tomatinka (Vera) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,911 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Tyumen Region (USDA Zone 3a)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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When I planted it out, I didn’t see any variegation. Then I even lost track of it, thought it was Marina’s Praise, until I found out F.F.S. is also variegated. Very bright. The plant isn’t tall, growing outdoors. But during the worst of the heat, the variegation gets weaker.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lelikovna (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,504 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Samara Region (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mine are starting to ripen \ud83e\udd2b<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lelikovna (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,504 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Samara Region (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Everyone’s so quiet about this variety. Let me show off my delicious beauty \ud83d\ude18 Beautiful, tasty, productive \ud83d\udc4d Growing out in the dirt. Will definitely be repeating this one.<\/p>\n

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Liaro (Elena) \u2b50 User (402 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Samara Region (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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In terms of flavor among the dark varieties this year, it was pretty average. It’s tasty enough, but I probably won’t grow it again anytime soon since there were better-tasting darks) To be exact, out of the large-fruited ones, only 1 variety tasted better – its cousin Wessel’s Purple Pride, which originated from the same Cherokee Purple as this variegated one.<\/p>\n

As for its growth habit, I’d say it’s a real ‘sleeper’. For a long time I figured nothing decent would come of it, but then one day I lifted the vine and saw a whole truss of perfectly uniform fruits ripening \ud83d\ude03<\/p>\n

Not variegated at all in the summer. It only pushes out those painted leaves when it’s really cold (felt like it reacted to 40-45 F \/ 5-7 C nights back in June). On the bright side, you can use it as a temperature gauge \ud83d\ude03<\/p>\n

Edited October 4, 2019 by Liaro<\/em><\/p>\n

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Babanya (Anna) \u2b50 Pro Grower (3,038 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Ulyanovsk (USDA Zone 4b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I received seeds for this variety as a gift.<\/p>\n

The tomatoes grew, the color was… nothing to write home about. It was sitting in the sunniest spot, leaves curled up tight, thought about life for a long time, and then pushed out a ton of tomatoes. BUT WOW ARE THEY DELICIOUS!!!! It even beat out Lucid Gem. Though you probably shouldn’t compare their flavor profiles. The taste ended up like those fancy store-bought heirlooms with the green seed gel and the pretty blossom end, but even brighter and richer. We didn’t bring a single tomato into the house. They all got eaten right there in the greenhouse. Also, my dog loves tomatoes. While these were hanging on the vine, she wouldn’t even go near the other plants. She’d press her nose against a tomato and just wag her tail. She was specifically asking for this variety.<\/p>\n

This variety isn’t just a favorite now, it’s true love!!!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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alio-nka (Alena) \u2b50 Beginner (98 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Baltic Coast (USDA Zone 5b)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Faelan's<\/a>
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Full Summary: Plant, Yield, Taste and Variegation<\/h2>\n