Zolotoy Dozhd (Golden Rain) Tomato Grower Reviews and Photos

I want to talk about the Zolotoy Dozhd (Golden Rain) variety. I planted it for the first time in 2012, and I absolutely loved it. It’s an indeterminate (grows up to 6.5 ft / 2 m) and features massive multiflora trusses. It sets a huge amount of fruit. Unfortunately, I didn’t count them all, but the description says it can hold up to 80 tomatoes per cluster. Average weight is about 2.5 – 3.5 oz (70-100 g). You absolutely must tie up the trusses and prune the plant to a single stem. It’s incredibly productive. It grew in my open garden and produced fruit until late autumn. I really regret not taking pictures when it was blooming, the whole bush was just a gorgeous wall of yellow flowers. I will definitely take pics this year.

Another photo.

And one more photo.

And this is Zolotoy Dozhd.

Evgeniya, how does it taste? Is it good for canning?

Yes, this variety is excellent for canning. My family literally fishes them out of the jars first before anything else.

Are they probably just like Chudo Sveta (Wonder of the World)?

mandarinka wrote:
Well that is ver-r-ry beautiful 👍 Evgeniya, can I slide into your DMs to ask for seeds?

Hey, what are you guys up to in here, huh? 😉

To me, the truss doesn’t look like Chudo Sveta at all.

lord wrote:
Are they probably just like Chudo Sveta (Wonder of the World)?

No, dear Lord. I also grow Chudo Sveta. It does have a multiflora truss just like the Rain, but the fruits look more like flattened lemons and the color is much lighter (pale lemon). By the way, the Aelita seed company just released a new variety called Tsytrosový Sad (Citrus Garden), and that one looks exactly like my Chudo Sveta.

Chudo Sveta and Zolotoy Dozhd are different. I’ve grown them both for 2 years. The texture is similar, but I feel like Zolotoy Dozhd is longer. Both the plant and the fruit itself. You guys should see how beautiful they look when they are blooming! I wanted to take photos, but I figured my neighbors would think I’m crazy for taking pictures of tomato flowers instead of regular flowers…

Evgeniya, which seed company did your seeds come from?

I got this variety from a collector here in Russia. I barely took care of the plant this year and it still performed amazingly. The only strict rule is you have to prune it to a single leader and support those heavy trusses.

Some people also confuse this variety with Chudo Sveta. I have Chudo Sveta too, and it differs from Golden Rain in shape, taste, and color. Chudo Sveta is a paler lemon color. Also, I think that new commercial variety Tsytrosový Sad (Citrus Garden) is literally just Chudo Sveta rebranded. I’m going to plant them side-by-side next season and compare them for sure.

And here is the photo. I grew Chudo Sveta for the first time too (I don’t have pics of the fruit unfortunately), but I really liked it. The clusters are complex, but smaller than those on Zolotoy Dozhd.

Evgeniya wrote:
I think that new commercial variety Tsytrosový Sad (Citrus Garden) is literally just Chudo Sveta rebranded.

I bought Citrus Garden seeds too. Are you saying they are the same seeds?

rizaia wrote:
I bought Citrus Garden seeds too. Are you saying they are the same seeds?

My Citrus Garden grew out exactly like the picture on the packet, and it’s highly likely it’s just a new name for Chudo Sveta.

That’s exactly what I’m thinking, Marina. It’s the same variety just sold under different names.

I would also add a third twin brother to these varieties: Zolotoy Petushok (Golden Cockerel) from the Semena Altaya company.

Dear Meri, I wouldn’t lump “Golden Cockerel” in with these. Because Chudo Sveta has huge multiflora clusters with up to 30 fruits, and Citrus Garden’s description matches that perfectly (I haven’t grown it yet but I’m certain they are the same). But I think Golden Cockerel is something completely different.

Luckily, I got some true Golden Cockerel seeds from the famous breeder Valentina Redko. So I have every intention of growing all three (maybe even four) of these side-by-side and presenting my findings to the forum in a fall report!

My dear friends, I honestly didn’t expect Zolotoy Dozhd to generate so much interest! Let me clarify exactly where I got it. It was sent to me by Evelina Fedorovna Grineva, a dedicated tomato collector from the Altai Territory.

I’ve decided to reply to everyone who asked me for seeds. I’m putting you all on the list for the fall, I’ll be happy to trade. Just DM me your mailing addresses.

Ladies, the Golden Cockerel variety is actually the twin brother of Zolotaya Rybka (Goldfish). It’s an icicle-type paste tomato. Much skinnier and longer. 😉

Evgeniya, you are mistaken about Chudo Sveta. The true original heirloom Chudo Sveta looks like this (see photo). It’s an old variety, I’ve been planting it for about 15 years. But about 5 or 6 years ago, companies started selling a “Chudo Sveta” that has a distinct beak/nipple on the end. That new one looks much more like the Anna German variety. The true original Chudo Sveta has a much deeper color, and the fruits are larger and denser.

Galina, I won’t argue with that because I honestly don’t know the deep history. But if that’s the case, you’ve got a true relic on your hands that needs to be preserved! There are so few authentic old strains left because the new commercial hybrids keep pushing them out.

Yes, Evgeniya. By the way, I read an article a couple of years ago about how seed companies constantly confuse it with Anna German. But Anna German is more productive. The bush itself is worth planting just for the sheer beauty and yield (it’s also a very old heirloom). Natalya Pavlovna (Yaroslavna) has photos of it on her profile, though I personally don’t love its flavor.

Evgeniya, you got me so fired up about this “Golden Rain”! I was just looking for a good yellow plum tomato. I saw a packet in the store today (from the Poisk seed company) and grabbed it immediately. But when I got home and read it carefully, it says the fruit weight is 25-30 grams (about 1 oz). It seems like this isn’t the same tomato at all? Yours are bigger, right?

Dear Katya, I’ve also seen the commercial Poisk packet of Zolotoy Dozhd. I was honestly shocked, because the SeDeK seed company sells a packet with the exact same photo, but they call it Zolotaya Kist (Golden Truss). It’s getting late now, but tomorrow I’ll try to post photos so you can compare. Your commercial “Golden Rain” is basically a multiflora cherry that looks like mini-pears (25-30g). My Golden Rain came from a private collector in Altai. My fruits are large, up to 3.5 oz (100g), and they have a distinct little beak/nipple on the end.

Well, according to the official State Registry, Zolotoy Dozhd *is* supposed to be a small pear shape. I have a packet of it but haven’t planted it yet. But that’s exactly how it’s described in the registry.

Meri wrote:
I also have “Golden Truss” from SeDeK. Is it a cherry, or is it larger?

Oh yes, it’s definitely bigger than regular cherries. It looks like an elongated rocket.

Girls, here are the photos of Golden Truss from SeDeK.

I just want to point out that the Poisk company uses almost the exact same picture and description. But as I said, my heirloom Golden Rain is completely different from these commercial packets. First of all, it grows way over 6.5 ft (2 meters) tall, even outdoors in the open ground. It has a massive, complex truss that absolutely must be tied up, and you have to keep the plant to a single leader.

Honestly, I don’t even know where to look for the truth anymore. We’ve probably all gotten completely lost in these names, and the seed companies are just helping the confusion by passing one thing off as another. 😡

OLGA wrote:
I planted Golden Truss from SeDeK. It looked nothing like the picture. The fruits looked like Golden Fish.

Olya, the exact same thing happened to me! I planted Golden Truss and ended up with lemon-yellow icicles that looked just like Golden Fish. But when I actually planted Golden Fish last summer, I got a short, super early, and very beautiful variety instead. Here is a photo of my mystery “Golden Fish” off-type:

And now I have no idea what to call it. I just call it “Golden Fish” in my notes, even though that’s just a placeholder name. The real Golden Fish is supposed to be a tall indeterminate. I keep wondering why seed companies do this. They constantly mix up and cross seeds. It must be economically profitable for them, but we’re the ones who suffer. 😡

I just looked at the commercial packet photos for Golden Truss and Golden Rain from Aelita, and it honestly looks to me like they both just stole a picture of the Medovaya Kaplya (Honey Drop) cherry tomato…

Evgeniya, your mystery short tomato looks a lot like Podarok Fei (Fairy’s Gift)… 😳

Exactly, Evgeniya! That’s the exact packet that my icicles grew out of. But looking at your photo, that mystery variety you got is stunning. I’d love to plant something like that.

I think SeDeK just completely botched their entire batch of Golden Fish and Golden Truss seeds, because everyone I’ve talked to had the exact same issue. The description says one thing, but something completely different grows out.

It’s a shame I didn’t have enough garden space to plant my SeDeK Golden Truss this season. I could have verified if mine was wrong seed too. If it is an off-type, is it at least a good one?

Zhenya, is the Rain an early or late variety? I started my seeds at the end of February, and it’s only just now starting to put out flower clusters 🙁. Also, how many stems should I let it grow? Two, or more?

Alena, Zhenya mentioned at the beginning of the thread that you must prune it strictly to a single stem. And judging by how mine looks right now (while other varieties are already setting their 3rd or 4th truss), it is definitely not an early variety… Probably mid-to-late season.

So, my Golden Rain from the Poisk company grew out. Now it’s perfectly clear that this is NOT Zhenya’s heirloom Golden Rain. My camera didn’t quite capture the color, it’s actually light yellow and tastes good, but just look at the shape and size – they are tiny little 1.2-inch (3 cm) pears. The yield was really disappointing too. Zhenya, your heirloom Golden Rain is officially on my wish list!

Zhenya, it’s so great to have you back on the forum! 😘 I want to thank you for the hundredth time for sharing your Zolotoy Dozhd seeds 🙌.

I thought I lost the seeds, but I found them, and now I have one bush growing. I’m keeping it to a single leader. Right now it has 3 fully formed trusses and 2 more blooming. The tomatoes are around 3 oz (90 g) and there are so many of them! I’m saving seeds from the very first truss. 🌺

Zhenya, here is the second truss of your Rain (I’ve already picked a lot of tomatoes off of it).

When it fully ripens, it sometimes develops a pink blush on the side, though not all of them do it.

Zhenya, thank you so, so much for Zolotoy Dozhd 🙌! Here is a comparison of Chudo Sveta and Zolotoy Dozhd:

Girls, the Rain has an amazing shelf life too! I picked some of them completely green, and every single one ripened indoors perfectly. They stayed juicy, and the seeds inside are suspended in this sweet gel, just like marmalade 😋.

Also, I started my seeds way back in February, but I didn’t harvest my first ripe tomato until August. So for me, it definitely acted as a late-season variety. And I grew it strictly to 1 stem, just like Zhenya advised 👍.

My Golden Rain was absolutely gorgeous! I am so happy with this variety! 👍 Yes, it stores for a very long time! Thank you to our dear Zhenya for these wonderful seeds! 🌺

Of course, I also want to thank Zhenya. Mine grew outdoors in the open ground, so I had to pull the plants with unripe tomatoes still attached to the branches. I hung the branches upside down indoors, and they ripened beautifully right on the vine.

This is an absolute tomato monster. It’s not a rain, it’s a downpour! 👍 5+++++

Oh my sweet girls, you’ve grown such beauty, it’s mind-blowing! I adore you all! 😘🙌🌺

But you shouldn’t be thanking me, you should thank Evelina Fedorovna Grineva, it’s her heirloom that she managed to track down somewhere. I chatted with her recently, and she says she’s getting too old to keep up with seed trading. But I know this variety is going to live a long time, passing from grower to grower.

I planted the “Rain” for the first time this year after reading all the reviews. A huge thanks to Nadin for the seeds! 🌺 It grew (and is still growing) in my greenhouse. It didn’t catch a single disease, even though there was a ton of blossom end rot going around this year 😡. Everyone loved it – the yield, the quality, the taste, the looks. It gets a 5+ rating from me 👍. I will definitely plant it again and recommend it to everyone!!

Elena, yours actually looks orange. Mine, and everyone else’s, is a lemon-yellow color.

Oh no no, that’s just how the photo turned out! Good eye, though! When it’s fully ripe it is bright yellow, there is no orange in it at all.

I liked the variety. It’s beautiful and highly productive. Mid-season for me, with massive trusses 🙌. However, not all the blossoms set fruit, it was probably lacking some nutrients. I grew it in the greenhouse to 1 stem. The fruits are tasty, around 1.4 – 2.5 oz (40-70 g) 😋. They are best for canning when picked just slightly underripe, as they hold their shape better.

Golden Rain, Golden Canary (which has a sharper tip), and Golden Fish (which is more elongated) – I liked all of them. They were tasty, loaded with fruit, and perfect for jars.

I just tasted Zolotoy Dozhd, the cherry version. So sweet and meaty, I just wish I had planted more than 2 bushes.

I have the exact same one. Planted 2 bushes this year, planning to do 4 next year. I am super happy with it. It has sparse foliage, tons of fruit, and a great taste without any sharp acidity. It’s an absolute workhorse! I grew it to a single stem, and that was plenty. Sowed the seeds on Feb 20 – perfect timing. I’m not going to top (prune the growing tip) the plants, they just keep setting fruit. They are sitting right in the epicenter of a massive blossom end rot outbreak in my garden, and they just shrugged it off completely, just like the Tarasenko varieties.

My Golden Rain cherries look like little pears.

irunchik wrote:
My Golden Rain cherries look like little pears.

Ira, is there any chance that what you have is actually Honey Drop? 😳

We discussed the two different types of “Golden Rain” back on page 2 of this thread, and someone brought up Honey Drop there as well.

I grew both Nezhnost (Tenderness) and Zhenya’s heirloom Zolotoy Dozhd side-by-side to compare. They were identical. But the real issue is that neither of those names matches the actual official descriptions of those varieties. I searched for a long time and finally figured it out. Both of these strains actually perfectly match the description for Sosulechka (Little Icicle) from the Gisok seed company. 😳

I really loved it. It was literally smothered in yellow plum tomatoes. I specifically counted them on one of the bushes: 175 fruits on a single truss!

It wasn’t early for me, but it held on until the very end of the season, continuing to set fruit even in the cold. It didn’t catch a single disease.

I ripened the last fruits off the vine indoors. They store excellently and remain sweet, making them perfect for late autumn salads. I also tried pickling them, and they performed flawlessly.

I will absolutely plant this again, at least until someone breeds a “SUPER ZOLOTOY DOZHD 2” 😂

P.S. I agree that you have to grow it to a single stem. I tried letting one go to two stems, and the overall yield dropped, plus the individual tomatoes were much smaller. I guess the root system just can’t keep up with that kind of potential.

Zolotoy Dozhd has earned a permanent spot on my grow list too. I don’t have a greenhouse, so I grow everything outdoors. In 2015, I grew both Golden Rain and Nezhnost. The plants, the yield, and the fruit shapes are identical, but they tasted different to me. Nezhnost was softer and a bit bland, while Golden Rain was denser and sweeter.

Elena, taste can vary wildly even within the exact same variety depending on conditions. I’ve tested that myself many times. The warmth of a greenhouse definitely improves the flavor of a tomato.

Golden Rain is a permanent resident in my garden too. It is so delicious canned in its own juice. I literally just fish them out of the jars. Grew it outdoors.

I grew the “forum heirloom” version of Golden Rain this year. It’s an incredibly successful tomato, just fantastic 👍. It didn’t get sick, indeterminate, super productive. It started ripening in late July in the greenhouse. Yesterday I popped open a 2-liter (2-quart) jar of them, and the two of us devoured the whole thing in one sitting 👍😋.

Girls, is the foliage on the Golden Rain bush sparse or not? I’m thinking, since you have to grow it strictly to 1 stem, maybe I could plant 2 roots in a single planting hole? What do you think?

Olya, I definitely would not do that with this specific variety. It will abort and drop most of its blossoms. I tested that exact planting method back in 2014 😉.

It’s a wonderful variety 👍. Very productive, beautiful, and tasty 😋. Perfect for canning jars.

Excellent variety, grew it in the open ground. But my very first fruit truss set way up at 5.5 ft (1.7 m) high. Did this happen to anyone else?

Aglaya wrote:
But my very first fruit truss set way up at 5.5 ft (1.7 m) high. Did this happen to anyone else?

Olya, my first truss is literally laying on the dirt.

I tried Golden Rain this year. Grew it to 1 stem in a poly greenhouse. My feelings are mixed. It turned out to be very late. Only one truss managed to fully ripen (24 tomatoes). I pulled the second truss while they were still green. It was still flowering higher up on the vine, but by September, it’s time to pull the plants and sow cover crops 😂. The taste gets a solid 5 out of 5. Had one or two cases of BER. It ripens indoors nicely and stores well.

I planted Golden Rain from a packet I bought at the store, it might have been from the Poisk company. The first truss (which was huge) set way too high up on the plant, and obviously the next one was even higher. It was really inconvenient to manage. Maybe I did something wrong, but I was disappointed. I’m not planting it this year. I canned all of them, so I don’t even know what they tasted like fresh.

Golden Rain is an indeterminate. Fruits weigh 2.1 – 3.5 oz (60-100 g) with a little beak. The skin is thin, and the fruits are juicy. However, they are incredible keepers; mine lasted until the end of January. The taste is a bit bland if you eat it fresh and compare it to a good red slicer, but it’s great for adding color to salads and perfect for canning. Extremely productive with long, complex trusses running all the way up the vine.