The tomato Red Russian variety delivers a reliable and accurate name for bright red beef tomatoes and is therefore very popular. I will try to show you what you should bear in mind when planting and caring for the Red Russian tomato.

The Red Russian tomato variety impresses in the garden with its large, classic red fruits. In this post, you will learn what makes this tomato variety special, where it comes from, and how it is best cultivated in your garden.

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Origin and history of the tomato Red Russian

The tomato variety ‘Red Russian’ is also known as ‘Russian Red tomato’ and was introduced under this name. It comes from the Levin Agricultural Research Centre in New Zealand and was selected there as early as 1943. Since its introduction in 1949, it has been used in gardens and greenhouses around the world and is particularly successful because of its resistance to harsher and colder weather conditions.

Red Russian: Description and taste

The tomato Red Russian as a plant can reach a height of about 160 cm – 62 inches. The fruits are flat-round, slightly ribbed, and can weigh up to 350 grams – 12.35 ounces. The first ripe, soft, deep red fruits can be harvested from August onwards. The red Russian tomato plant is thus one of the medium-late varieties and bears fruit until the end of September.

The taste of the tomato variety ‘Red Russian’ is aromatic and fruity with a well-balanced sweet/acid ratio. The New Zealand variety is seed-solid, which means that you can extract seeds for the next year from its fruit and grow the same variety. This is not possible with modern hybrid seed. By the way, you will also find detailed instructions on how to obtain and store tomato seeds.

Planting and caring for Red Russian tomatoes: What you should pay attention to?

The ‘Red Russian’ tomato is robust and tolerant of disease, but also of cold temperatures and heat and drought in high summer. It is, therefore, suitable for the greenhouse, but also the tub and the field. Outdoor planting takes place from mid-May onwards after the ice saints. Place the ‘Red Russian’ deep in the soil and remove all the leaves that would now disappear under the ground.

We recommend that you mix a mainly organic slow-release fertilizer, such as our Plantura Organic Tomato Fertilizer, into the excavated soil directly at the time of planting and add it to the planting hole. The granulation is then slowly decomposed by soil organisms and provides all the necessary nutrients for the tomato plants over two months. This is followed by a second post-fertilization, which lasts until the end of the season. In the field, the ‘Red Russian’ tomato can be grown with several shoots, but should then be well supported and tied up.

Of course, you can also plant the ‘Red Russian tomato’ in a large pot and place it on a warm house wall or balcony. To do this, fill a large pot with soil suitable for tomatoes, such as our Plantura Organic Tomato & Vegetable Soil, and place the young plants of the ‘Red Russian’ in it. Potted tomatoes need to be watered more often in midsummer than outdoor tomatoes.

Harvest and uses for ‘Red Russian’ tomato – Beed tomato plant

From August, the first ripe fruits can be harvested and enjoyed. Beef tomato plants like the ‘Red Russian’ are excellent for use in soups and sauces. But also fresh on bread and in salads, the aroma of the robust tomato comes out very well.

Beef tomatoes come in a wide variety of colors and shapes. In our article on the pineapple tomato, we present a beautiful yellow-orange marbled lover’s variety.