Anna Russian Tomato
Price: $3.45
SKU: 3400541'Anna Russian' is an heirloom that found its way into the commercial seed trade in a now common and roundabout way. In 1989, our friend, author and tomato authority Craig LeHoullier, received an envelope in the mail from Brenda Hillenius of Corvallis, Oregon. Ms. Hillenius' grandfather, Kenneth Wilcox, received seeds years prior from a Russian immigrant to the area. Craig grew it out and was so impressed, he listed it in the 1990 Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook. We originally received seeds from a seed saver in Vancouver, Washington in 2003.
Fruit Color: Purple
Special Groups: "Epic" Tomatoes
Harvest Timing: Main Crop / Mid-Season
Full light and cooler temps (60° to 70°) will help to prevent the seedlings from becoming too leggy. If plants become rootbound before you can safely set them into the ground, transplant them into larger pots.
Harden off plants before planting outside. Young plants are very susceptible to frost and sunburn damage. Avoid too much nitrogen. Water evenly but not in excess.
Click here to view our full tomato growing guide.
- "100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden," Dr. Carolyn Male, Workman Publishing, 1999, pages 62-63.
- "Epic Tomatoes: How To Select and Grow the Best Varieties of All Time," Craig LeHoullier, Storey Publishing, 2015, pages 138, 244.
Customer Reviews:
By Ellen (Central Ohio, zone 6a) on November 21, 2023
First year growing Anna Russian and it was impressive in our container garden zone 6a central Ohio. We grew only one Anna Russian but it gave the best yield of the 17 tomato varieties we grew - 18.1 lb. and 43 tomatoes from one plant! Excellent all-round variety, early ripening (68 days in our garden), smooth meaty texture, delicious fresh eating and in sauce, juicy with small amt of seeds, thin skin with virtually no cracking, and healthy plant. Mostly medium fruits, our largest was 15 oz. but avg size was 7oz which was perfect for us. Early in the season I found myself frequently looking forward to a ripe Anna Russian to eat with meals. Near end of season as weather got cooler, tomatoes became tiny bit mealy when eating fresh but still delicious and tasty. Mostly ate fresh but also used them for sauce and canning. Anna Russian is a keeper! (Photos: look for the pretty heart shaped pink tomatoes :-)
