Russian Red vs. Red Russian - input needed - Page 2

Andrey_BY · October 9, 2007

And why it was called Red Russian or Russian Red when it was bred in NZ? Is there any connection to Russia?

Glenn 50 · October 9, 2007

Hi Andrey,
From what I read it was to do with the new (at that time) tomatoes toughness.
Russian Red is very tough compared to most tomatoes.
As you know 1943 was a year when the Russians (and the rest of the USSR) proved to be tough.
.....but then again the breeder may have won money on a chestnut racehorse called "Russian"....
I don't think there is any breeding connection to Russia.
I wish there was a legend that could be told..
Russian seeds smuggled under a postage stamp etc...
Regards

Andrey_BY · October 9, 2007

Thanks to your response, Glenn. I just want to add that such a name (Russian Red or Red Russian) sounds very heirloom to my ears. And regarding its toughness I can say that we have been praising thick-skinned, touth and longkeeping tomato varieties of small and average size useful for pickling and long storage...

feldon30 · October 9, 2007

So was this variety part of the Dwarf Project? Was it considered?

Suze · October 10, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by feldon30

So was this variety part of the Dwarf Project? Was it considered?

Hi, Morgan -- Russian Red is a nice variety, particularly good for containers. Taste is good to very good, very prolific, I will definitely grow it again at some point in time. You know I don't generally weigh fruits, but this is one of those ones that is very lg cherry / small fruited. It is mid season, not particularly early. It is also rather large for a dwarf type, easily got to 4.5 feet in a container in a drought year.

No, I don't think it was included as a parent in the Dwarf Project. I like it, but don't see it as a good parent, considering what results we are aiming for in terms of getting med-lg/lg fruited dwarves. Could be wrong, though...

Grub · October 10, 2007

I hate to sound like the parrot from the south, but I agree wholeheartedly with Suze after growing Russian Red for two consecutive seasons. Gets to about 5ft in a pot. Good tomato. We breeders can do alot better. Lol.

October 9, 2007	#16
Andrey_BY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Minsk, Belarus, Eastern Europe (Zone 4a) Posts: 2,278	And why it was called Red Russian or Russian Red when it was bred in NZ? Is there any connection to Russia? __________________ 1 kg=2.2 lb , 1 m=39,37 in , 1 oz=28.35 g , 1 ft=30.48 cm , 1 lb= 0,4536 kg , 1 in=2.54 cm , 1 l = 0.26 gallon , 0 C=32 F Andrey a.k.a. TOMATODOR

October 9, 2007	#18
Andrey_BY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Minsk, Belarus, Eastern Europe (Zone 4a) Posts: 2,278	Thanks to your response, Glenn. I just want to add that such a name (Russian Red or Red Russian) sounds very heirloom to my ears. And regarding its toughness I can say that we have been praising thick-skinned, touth and longkeeping tomato varieties of small and average size useful for pickling and long storage... __________________ 1 kg=2.2 lb , 1 m=39,37 in , 1 oz=28.35 g , 1 ft=30.48 cm , 1 lb= 0,4536 kg , 1 in=2.54 cm , 1 l = 0.26 gallon , 0 C=32 F Andrey a.k.a. TOMATODOR

October 9, 2007	#19
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	So was this variety part of the Dwarf Project? Was it considered? __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

October 9, 2007	#17
Glenn 50 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 224	Hi Andrey, From what I read it was to do with the new (at that time) tomatoes toughness. Russian Red is very tough compared to most tomatoes. As you know 1943 was a year when the Russians (and the rest of the USSR) proved to be tough. .....but then again the breeder may have won money on a chestnut racehorse called "Russian".... I don't think there is any breeding connection to Russia. I wish there was a legend that could be told.. Russian seeds smuggled under a postage stamp etc... Regards

October 10, 2007	#21
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	I hate to sound like the parrot from the south, but I agree wholeheartedly with Suze after growing Russian Red for two consecutive seasons. Gets to about 5ft in a pot. Good tomato. We breeders can do alot better. Lol.