Anyone have experience with Schuntukskij Velikan

[Mark0820]

I received some seed in a trade, but don't think I have the correct variety. First, the leaves are somewhat wispy. From the limited view of leaves at Tania's tomatobase, it doesn't appear to be wispy.

Secondly, I am getting both hearts (blunt) and beefsteaks on the plant. Both tomatoes are quite large (some of the largest tomatoes in my garden), but the beefsteaks are larger than the hearts. The beefsteaks could potentially match up to Tania's tomatobase, but I don't see any evidence of Schuntukskij Velikan producing anything close to a heart.

The only variety I am aware of that produces hearts and beefsteak like tomatoes is Gildo Pietroboni (based on photos at Tania's tomatobase). However, I don't know if the two different shapes were produced on the same plant.

I am growing Gildo Pietroboni this year, and will have to look at it closer. From what I recall, my Gildo Pietroboni only had hearts on it (they were quite large though).

Can anyone confirm I have the wrong variety? And can anyone explain why I have two shapes of tomatoes on one plant? The hearts definitely look like hearts. Someone at the community garden asked me if it was Bull's Heart.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Mark0820

I received some seed in a trade, but don't think I have the correct variety. First, the leaves are somewhat wispy. From the limited view of leaves at Tania's tomatobase, it doesn't appear to be wispy.

Secondly, I am getting both hearts (blunt) and beefsteaks on the plant. Both tomatoes are quite large (some of the largest tomatoes in my garden), but the beefsteaks are larger than the hearts. The beefsteaks could potentially match up to Tania's tomatobase, but I don't see any evidence of Schuntukskij Velikan producing anything close to a heart.

The only variety I am aware of that produces hearts and beefsteak like tomatoes is Gildo Pietroboni (based on photos at Tania's tomatobase). However, I don't know if the two different shapes were produced on the same plant.

I am growing Gildo Pietroboni this year, and will have to look at it closer. From what I recall, my Gildo Pietroboni only had hearts on it (they were quite large though).

Can anyone confirm I have the wrong variety? And can anyone explain why I have two shapes of tomatoes on one plant? The hearts definitely look like hearts. Someone at the community garden asked me if it was Bull's Heart.

No, I don't think you have the right variety.

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Shuntukski_Velikan

You can see from the above link that I was the first one to SSE list it and many got their seeds from me, if not Andrey.

I first listed it in 2005 and here's the list of what folks got from seeds from me as listed in the 2006 SSE Yearbook 2006:

IL, good yield of 12-20 oz beefsteaks with very good flavor; seeds from me

NY, 10 oz red fruits excl flavor, seeds from me

OR, irregular fruits, some quite large,several pound each, seeds from me

WI, 8-16 oz fruits, flattened kind of irregular shapes, excl flavor, seeds from me

All say indet and regular foliage and no one says hearts. That's what those who listed it in 2006 said, and I have no idea if there's been any crossing since then.

I've also grown Gildo and have not seen two shapes on the same plant.

But it's very common to see different shapes on the variety Prue, a variety I love.

Hope that helps.

[Mark0820]

That helps. I forgot about Prue, but I have never grown it. I do recall now from Gleckler's website that it produces different shapes.

I checked my Gildo Pietroboni, and I have all hearts as I thought I did (they are quite large).

I guess I will wait and see how this mystery tomato tastes, and determine whether it is worth planting next year. Based on the size of the fruit, maybe Schuntukskij Velikan crossed with Gildo Pietroboni.

[bughunter99]

I grew it in 2009. Average production, very good taste 12-15 oz fruits that were round. Was one of the earlier plants to get diseased for me that year.

Stacy

[Mark0820]

I tasted the beefsteak shaped mystery tomato (not S. Velikan) and it is quite good. It is a very meaty tomato. The seed cavities were very small and had few seeds. I haven't grown a lot of varieties of tomatoes, but I think this tomato had the smallest seed cavities I have seen in a beefsteak. I used my little finger, and I could barely get my finger in the seed cavity to get the seeds out. There were only 3 or 4 seeds in each cavity. The cavities were very shallow.

I will try a heart shaped one in the next 2 days and see if it is the same. I will definitely save some seed for next year, and see if it grows true to what I have this year.