Moskvich

Described as a rich, full-bodied, old-fashioned tomato taste with a good balance of sweetness and acidity, delivered very early. This is the recurring catalog and grower description, not a measured claim.

An open-pollinated Russian heirloom developed in the early 1970s and associated with the N. I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry near St. Petersburg; its name means inhabitant of Moscow. Prized for early maturity and cold tolerance.

• Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.
• Ripens early, under about 70 days, one of the safer picks where the summer is short.
• Generally forgiving and beginner-friendly to grow.
• Reliably sets and ripens in cool, short seasons.
• Skins resist cracking, even after a heavy rain.
• One of our picks for the cold, short-season gardens of New England.

Sold out, or after a change? The closest alternatives, and how they differ.

Stupicebut larger 4 to 6 oz fruit than the small early StupiceEarly Girlbut an open-pollinated Russian heirloom rather than a hybrid

• Johnny's Selected Seeds
• High Mowing Organic Seeds

• Starting Tomatoes From Seed in a Cold Climate
• Heirloom vs Hybrid Tomatoes
• Slicer vs Beefsteak Tomatoes
• Best Early Tomatoes for Short Seasons

Is Moskvich determinate or indeterminate?

Moskvich is an indeterminate variety. Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.

How long does Moskvich take to ripen?

Moskvich ripens in about 60 days from transplant. Ripens early, under about 70 days, one of the safer picks where the summer is short.

Is Moskvich an heirloom or a hybrid?

Moskvich is an heirloom, an open-pollinated variety with a documented history, so seed saved from it comes back true to type.

What can I grow instead of Moskvich?

A close swap is Stupice, but larger 4 to 6 oz fruit than the small early Stupice.