Anna Russian is a tall, heirloom tomato variety with pink, heart-shaped fruits that originated in Russia. The tomatoes are exceptionally tasty, with thin skin and fleshy, juicy, and sweet flesh, making them ideal for salads, sandwiches, and sauces. The fruits of this variety weigh between 350 and 450 g, though some sources indicate they can reach up to 500 g.
Anna Russian plants are characterized by delicate, limp foliage typical of oxheart varieties, and the tomatoes grow in clusters of 2–3. The fruits are particularly prized for their rich, sweet-and-sour flavor and early ripening, which begins about 65 days after planting. Additionally, this variety is exceptionally productive and tolerates a wide range of climatic conditions well, both in heat and in cooler temperatures.
Anna Russian is an excellent choice both for lovers of classic, juicy tomatoes and for those looking for a variety suitable for both fresh eating and canning.
Its journey into the gardening collection began with a family from Oregon. In 1989, Brenda Hillenius gave the seeds to Craig LeHoullier; according to family lore, her grandfather Kenneth Wilcox had previously received them from a Russian immigrant. LeHoullier made the variety available in the 1990 Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook. A yellow variety derived from this one is “Anna Banana Russian.”
