Katja is an early-season tomato variety with large, raspberry-colored beefsteak-type fruits. In our garden, it grows tall, produces a bountiful harvest, and begins to ripen about 60 days after planting the seedlings. The fruits can weigh more than half a kilogram; they have a delicate skin that is resistant to damage and cracking, and an even color without a pronounced green shoulder.
The Danish organization Frøsamlerne preserves the history of the seeds brought to Denmark in 2002 from a family farm in Sludjanka on Lake Baikal. The name commemorates Aunt Katja. Here, the Siberian lineage is the story of a specific garden and a family passing the seeds down through the generations.
The large fruits are perfect for the first summer sandwiches. It’s a good idea to provide the plants with support, especially as the clusters begin to gain weight.
