Anna Russian
Single source · Reviewed Sep 9, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Heirloom oxheart from Russia, 1989. An early pink oxheart, unusual in a class that normally needs a long season. Ready in about 70 days from transplant.
- Heirloom
- 70 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Large fruit
- Moderate (estimated)
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Oxheart 10–16 oz (280–450 g) · Heart-shaped (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Wispy leaf
- Plant height
- 6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) Tall
- Spacing
- 24 × 35 in (60 × 90 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground
- Container growing
- Not suited to pots
- Skin
-
- Pink
- Interior
-
- Pink
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) · Wispy leaf
Anna Russian is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 6–8 ft (180–240 cm).
Flavor
“An early pink oxheart, unusual in a class that normally needs a long season.”
Growing calendar
- Sow indoors
- Transplant out
- Harvest
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date.
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Fresh & salads
- Slicing
- Sauce & paste
- Heirloom classic
- High flavor
- Short season
- Rare collector
Origin
Anna Russian is an early pink oxheart, unusual in a class that normally needs a long season. The foliage is sparse and wispy and the plant looks unwell to anyone who has not grown an oxheart before, which is normal for the type. The seed reached Craig LeHoullier in 1989 from Brenda Getty Hillenius of Corvallis, Oregon, whose grandfather had it from a Russian immigrant; LeHoullier listed it in the Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook that year and it went commercial in 1996.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
| Shop | Offer | Price | Packet | Stock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato Growers Supply Company | Seeds | $3.45Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Pack (30 seeds) | Check availability | Buy |
- BuyTomato Growers Supply CompanySeeds
Pack (30 seeds)
Check availability
$3.45Checked Sep 16, 2026
Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Sep 16, 2026; not live.
All photos
-
Anna Russian tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Anna Russian tomatoes -
Anna Russian tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Anna Russian tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Anna Russian tomatoes -
Anna Russian tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Anna Russian take to mature?
Anna Russian is ready in about 70 days from transplant.
Does Anna Russian need staking?
Anna Russian is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 6–8 ft (180–240 cm).
Can Anna Russian be grown in a container?
Anna Russian is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Anna Russian resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Anna Russian.
See also
Other oxheart varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Indeterminate, midseason, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
