Silver Fir Tree Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum (nightshade)

Also known as: Silvery Fir Tree, Serebristaya El

A striking Russian heirloom, its name a direct translation from the Russian "Serebristaya El," brought to American seed savers in the early 1990s by Marina Danilenko, a pioneering seed collector from Moscow, during the Perestroika era. Unlike any other tomato in the range, its foliage is finely divided, silvery-grey, and genuinely carrot-like rather than typical tomato leaf — a real conversation piece on the plant. Compact, dwarf plants set heavy crops of flattened, round red fruit remarkably quickly, making it one of the earliest tomatoes to ripen and an easy fit for pots and small spaces. Determinate (bush) variety — compact, minimal staking required.

Days to harvest 58–65 days from transplant

Fruit size 80–150g, flattened, round

Sowing depth 5mm

Germination 6–14 days at 24–29°C

Spacing 45–60cm apart

Aspect Full sun, moist, well-drained soil

Frost tolerance Frost sensitive — needs reliably warm nights

Growing notes

Choose a full-sun spot with moist, well-drained soil. Suits a pot from 20–30L given its compact, dwarf habit. Feathery foliage will wilt quickly if not watered regularly, so consistent moisture matters more here than with most tomatoes.

Soil preparation: Fertile, well-drained soil with organic matter worked in.

Support: Light staking recommended once fruit sets — plants are compact, but the weight of a heavy crop can still cause branches to bend.

Watering & feeding: Water consistently and don't let soil dry out — the delicate, feathery foliage is more prone to wilting than standard tomato leaves. Feed regularly with a potassium-rich fertiliser once flowering and fruiting begins.

Harvest: Pick once fruit is firm and fully red. Flattened shape is normal for this variety.

Timing: One of the earliest tomatoes to mature — expect first harvest around 58–65 days after transplanting.

Key features

Open-pollinated Russian heirloom, introduced to the US in the early 1990s
Distinctive, finely divided, silvery-grey, carrot-like foliage
Compact dwarf habit, ~45–60cm tall
One of the earliest tomatoes to ripen
Flattened, round red fruit, 80–150g
Well suited to pots and containers

Short season tips

Sow 6–8 weeks before you want to plant out, on a heat mat if possible — soil needs to be 24–29°C to germinate reliably. Transplant only once all risk of frost has passed. Its early maturity and compact habit make it one of the best choices for a short season, high-altitude, or cooler-climate garden.

Spring
Summer

Tender perennial — most often grown as an annual

Basil (classic tomato pairing) Marigolds Carrots Parsley

Other nightshades (capsicums, chillies, eggplants, potatoes) Fennel Corn

Known in Russian as "Serebristaya El," this variety was brought to American seed savers in the early 1990s by Marina Danilenko, a pioneering private seed collector from Moscow, during the Perestroika era. Working with the Vavilov Institute and supported by the Seed Savers Exchange, Danilenko went on to supply over 170 Russian tomato varieties to American growers by 1993 — Silver Fir Tree among the most visually distinctive of them, prized ever since for its unusual foliage and fast, reliable cropping.