Nepas 12

very early (95-100 days from sprouting) determinant red round tomato, one of a dozen or so of the Nepas series of tomatoes from Russia, all bred to be short (25-75 cm) easy-care tomatoes. This one is 40-50 cm high, cold resistant, very productive, 3-5 oz fruit, said to be high in vitamins and lycopene. According to the seed company, it is "suitable for non-irrigational ways of growing in areas of unsustainable farming". Of 25 varieties, it was one of several to ripen fruit early in 2019's very cold summer; in comparison a couple early hybrids including Bush Early Girl were only beginning to ripen some fruit by Sept 24 frost. Definitely an early tough tomato.