Oxheart Tomato: Planting & Caring For The Beefsteak Tomato
The oxheart tomato is known for its large, fleshy fruits. We reveal how you too can enjoy a rich harvest and which special features you should pay attention to when planting oxheart tomatoes.
Oxheart tomatoes are real favorites in many home gardens because they are easy to care for and their fruits can be gigantic. In this profile, we introduce you to the special tomato.
Oxheart tomato: Wanted poster
Table of Contents
| fruit | Beefsteak tomato; different colors |
| taste | aromatic, sweet, light acidity |
| Ripening time | medium to late |
| growth | Stick tomato, up to 2 m |
| Location | Greenhouse, protected open field, pot (south side) |
Origin and history of the tomato
The special shape of the oxheart tomato probably originated in Russia at the end of the 19th century, where it was first mentioned. It later came to the USA, where it is still widely grown today. The oxheart tomato is also very popular in France and Italy and so you can often find this fruit in markets there.
Properties and taste of the beefsteak tomato ‘ox heart’
Oxheart tomatoes, as the name suggests, are reminiscent of oxheart in shape and size. They belong to the group of beefsteak tomatoes and their fruits weigh between 100 and over 1000 grams. There are heart-shaped, smooth fruits, but also those with strong ribs and many wrinkles. As with many beefsteak tomatoes, there are only a few seeds inside. Most oxheart tomato varieties are seed-proof, but newer varieties on the market are sometimes hybrids from which no seeds can be obtained. When choosing, pay attention to non-seeded varieties so that you can preserve your varieties yourself.
The plant itself often looks rather sickly, because some varieties twist their leaves or let them hang conspicuously. But don’t be fooled by the appearance, because this strange appearance is quite normal. Ripe fruits soften quickly and should therefore be eaten or processed quickly. The oxheart tomato tastes aromatic and sweet, but also has a slight acidity.
The best varieties of oxheart tomato
Oxheart tomatoes are a pleasure in terms of both appearance and taste. We introduce you to the five best varieties for your garden.
- ‘Anna Russian’ produces large, heart-shaped fruits that turn a deep pink-red when ripe. The shoulders of the fruit turn slightly beige. It has a mild taste and is ideal for processing in sauces.
- The ‘Bulgarian ox heart’ is a classic when it comes to color. In summer, numerous pink heart-shaped fruits adorn the robust tomato plants, which are up to 1.80 meters high.
- ‘Coeur de Boeuf’ is probably the best-known variety among the oxheart tomatoes. It comes from France and forms strongly ribbed, light red fruits from mid-July. It reaches a height of up to 200 centimeters and is also suitable for outdoor use with rain protection.
- The variety ‘White Oxheart’ shines in a light yellow color and, like most almost white tomatoes, tastes very fruity and sweet. It grows to a height of 200 centimeters and has very good yields in the greenhouse.
- ‘Orange Russian’ is a heart-shaped, beautifully orange, and red marbled oxheart tomato that feels most comfortable in the greenhouse. The fruits weigh up to 300 grams and taste wonderfully fruity, sweet, and spicy.
Planting oxheart tomatoes: tips for outdoors and in pots
Oxheart tomatoes need a lot of warmth and should only be left outdoors with rain protection. However, they also feel very comfortable in the pot on the south side. Fill the plant pot with potting soil specially adapted for tomatoes. It provides the plants with all the nutrients they need for a good start to the season and ensures a rich harvest.
The best care for tomatoes of the ‘ox heart’ variety
With oxheart tomatoes, only one shoot is allowed to grow upwards and all side shoots are removed. Due to the heavyweight of the fruits, the tall plants need a rod as support. With a primarily organic long-term fertilizer, the plants are sustainably supplied with all the important nutrients. The liquid organic tomato & vegetable fertilizer is also suitable for growing in pots. This is applied once a week in the specified dosage three weeks after planting.
Use ox heart tomatoes
The large beefsteak tomatoes are ripe from the end of July to the beginning of October. Oxheart tomatoes are ideal for salads, but they are also a pleasure to use in soups and sauces.
