Avant Gardener: Oxheart Tomatoes

By Kyle Valentini
July 19, 2011
255

Summary: Oxheart tomatoes are impressive in size and come in a variety of colors. They are firm, meaty and juicy but have few seeds. Sliced on a sandwich, in a salad or even as a base for tomato sauce, Oxhearts are easy to grow and with the right amount of sun and water will be prolific all summer long. For the first time in a long time I did not grow oxheart tomatoes. My favorite neighbor always started them from seed and shared them with me saying, Take as many as you want, you know I dont have room for all these. And as he is getting up there in years he has decided to stay in the nursing home instead of coming home where I can harass him each day with ideas of why live traps are better than killing skunks and ground hogs. I havent totally given up on him and still expect to see him before the watermelon is ripe. His son-in-law built a ramp for the back porch so it is easier to climb with a walker and a local fellow that ran out of room in his own back yard planted tomatoes and peppers in the very spot my neighbor would have if he could have. Oxhearts are special to me. An old-fashioned heirloom variety, they have a deliciously sweet flavor and are perfect for slicing for sandwiches. Heart-shaped and ranging in colors from red to pink to orange, whats not to like? Filled with flavor and very juicy, the oxheart variety probably originated in Russia or France or some other cool country where Chef Boyardee is unknown. Oxheart tomatoes tend to get very large, sometimes weighing in at more than a pound. Some varieties can be even bigger. Their flavor and size make them a favorite in the kitchen. They tend to have few seeds which can be appealing to some cooks. Oxhearts are easy to grow but they do require a little attention. They are indeterminate, which means they will continue to produce fruit, yes, tomatoes are fruit, not vegetables like your elementary teacher told you, until the first frost kills the plant. Their size alone makes it obvious that staking is necessary. They also have a tendency to produce suckers. Suckers are tiny off shoots that can steal nutrients from the main plant resulting in little or no fruit production. Pruning will alleviate the problem. Oxhearts like well drained soil. Because I use raised beds, they always have done well in my garden. They like lots of sun. Full sun is always recommended for all tomatoes but oxhearts like full, full sun. They also like to be watered on a regular basis. The hot, humid Ohio summers are fine for Oxhearts if you give them enough water at the roots at regular intervals. An inch a week is usually sufficient. Oxhearts are relatively disease resistant but can become susceptible to blossom end rot if your soil is deficient in calcium or your watering habits are uneven. All tomatoes are members of the nightshade family. Nightshade plants include tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Crop rotation is essential in producing strong, healthy plants. Its simple. Never plant members of the nightshade family in the same spot from one year to the next. Moving nightshades from year to year prevents disease and also creates variety in the garden from season to season. Variety is, after all, is the spice of life. Tomatoes, including the oxheart, like us, prefer variety. Plants can share a spot in the garden with cucumbers, squash, flowers or herbs. So, my garden lacks oxhearts this yearand probably will until my favorite neighbor comes home. I do have a fine selection of cherry, grape, Roma, Beefsteak and some super cool black variety that will prove to be delicious in salads and sauces. The Oxhearts will have to wait. It is simply not the same without the tender, patient hands of my neighbor growing them from seed and sharing them with me.

Avant Gardener: Oxheart Tomatoes

The Pottery Niche LLC

Lehman's