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Round, even, medium-sized tomatoes are, of course, good: these are the fruits that look best in jars and look attractive on the counter. But Every gardener still wants to grow the largest tomatoes on his plot, because they are aromatic, juicy and very meaty - fruits for salads and juices. This large-fruited variety is the Ox Heart tomato.
From this article you can learn about the productivity of the Ox Heart tomato, see photos of its fruits, and read reviews from those who planted this miracle on their plot. Here you can also find a description of the various subspecies of the Volovye Serdtse variety, as well as recommendations for growing and caring for plants.
More about the variety
First of all, it is worth noting that the characteristics and description of the tomato variety Volovye Serdtse differ from Tomato Bull's Heart: These are two completely different varieties. Although the fruits of these varieties do have an external similarity and almost the same taste. The main difference between the two types is the height of the bush and the size of the fruits: after all, the Bull's Heart is larger in all respects.
The tomato variety Volovye Serdtse was bred in Russia in 2000, at which time it was included in the State Register. This tomato is considered late-ripening, although some breeders classify it as a medium-ripening tomato. Therefore, it is recommended to grow this variety in the southern and central regions; in the North, Heart is planted only in a greenhouse.
Description of the tomato variety Oxen Heart:
- bushes of indeterminate type, their height in a greenhouse reaches two meters, in open ground - no more than 170 cm;
- tomatoes ripen 107-118 days after emergence;
- There are not very many leaves on the bushes, they are of medium size and regular in shape;
- the tomato yield in open ground is not very high - up to 7 kg per square meter; in a greenhouse it is possible to raise this figure to 11 kg;
- the Volovye Serdtse variety has complex resistance to “tomato” diseases, including late blight;
- the tomato responds well to fertilizers and regular watering;
- the first floral ovary is usually located above the seventh leaf;
- Each brush can form up to five tomatoes;
- the average fruit weight is 350 grams;
- the lower tomatoes reach a size of 800-1000 grams, the upper ones are smaller - 250-150 grams;
- the shape of the fruit resembles a heart - an elongated ribbed oval;
- the color of the tomatoes is raspberry-red;
- the pulp is sugary when broken, tasty, very sweet, aromatic;
- tomatoes are suitable for transportation because they have a dense peel and their pulp contains a lot of dry matter;
- The harvested crop will not be stored for long, so you need to sell the fruits faster;
- The root system of this variety is very powerful - the length of the central horse can reach a meter, the lateral roots often branch 2-2.5 meters from the middle of the bush.
The Ox Heart variety is considered a salad variety, that is, it is best to eat tomatoes fresh. These tomatoes make very tasty purees, pastes and juices. One kilogram of fruit yields 700 ml of tomato juice. It will not be possible to preserve the Ox Heart tomato in its entirety, since its size is quite large. But tomato looks great in pickled salads and appetizers.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Ox Heart variety is quite controversial: the opinions and reviews of gardeners about this tomato are the most contradictory. Therefore, it is worth highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the Heart.
The advantages include:
- impressive fruit size;
- highly marketable appearance of tomato;
- excellent taste of tomatoes;
- good yield (with sufficient care);
- average resistance to diseases (which is very important for a late-ripening variety).
Heart-shaped tomatoes also have disadvantages:
- plants require constant and competent care;
- the variety has a long growing season, which is not suitable for every climate;
- temperature is very important for the Ox Heart - the tomato does not like fluctuations from heat to cold;
- It will not be possible to preserve the harvest for a long time - the fruits quickly deteriorate.
Subspecies of the variety
Of course, the tomato in question cannot boast as many varieties as its brother, the Bull's Heart variety (there are pink, striped, and black-fruited tomatoes and many other types).But the Ox Heart also has a couple of popular varieties:
Tomato Minusinsk Ox Heart
Brought out by folk breeders. It differs from its predecessor in earlier ripening periods (mid-season variety), slightly reduced weight of fruits (limits from 200 to 400 grams are indicated), and a small number of seeds inside the tomatoes. It is recommended to grow this variety in two or three stems.
Ox Heart Striped
It is easy to recognize by the appearance of the fruit: the tomatoes are golden-pink in color, with yellow-green stripes clearly visible on the peel. The tomatoes are smaller than those of the predecessor variety - 150-200 grams, but they are very sweet and tasty. It is recommended to grow this subspecies in protected ground. Its ripening period is average, the bushes are not so tall (up to 130 cm).
Growing rules
To harvest a good harvest of large and beautiful fruits, the gardener will have to work hard - Ox Heart loves attention and care. In principle, like most large-fruited late-ripening tomatoes, this tomato prefers well-warmed, light soil with a sufficient content of microelements. Do not forget about the indeterminate nature of the bush - the tomato will have to be shaped, regularly pinched and the number of ovaries controlled.
Those who decide to plant this tomato variety in their garden are advised to do the following:
- Find strong and healthy seedlings on sale or grow them yourself. Seeds for seedlings are sown in March - the exact timing depends on the climate in the region and on where the tomatoes will be grown (soil or greenhouse).It is necessary to calculate the landing so that by the time the plants were transferred to a permanent place, they were from 55 to 65 days old.
- First, the seeds can be sown in a common container with small sides. When the tomato has a couple of leaves, they are planted in individual pots.
- Before transplanting into the ground, the plants are hardened off by taking them outside or to a balcony with open windows.
- Like all indeterminates, Heart takes up a lot of space in the greenhouse and garden bed. To ensure freedom for the bushes, seedlings are planted according to the 50x70 pattern. You should not bury the roots of tomatoes deeper than 20 cm - they do not like cold. The soil temperature at this depth should be more than eight degrees.
- Immediately you need to take care of supports for tomatoes. Trellis are most suitable, but you can also build supports from wooden pegs.
- It is recommended to form a bush with one or two stems. The second stem is released from the stepson, which is located immediately above the first ovary.
- All other stepsons should be removed regularly. Excess ovaries also need to be cut off - one bush should have no more than 6-8 fruit clusters. If you do not thin out the bunches, the tomatoes will grow small and tasteless.
- You need to feed tomatoes 3-4 times during the summer. For these purposes, mineral and organic fertilizers are used. Potassium-phosphorus compounds work well; a small amount of nitrogenous fertilizers is acceptable.
- The Heart needs to be watered frequently and abundantly (every three days) – This tomato loves water. In order not to expose the bushes to the risk of infection, warm water is used, the soil is mulched, and the lower leaves of the tomatoes are torn off to improve air circulation.
- Although the variety is considered resistant, bushes still need to be treated to prevent diseases. If there are no visible signs of infection, use Bordeaux mixture or any chemical agent. Bushes need to be treated before they begin to bloom.
Review from a gardener
Conclusion
The Oxheart tomato is not suitable for all gardeners: this tomato needs a warm climate or a greenhouse, it needs nutritious soil and space, the farmer must know how to deal with bushes that have an unlimited growth point. But in return for all its “whims,” the tomato will give the gardener a generous harvest of some of the largest and most delicious fruits. So it might be worth the effort!
