VegetableTomato
Oxheart Orange Tomato
Oxheart Orange Tomato is a charming heirloom that brings warmth and character to the garden with its distinctive heart-shaped fruits and rich orange color. These substantial 10-12 ounce tomatoes mature in 70-79 days and thrive in hardiness zones 3 through 11, making them accessible to gardeners across most of North America. The plants grow tall and indeterminate, reaching 3-8 feet, and require support to protect their heavy fruit from sunscald. Originally developed in Virginia, this open-pollinated variety represents the orange counterpart to the beloved Pink Oxheart, offering firm flesh with remarkably few seeds.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
96 in
Height
TypeIndeterminate
Spacing
24
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-11
Size
96in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Heart-shaped fruits that weigh 10-12 ounces make this tomato instantly recognizable on the vine and in the kitchen. The firm flesh and minimal seed cavity give you more substance per fruit than many slicing tomatoes, a trait heirloom breeders valued for serious cooks. Orange color signals ripe sweetness without the acidity some expect from tomatoes, and the indeterminate growth habit means you'll harvest continuously from midsummer through frost. Large vines demand robust caging or trellising to keep developing fruit safely off the ground, a small investment that pays dividends in fruit quality.
Common Uses
Oxheart Orange Tomato shines on the plate as a slicing tomato, where its heart shape and firm interior make neat, attractive cross-sections for salads and sandwiches. The substantial flesh and few seeds mean less watery juice running across your cutting board and fewer seeds to fish out of your dish. Its size suits it to stuffing whole or halved, a traditional preparation that lets the fruit's structure shine. The low seed content also makes it excellent for cooking into sauces and tomato products where a meatier consistency is prized.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in warm seed-starting mix kept at 70-75°F for reliable germination. Once sprouted, provide bright light and maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging. Transplants are ready when they develop their second true leaves.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions before moving them to the garden. Transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60°F, ideally 65-70°F. Space plants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows. Set plants slightly deeper than they were growing in containers to encourage a stronger root system. Install support structures at planting time to avoid root damage later.
Harvesting
Pick Oxheart Orange tomatoes when they reach full orange color and yield slightly to gentle pressure; they'll feel heavy for their size due to the substantial flesh. Harvest regularly once fruiting begins to encourage continued production throughout the season. The heart shape makes these fruits distinctive and easy to identify at peak ripeness. Pick fruit in early morning when skin is cool to minimize damage, and handle gently as the larger size can stress the stem.
Pruning
As an indeterminate variety, Oxheart Orange produces fruit throughout the season on continuously growing vines. Prune suckers (the shoots that emerge between the main stem and branches) to direct energy toward fruit production rather than excessive foliage, though be judicious as leaves provide essential sun protection for developing fruit. Remove lower leaves once plants are established and producing to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure, but leave upper foliage intact to shield fruit from direct sun exposure.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Solanum lycopersicum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum
Growth Habit
Indeterminate
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“This variety traces its roots to Virginia, where it emerged as the orange-fruited sibling to the Pink Oxheart tomato that had captivated gardeners for generations. Open-pollinated and passed down through seed-saving tradition, Oxheart Orange represents the work of countless home gardeners who recognized something special in its heart shape, sturdy flesh, and generous size, then chose to save and replant its seeds season after season. The variety's survival and availability today rests on the shoulders of heirloom seed preservationists who understood that distinctive, productive tomatoes deserve a place in modern gardens.”