Oxheart Pole Tomato is an indeterminate variety that climbs tall on sturdy vines, producing distinctive heart-shaped fruits over a 70-85 day growing season. This heirloom earns its name from the tomatoes' characteristic shape and size, offering substantial yields for gardeners with vertical space. Plant in full sun with robust trellising support, spacing plants 36 inches apart, and you'll be rewarded with tomatoes that develop from late spring through fall, depending on your climate.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-12
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The Oxheart's heart-shaped fruits distinguish it immediately from typical round slicing tomatoes, and the indeterminate growth habit means a continuous harvest rather than a single flush. Because it's a pole variety, it trains beautifully on stakes or sturdy cages, maximizing garden space while improving air circulation around the foliage. This cultivar thrives in warm conditions and rewards consistent care with substantial harvests well into the season.
Oxheart Pole Tomatoes excel as fresh slicing tomatoes for sandwiches, salads, and any preparation where their distinctive shape and size make them visually striking on the plate. The large, meaty fruits also work well for halving and grilling, or for making specialty tomato sauce in smaller batches where their particular flavor shines.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your planned transplant date. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix, maintaining soil temperature at 70-90°F for best germination. Transplant seedlings outdoors when air temperature consistently reaches 45°F or warmer, typically 1-2 weeks after your average last frost date.
Transplant when air temperature is 45°F or warmer, usually 1-2 weeks after your average last frost date, and soil temperature reaches at least 60°F. Space plants 36 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. Install sturdy trellising or support structures at planting time to avoid disturbing roots later.
For mild climates only, direct sow 1-2 weeks after your average last frost date when soil temperature is at least 60°F. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep.
Begin harvesting when fruits have fully developed their characteristic heart shape and have turned a deep red color throughout, typically 70-85 days after planting. The tomatoes should yield slightly to gentle pressure but still feel firm. Harvest in the morning when fruits are cool, using a gentle twisting motion or clean pruners to avoid damaging the vine. Continue harvesting regularly to encourage the plant to produce more flowers and fruit throughout the season.
As an indeterminate variety, Oxheart Pole Tomato will benefit from selective removal of lower leaves once the plant is established and flowering, improving air circulation and reducing disease pressure. Pinch or prune suckers (shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) on young plants to encourage stronger main stem development and more controlled vertical growth. Once the plant is actively flowering and setting fruit, prune more conservatively to avoid removing too much foliage that protects developing fruits from sunscald.
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