Tomato "Bull's Heart": characteristics and description of the variety

Description of the variety

"Ox Heart" is a cultivar tomato. It was added to the State Register of Breeding Achievements in 2000 and has since been grown not only by private farmers but also by private farms. It is suitable for greenhouses, plastic shelters, and open ground. This tomato is heat-loving. In southern regions, it is successfully grown in the field from seedlings. In colder regions, it reaches full maturity and produces a full harvest only in greenhouses. It is considered a mid-season variety (105-115 days) in terms of ripening time, but can be late-ripening in cooler climates.

Ox Heart tomatoes are indeterminate. In open ground, stem height reaches 1.3-1.5 m, and in greenhouses, up to 2 m. The plants are vigorous and grow rapidly, requiring bush training, pinching, and constant stem growth monitoring. These measures are necessary to increase fruit set and yield.

The tomato variety's characteristics are quite attractive. The bushes are vigorous and robust. The stems are well-foliated, with numerous fruit clusters, each bearing 3-5 ripening fruits. Under favorable conditions, tomatoes reach technical maturity in early August, and the fruiting period extends until mid-September. With proper cultivation practices, the average yield per square meter is approximately 7 kg. Other advantages of the variety include good resistance to a number of diseases and large fruits.

Video "Description"

From this video you will learn many facts about the tomato variety "Ox Heart"

Characteristics of fruits

The variety's name and description, "Ox Heart," accurately characterize the fruits. They truly resemble a heart of correspondingly large size. The average fruit weight is 150-300 g, but specimens weighing up to 800 g can sometimes be found. The tomatoes have a slightly ribbed surface, and the skin is pinkish-raspberry in color, thin but quite strong. The flesh is very meaty, virtually seedless, and has a tender, slightly sweet flavor with a distinct tomato aroma.

Tomatoes of this variety are intended for table use, used fresh, for juice, and for preserves. They are not suitable for long-term storage due to their thin skin and very juicy flesh. Despite this, they have excellent marketability and are among the most sought-after by consumers. Ripe fruits do not transport well, so they should be picked slightly unripe for sale.

Soil and fertilizer

The composition and quality of the soil are of great importance for "Ox Heart" tomatoes. Like all tall, large-fruited tomatoes, they are very demanding of minerals in the soil. Without them, a good harvest cannot be expected. When growing tomatoes outdoors, it is important to maintain crop rotation and rotate the bed annually. Carrots, onions, radishes, cucumbers, cabbage, and legumes are considered good precursors to tomatoes. If tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse, where crop rotation is more difficult, the soil should be thoroughly fertilized annually in the fall with humus and mineral mixtures.

The soil for planting tomatoes should be light and fertile. For sowing seeds for seedlings, it is recommended to use loose soil rich in humus (high-moor peat, humus). In the garden bed or greenhouse, try to create a soil mixture as close as possible to that in which the seedlings were grown. This will help the plants adapt more easily after transplanting. For sowing seeds, the soil should be warmed to 15°C. Seedlings can be planted in the garden bed no earlier than the average daily temperature rises to 20-25°C. To speed up soil warming, the soil can be covered with plastic film.

Despite fertilizing at planting, indeterminate tomatoes require additional feeding throughout the growing season, especially in the first half. Two to three such scheduled feedings should be performed before fruiting begins. Some time after transplanting, the seedlings can be fed with a mineral mixture and a small amount of nitrogen. During active flowering and fruit set, phosphorus and potassium should be added—these nutrients improve the taste and quality of tomatoes. For organic farmers, watering with "green" infusions and mullein is recommended.

Pinching out and tying up

Pinching out side shoots (removing side shoots) is essential for indeterminate tomatoes, otherwise they will develop lush foliage and long vines, which will negatively impact fruit production. The "Ox Heart" variety is recommended to be trained into two stems: the first is the main stem, and the second is a side shoot left above the first fruit cluster. The remaining side shoots should be regularly pinched off once they reach 3-5 cm in length. Side shoots of this size do not affect the growth of the bush, but removing larger shoots can weaken the plant.

When training a bush, leave no more than 6-8 clusters with ovaries. This number guarantees large and juicy fruits. Leaving more will result in smaller fruits, but that's a matter of taste.

Once the required number of clusters has formed, the tops of the shoots can be pinched off. This will help curb the growth of the bush and direct all the plant's energy toward ripening the fruit. Regardless of the growing location, tomatoes of this variety must be tied to a trellis; otherwise, the stems will break under the weight of the fruit. During the period of active ripening, the lower leaves should also be removed to prevent nutrients from being wasted.

Watering

As the growing instructions for this variety state, watering is a key part of caring for "Ox Heart" tomatoes. Watering should be regular and not too heavy. To ensure sweet, juicy, and flavorful tomatoes, the soil must always be kept slightly moist. In summer, water once every 2-3 days, and daily during extreme heat. Watering with warm water is recommended in the evening, after sunset. Mulch can be applied to retain moisture.

Equally important for the "Ox Heart" variety is loosening the soil and removing weeds from the bed. It's worth noting that weeds are very harmful to tomatoes of any variety, as they are the main carriers of diseases and harbor pests. Follow these simple steps, and your tomatoes will reward you with a wonderful harvest of delicious fruit.

Video "Growing"

This video will show you how to grow tomatoes to get a good harvest.