Orange Oxheart Tomato – MIg

Description

Orange Oxheart Tomato is a beautiful heirloom variety prized for its large, heart-shaped orange fruits, meaty flesh, juicy texture, and sweet, fruity flavor. The fruits can reach 1–3 pounds and have a small seed cavity, making them excellent for slicing, sandwiches, salads, fresh eating, and sauces. This vigorous, indeterminate variety produces fruit over a long season and requires strong support as the vines become large and heavily loaded with fruit.

When to Plant in the UAE

• Indoors: Start seeds indoors in August.
• Outdoors: Transplant seedlings in early October, when temperatures begin to cool.
• Avoid: Peak summer heat, which can interfere with flowering, fruit set, and overall plant growth.

Planting & Care Tips

• Light & Soil: Grow in full sun in fertile, well-draining soil enriched with compost and organic matter.
• Depth & Germination: Sow seeds 0.5 cm deep. Germination typically occurs within 5–10 days under warm conditions.
• Spacing: Space plants 60–75 cm apart, with 90–120 cm between rows.
• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during flowering and fruit development, while avoiding waterlogged conditions.
• Feeding: Add compost before planting and feed with a balanced tomato fertilizer every 2–3 weeks during active growth. Increase potassium during flowering and fruiting to support large, healthy fruits.
• Support: Provide strong stakes, cages, or trellises. The indeterminate vines can grow tall and become heavy with large fruits.
• Pruning: Remove excessive lower leaves and unwanted suckers as needed to improve airflow and keep the plant manageable.
• Harvest: Fruits typically mature approximately 80–85 days after transplanting. Harvest when they develop their characteristic deep orange color and feel slightly soft.
• Harvesting Tips: Pick fruits carefully using clean pruners, leaving a short section of stem attached. Allow fully colored fruits to ripen further indoors if necessary.