Orange Oxheart

Family: Solanaceae Vegetable

Sunlit and velvety, Orange Oxheart delivers a warm apricot-orange glow with a richly sweet, low-acid flavor that tastes like summer itself.

Its meaty, beefsteak-style flesh is tender yet substantial, with a gently juicy bite and few seeds—ideal for showcasing in bold slices and hearty, colorful preparations. Grow Orange Oxheart for show-stopping, heart-shaped fruit that ripens reliably on a vigorous plant and rewards the patient gardener with exceptional color and presence at harvest.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Orange Oxheart

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 7th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Sep 13th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	85
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Indeterminate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Orange Oxheart’s low-acid sweetness and meaty, few-seed interior make it built for bold slices that don’t collapse into watery mush. Give it fat and salt—olive oil, mozzarella, and a sharp pepper—and it turns its warm apricot notes into something almost jammy without needing much cooking.

Best Uses

thick summer slices with flaky salt and good olive oil—no crowding
grilled or broiled tomato with a caramelizing, low-acid browning
quick pan-cooked tomato jam or spoonable topping (short reduction keeps it sweet)
stacked caprese-style salads using a milder acid balance

Flavor Profile

warm apricot-orange sweetness low, silky acidity meaty beefsteak flesh with a tender, few-seed bite gentle juiciness that stays sliceable

Kitchen Pairings

black pepper extra-virgin olive oil mozzarella burrata aged cheddar garlic

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Solanum lycopersicum (Orange Oxheart), and how can I stop it early?

Early blight (Alternaria) is a frequent problem on tomatoes, showing as dark, target-like spots on older leaves that spread upward. Remove and discard affected leaves, avoid wetting foliage, and apply a labeled fungicide if spots are spreading; improve airflow by spacing plants and pruning only lower leaves that touch soil. Check leaves 2–3 times per week once plants start heavy growth so you can act before the canopy closes.

How often should I water Orange Oxheart tomatoes during the main growing phase?

During fruit set and bulking, keep soil consistently moist with about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat, and water deeply so moisture reaches the root zone. Aim for steady moisture—don’t let the soil swing dry then flooded, which can trigger blossom-end rot and cracking. Mulch around plants and water at the base, not overhead, to reduce disease pressure.

How do I tell when Orange Oxheart tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits have a fully developed orange color with a slight yield to gentle pressure at the blossom end, typically around 85 days from transplant for this tomato type. If the top shoulders still look pale green or firm, leave them on the vine a few more days. For best flavor, pick in the cool part of the day and avoid harvesting when fruits are wet.