Cuore Di Bue

[Moonglow]

Cuore Di Bue

Did I do it correctly?

[jeffinsgf]

Moonglow,

Territorial Seeds has misidentified that tomato, I believe. Cuore di Bue translates as Ox Heart, and that is not a heart of any kind. It is, I'm reasonably confident, 'Piriform'. Hearts are larger at the stem and smaller at the blossom. What you've pictured is precisely backward. I have both 'Piriform' and 'Cuore di Bue' growing in my garden right now.

Poor 'Piriform' has been much grown but poorly recognized of late. Territorial has it misidentified and another seed retailer sold it as 'German Red Strawberry' by way of a mislabeled shipment to their warehouse. That's how I got it, but I'm not complaining about the tomato. It has become my favorite this year. It cooks well, slices well, was the first tomato ripe in my garden and is producing like gangbusters.

[Moonglow]

Thank you for taking the time to post. I have written TSC for clarification. Their description however indicated that, "... although this selection is an exotic twist on the oxheart tomato type. These big tomatoes have a bottom-heavy shape reminiscent of a pouch with a gathered top. They measure 3 1/2 inches wide and 4 inches long and weigh in just under 1/2 pound each. Cuore di Bue is one of the tastiest saucing types with dense flesh and lustrous, orangey-red skin. Indeterminate."

Sincerely,

Annapet

[jeffinsgf]

I'm not sure on what forum it occurred, but there is a thread floating around somewhere in which Carolyn takes this point to task. The photo you've linked is precisely the shape and the description precisely matches what Johnny's Seeds and Tatiana's tomato database list as 'Piriform', and also what I am growing in my garden. I bought my 'Cuore di Bue' seed from Baker Creek, and it is a normal looking heart shape.

[Moonglow]

Please feel free to post the thread link here when you find it. Thanks.

The Piriform listed on Tatiana's Tomato Base does not resemble mine, nor the one on Dave's Garden Plant Files. I see that Johnny's photo looks like my tomatoes; however, I could not find another.

I shall post an update once I hear from TSC .

Sincerely,

Annapet

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Moonglow

Please feel free to post the thread link here when you find it. Thanks.

The Piriform listed on Tatiana's Tomato Base does not resemble mine, nor the one on Dave's Garden Plant Files. I see that Johnny's photo looks like my tomatoes; however, I could not find another.

I shall post an update once I hear from TSC .

Sincerely,

Annapet

Annapet, what you show is not Cuore di Bui, as others have said. What you show is the same as Jeff got from Baker Creek that was supposed to be German Red Strawberry, and is the same as what Reimer's Seeds posted as being Cuor di Bui and wasn't and they deleted that after I'm sure many told them is wasn't Cuore di Bui.

I didn't spend much time with the Territorial catalog this Spring, so didn't see the picture, but if it was an upside down so called heart with ribs, it definitely was NOT Cuore di Bui.

Jeff and I and others had a long thread about piriform at Baker Creek, mainly bc I was the one who had introduced German Red Strawberry and knew darn well that what Jeff showed was not GRS.

others who bought what they thought was GRS at Baker Creek also got the Italian piriform as also shown at Johnny's.

BC has contacted their seed supplier about it and to date apparently haven't heard back anything.

When one Googles piriform one used to be able to find a website from Italy that showed the piriforms being packed in boxes. And at least one website represented their piriform seed as being from seeds imported from Italy.

So I think what happened is that those who buy from wholsale suppliers were given information that may have not been true regarding piriform, since it was represented as GRS at one place and Cuore di Bui at two other places.

I hope that helps.

And yes, I've grown Cuore di Bui as well.

[Moonglow]

Thank you, Carolyn! On that note, shall I grow the real 'Coure Di Bue' next growing season? Right now I am so convinced to grow ten (10) 'Black Krim' plants in 2010 . 'On another note, 'Black Prince' is so disappointing in taste I feel like yanking it off the ground already .

Regarding TSC, they may have mislabeled 'Black' as well. Mine do not look like that at all! They sure are healthy plants though, thank goodness.

Thanks again to you and Jeff for taking the time to write.

Sincerely,

Annapet

[jeffinsgf]

Moonglow,

My opinion is, forget the CdB and plant twice as many 'Piriform'. The plants are sturdier, more prolific, earlier, and equal if not superior in taste. I wish the two CdB's in my garden right now were two more 'Piriforms'.

[Moonglow]

Wow, Jeff, now that's something to really look forward to. I have two (2) plants, and they are among the healthiest in the garden. Perhaps they will fill the void left by the other duds I selected .

So many tomatoes, so little time...

Annapet

[Moonglow]

I've researched some more and even asked my Italian friends from here and abroad, and they say that Italians call this tomato Cuore Di Bue. In Liguria, if you ask for CDB, this is what you'll get. Typical is the word often used. Anyhow, it's a really beautiful tomato and I cannot wait to try.

I'm looking forward to TSC's catalogue. I think it's out already according to their site.

[Moonglow]

Got TSC's catolog. They still have listed CDB. I just love this tomato.

[cortona]

being italian i can give my 20 cents: its not a mislabeling but a different region different name situation: in all italy we cal quore di bue wath you usualy cal oxeart but in liguria(exactly around albenga) this tomato was called quore di bue di albenga...i dont know the reason but it is! the same tomato are know as costoluto genovese(for me this is the right name) but wen di albenga is obmitted... the confusion is sure!
sorry for my basic english
Emanuele

[habitat_gardener]

Originally Posted by cortona

being italian i can give my 20 cents: its not a mislabeling but a different region different name ...

Emanuele, what is the shape of this tomato in Italy? Does it come to a point at the bottom (what we call oxheart in the U.S.), or does it look like Moonglow's photo, sort of a pear shape that's fatter at the bottom end?

[PNW_D]

Here is one I received from a friend's Italian neighbour - when I asked the name I was told the neighbour simply called it "Paro"

[Moonglow]

Paro is gorgeous! Looks like TSC's CDB .