Work Release Paste and Joe's Pink Oxheart

Douglas14 · February 10, 2015

I'd like any of your opinions of/experiences with the varieties in the title of this thread.

I'm planning on growing both this year, and your input may influence how many plants of each I will plant out. I realize there was a thread over a year ago about Joe's Pink Oxheart, which I've read. I'm guessing many grew it last year, and I'm hoping for their input as well. Thanks! Doug

KarenO · February 10, 2015

WRP although listed as MS at Tanias I found fairly late in my garden. Droopy leaves viney and very tall it produced quite a few medium to large pink hearts of varying shapes. Meaty, few seeds, flavour on the mild side. Good but not great. I have not tried JPO yet.
KO

PaulF · February 10, 2015

Joe's Pink Oxheart is a rare variety in my gardens. It has been grown three years in a row: 2012-13-14. In 2012 there were not many seed sources so I grew it and shared seeds. That year only 21 tomatoes were harvested, but that was enough to save lots of seeds and eat enough tomatoes to decide it would be grown the next year because of its flavor. The largest fruit was 20 ounces and the average size was 8.5 ounces.

2013 was a better year for size, average size and numbers of fruit. The largest was 32 ounces and the average size was 16 ounces with all the flavor you could ask for. JPO is a typical heart in shape with sweet flavor. Nearly unprecedented it was grown again in 2014. The year was a near disaster for me and my tomatoes and Joe's did not do so well as before, but the flavor was still there even if the tomatoes were smaller, 12 ounce for the largest and average size of 6 ounces from only 20 tomatoes on the one plant grown. It is not on the 2015 list, but is one of my favorite hearts and will be grown again.

More info than necessary, sorry.

AlittleSalt · February 10, 2015

I planted Work Release in cells on January 17th and it was one of the first ready for being transplanted into larger containers/cups on February 8th. Mayo's Delight was planted and transplanted on the same dates - same size plants. That is my history with Work Release.

If possible, I would grow both Work Release and Joe's Pink Oxheart just to compare them along the way.

Father'sDaughter · February 11, 2015

I grew WRP last year and it did quite well in terms of production compared to almost every other variety. They were meaty, with few seeds, but the flavor wasn't there for fresh eating and they were too juicy for me to use as a paste.

kath · February 11, 2015

I grew WRP for 4 years and grew JPO last year, too. WRP is the winner in my garden in terms of fruit quality but it is milder in taste. I agree with Farmer'sDaughter that it is juicy to use as a paste and rather mild for fresh eating. JPO gave lots of big fruits but had loads of radial cracking and discoloration at the stem end, fruits ripened slowly and unevenly and were hard to ripen completely without losing to rot. We (our household + neighbors) didn't like the flavor of them either. Might just be another variety that doesn't like the conditions here but I won't be growing it again.

Douglas14 · February 14, 2015

Thanks for the replies. They've been helpful to me.

Doug

February 10, 2015	#1
Douglas14 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 602	Work Release Paste and Joe's Pink Oxheart I'd like any of your opinions of/experiences with the varieties in the title of this thread. I'm planning on growing both this year, and your input may influence how many plants of each I will plant out. I realize there was a thread over a year ago about Joe's Pink Oxheart, which I've read. I'm guessing many grew it last year, and I'm hoping for their input as well. Thanks! Doug

February 10, 2015	#3
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	Joe's Pink Oxheart is a rare variety in my gardens. It has been grown three years in a row: 2012-13-14. In 2012 there were not many seed sources so I grew it and shared seeds. That year only 21 tomatoes were harvested, but that was enough to save lots of seeds and eat enough tomatoes to decide it would be grown the next year because of its flavor. The largest fruit was 20 ounces and the average size was 8.5 ounces. 2013 was a better year for size, average size and numbers of fruit. The largest was 32 ounces and the average size was 16 ounces with all the flavor you could ask for. JPO is a typical heart in shape with sweet flavor. Nearly unprecedented it was grown again in 2014. The year was a near disaster for me and my tomatoes and Joe's did not do so well as before, but the flavor was still there even if the tomatoes were smaller, 12 ounce for the largest and average size of 6 ounces from only 20 tomatoes on the one plant grown. It is not on the 2015 list, but is one of my favorite hearts and will be grown again. More info than necessary, sorry. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

February 10, 2015	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	WRP although listed as MS at Tanias I found fairly late in my garden. Droopy leaves viney and very tall it produced quite a few medium to large pink hearts of varying shapes. Meaty, few seeds, flavour on the mild side. Good but not great. I have not tried JPO yet. KO

February 10, 2015	#4
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I planted Work Release in cells on January 17th and it was one of the first ready for being transplanted into larger containers/cups on February 8th. Mayo's Delight was planted and transplanted on the same dates - same size plants. That is my history with Work Release. If possible, I would grow both Work Release and Joe's Pink Oxheart just to compare them along the way.

February 11, 2015	#5
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	I grew WRP last year and it did quite well in terms of production compared to almost every other variety. They were meaty, with few seeds, but the flavor wasn't there for fresh eating and they were too juicy for me to use as a paste.

February 11, 2015	#6
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	I grew WRP for 4 years and grew JPO last year, too. WRP is the winner in my garden in terms of fruit quality but it is milder in taste. I agree with Farmer'sDaughter that it is juicy to use as a paste and rather mild for fresh eating. JPO gave lots of big fruits but had loads of radial cracking and discoloration at the stem end, fruits ripened slowly and unevenly and were hard to ripen completely without losing to rot. We (our household + neighbors) didn't like the flavor of them either. Might just be another variety that doesn't like the conditions here but I won't be growing it again.

February 14, 2015	#7
Douglas14 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 602	Thanks for the replies. They've been helpful to me. Doug