Oxheart Gianttissima and Orangeheart

Ruth_10 · February 10, 2007

I received those two varieties as freebies from Sandhill. The catalog description for Oxheart Gianttissima is indet. 6-8 oz. flattened oxheart shaped fruits, pink flesh and skin, above average yield. Thick flesh almost like a paste tomato. The description for Orangeheart is indet. semisweet 6-8 oz. fruits, globe-shaped, pale orange in color.

I don't find much with a Google search. Anyone have any experience with them they can share?

DavidinCT · February 13, 2007

I don't know anything about them.

You might keep an eye on the Sandhill Preservation thread in the Seed and Plant Sources forum. You are not the only one they are sending varieties to try which don't show much on a google search.

**carolyn137** · February 13, 2007

Glenn lists quite a few varieties that are from the SSE Yearbooks and have never made it out to commercial places except for him doing it with those varieties. Which is why I've said a number of times that selecting some variet4ies from him is the only way you'll have access to some of the 4000 varieties in the SSE Yearbooks, without becoming an SSE member.

So no, I wouldn't expect there would be much found by Googling.

And I certainly could look in some back Yearbooks for more information, but Ruth asked for personal experience with them and I haven't grown them so didn't answer.

Ruth_10 · February 13, 2007

Thanks for the replies. Before logging on here this morning (I'm home from work, burning a vacation day, due to ice/sleet/snow/blizzard) I looked through the R. Kraft site and found an Orange Heart, which looks like the decription in the Sandhill catalog ("...Semisweet, 6 to 8 oz. fruits, globe shaped, pale orange in color."). Nothing for Oxheart Gianttissima.

Orange Oxheart

My primary interest was taste--are they worth dedicating the space in the garden--but any other information is welcome as well. It helps just to know how these may have gotten into the Sandhill catalog.

The Oxheart Gianttissima sounds especially intriguing to me, as I like pinks and though I haven't grown many oxhearts, I've liked the ones I've grown. From the catalog: "...6-8 oz., flattened oxheart shaped fruits, pink flesh and skin, above average yield. Thick flesh almost like a paste tomato."

**carolyn137** · February 13, 2007

It helps just to know how these may have gotten into the Sandhill catalog.

****

Ruth, your question should be stated the other way around, as in how do so many varieties listed in the SSE Yearbooks get to European sites.

Reinhard, for instance, was a long time SSE member and I know I alone have sent him close to 100 or so varieties as have many other SSE friends.

And Geza in Hungary, who trades with so many folks, most of his varieties were obtained from trades with US folks, so that's why when you look at his list you see so many well known varieties.

When I get a chance I'll look up both the Orange Heart as well as the other one and see if I can find them.... what the heck I have the 2007 Yearbook right here.

Lots of folks list the Orange Heart and there appear to be two different forms of it.

Most report globes of about 4-6 oz, which is what it's supoosed to be, and one person said Glenn's was an orange cherry, but at about two inches I don't exactly call it a cherry.

And it's commented that this is not a heart shaped variety and it also was introduced to SSE way back in 1985 by Don Branscomb/

Taste reports have been excellent.

Oxheart Giantissima, flat pink paste tomato, above average yield says Glenn, another one via Don Branscomb back in 1985, Marianne Jones says high producer of curious looking pink pear shaped fruits, about 2-4 oz, flavor quite nice.

So not an oxhart either, but so named.

Ruth_10 · February 13, 2007

Thanks much for the info, Carolyn. Sounds like Orangeheart is not a heart, but maybe a large cherry or small globe, and Gianttissima is not at all giant. :wink: I just might have to grow these to see what I get.

evan1 · February 14, 2007

I grew Oxheart Giantissima last year. They were not heart shaped for me. Flat pink paste fits the bill. Taste was ok, nothing that stood out.

February 10, 2007	#1
Ruth_10 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MO z6a near St. Louis Posts: 1,349	Oxheart Gianttissima and Orangeheart I received those two varieties as freebies from Sandhill. The catalog description for Oxheart Gianttissima is indet. 6-8 oz. flattened oxheart shaped fruits, pink flesh and skin, above average yield. Thick flesh almost like a paste tomato. The description for Orangeheart is indet. semisweet 6-8 oz. fruits, globe-shaped, pale orange in color. I don't find much with a Google search. Anyone have any experience with them they can share? __________________ --Ruth Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be.

February 13, 2007	#3
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Glenn lists quite a few varieties that are from the SSE Yearbooks and have never made it out to commercial places except for him doing it with those varieties. Which is why I've said a number of times that selecting some variet4ies from him is the only way you'll have access to some of the 4000 varieties in the SSE Yearbooks, without becoming an SSE member. So no, I wouldn't expect there would be much found by Googling. And I certainly could look in some back Yearbooks for more information, but Ruth asked for personal experience with them and I haven't grown them so didn't answer. __________________ Carolyn

February 13, 2007	#4
Ruth_10 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MO z6a near St. Louis Posts: 1,349	Thanks for the replies. Before logging on here this morning (I'm home from work, burning a vacation day, due to ice/sleet/snow/blizzard) I looked through the R. Kraft site and found an Orange Heart, which looks like the decription in the Sandhill catalog ("...Semisweet, 6 to 8 oz. fruits, globe shaped, pale orange in color."). Nothing for Oxheart Gianttissima. Orange Oxheart My primary interest was taste--are they worth dedicating the space in the garden--but any other information is welcome as well. It helps just to know how these may have gotten into the Sandhill catalog. The Oxheart Gianttissima sounds especially intriguing to me, as I like pinks and though I haven't grown many oxhearts, I've liked the ones I've grown. From the catalog: "...6-8 oz., flattened oxheart shaped fruits, pink flesh and skin, above average yield. Thick flesh almost like a paste tomato." __________________ --Ruth Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be.

February 13, 2007	#5
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	It helps just to know how these may have gotten into the Sandhill catalog. **** Ruth, your question should be stated the other way around, as in how do so many varieties listed in the SSE Yearbooks get to European sites. Reinhard, for instance, was a long time SSE member and I know I alone have sent him close to 100 or so varieties as have many other SSE friends. And Geza in Hungary, who trades with so many folks, most of his varieties were obtained from trades with US folks, so that's why when you look at his list you see so many well known varieties. When I get a chance I'll look up both the Orange Heart as well as the other one and see if I can find them.... what the heck I have the 2007 Yearbook right here. Lots of folks list the Orange Heart and there appear to be two different forms of it. Most report globes of about 4-6 oz, which is what it's supoosed to be, and one person said Glenn's was an orange cherry, but at about two inches I don't exactly call it a cherry. And it's commented that this is not a heart shaped variety and it also was introduced to SSE way back in 1985 by Don Branscomb/ Taste reports have been excellent. Oxheart Giantissima, flat pink paste tomato, above average yield says Glenn, another one via Don Branscomb back in 1985, Marianne Jones says high producer of curious looking pink pear shaped fruits, about 2-4 oz, flavor quite nice. So not an oxhart either, but so named. __________________ Carolyn

February 13, 2007	#6
Ruth_10 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MO z6a near St. Louis Posts: 1,349	Thanks much for the info, Carolyn. Sounds like Orangeheart is not a heart, but maybe a large cherry or small globe, and Gianttissima is not at all giant. :wink: I just might have to grow these to see what I get. __________________ --Ruth Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be.

February 13, 2007	#2
DavidinCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Connecticut Zone 6B Posts: 88	I don't know anything about them. You might keep an eye on the Sandhill Preservation thread in the Seed and Plant Sources forum. You are not the only one they are sending varieties to try which don't show much on a google search.

February 14, 2007	#7
evan1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NJ Z6 Posts: 12	I grew Oxheart Giantissima last year. They were not heart shaped for me. Flat pink paste fits the bill. Taste was ok, nothing that stood out.