Introducing Ralphie's Heirloom Oxheart Tomatoes

A two pound Ralphie's Heirloom Oxheart Tomato from Melody Acres

Summer time will always bring back sweet memories of playing outside as a child in our family garden. I can almost taste the fresh fruit and vegetables that my mother served all summer long.

Out of all of those fresh fruits and vegetables, my favorite by far is the tomato.  There is something about the vast array of flavors and variety that comes packed inside a simple tomato that fascinates me to this day.

I know I'm not the only one who is fascinated by tomatoes.  Although we are not sure when tomatoes were first eaten, we know that the Aztecs used them in their cooking around 500BC. Tomatoes originated in Mexico and spread worldwide after the Spanish began to colonize the Americas in the 1500's. Since then they have become a common plant to find in most gardens.

There are currently over 7500 varieties of tomatoes with new varieties popping up every year.  Each tomato variety brings the hope of a new and exciting taste.  I have found over the years that my hope of an amazing new tomato variety is more often likely to lead to disappointment than a new treasure.  This is why I was grateful, but suspicious, when a retired Marine friend in his 70's brought over a few tomato seedlings for me to plant three years ago.  He promised these would be the best tomatoes that I would ever have.  As the summer days plodded along I watered and waited.  At last the day arrived when one of the tomatoes were ready to be picked and eaten.  I was surprised at how huge and beautiful this pink heart shaped tomato was.  The real surprise was still to come.  My mouth watered as I took my first bite of the sweet meaty tomato.  It was everything Ralphie promised and more.

Fortunately for the consumer,(and unfortunately for me) this tomato has very few seeds. I have been cultivating this tomato for three years to get enough seed to be able to finally offer seedlings to the local public.  We are excited to announce a limited number of  Ralphie's Heirloom Oxheart Tomato seedlings for sale at Melody Acres.

Ralphie’s  Heirloom Oxheart Tomato – Melody Acres Organic.  Large prolific pink tomato with green shoulders.  Sweet meaty tomato with very few seeds.  It is not unusual for these tomatoes to get over 2lbs each!  Pick when just starting to turn pink and allow to ripen inside.

*Ralphie passed away in 2013 and will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and community. He was a giving man that ran our local Toys for Tots organization and could always be found volunteering to help others.  We feel it is perfectly fitting that this tomato is huge, heart shaped, and named for a man who lived to give to others. Melody Acres is proud to carry on this Oxheart Tomato in Ralphie's name.