Beef Heart is an indeterminate heirloom oxheart tomato that produces large to extra-large (12–24 oz), deep crimson-red, heart-shaped fruits—often borne singly or in small clusters on surprisingly compact, sturdy plants with regular-leaf foliage. Production is reliable and steady throughout the season, often increasing toward late summer. Fruits are densely meaty with good juiciness, relatively few seeds, and a classic old-fashioned tomato flavor—rich, balanced, and satisfying for fresh slicing, salads, or canning. The variety stands out for its notable disease resistance and drought tolerance, performing well even in challenging conditions like partial shade or dry soils.
 

HISTORY: The exact origins of this particular Beef Heart strain are unknown, but it is preserved as a regional Appalachian heirloom. Seeds were obtained by Michigan Heirlooms from Edward Meece in 2014(now deceased, aged 86) of London, Kentucky, during a seed swap in Berea, KY in 2015. Meece, a dedicated collector of local Appalachian varieties, likely maintained this line from family or community gardens in the region, where such heart-shaped red oxhearts have been grown for generations. "Beef Heart" (and synonyms like Oxheart or Bull's Heart) is a broad descriptor applied to many similar heart-shaped heirlooms worldwide, often tracing back to European selections from the 19th century, but this stock represents a distinct, resilient Appalachian expression now preserved through Michigan Heirlooms.
 
Sold as a single plant in a 3.5" pot.