Cuor di Bue means ox heart. Cut one open and you will see why. The shape is unmistakable, the flesh is dense and meaty, and there is barely a seed inside.
This is a heritage beefsteak from Liguria. Each fruit weighs 150 to 180g. Slice it thick, lay it on a plate with mozzarella and fresh basil, and you have a caprese that actually tastes like something.
Indeterminate (cordon) variety. Grows tall, produces generously through the summer.
🌱 Sowing information
Sow indoors from February to April, 0.5cm deep, 2 to 3 seeds per pot. Keep warm and well lit. Transplant to a sunny, sheltered spot after the last frost. Space 50 to 60cm apart.
☀️ Light exposure
Full sun. Needs a warm, sheltered position. In Ireland, a south facing wall, polytunnel or greenhouse gives the best results with beefsteak types.
💧 Water needs
Water consistently and deeply. Beefsteak tomatoes are especially prone to cracking if watering is irregular. Feed fortnightly once fruits set, using a high potash tomato feed.
🌡️ Germination temperature and time
Germination takes 7 to 14 days at 18 to 24°C. Sow indoors from February. Do not plant outside until the risk of frost has passed, typically late May in Ireland.
📏 Plant spacing and final size
Plants grow tall and vigorous. Space 50 to 60cm apart. Stake well and pinch out side shoots to keep one strong main stem. Fruits are large and heavy, so supports need to be sturdy.
🌼 Harvesting notes
Harvest July to October. Pick when fruits are fully coloured and give slightly when pressed. Handle gently as the thin skin marks easily.
🍽️ In the kitchen
Caprese salads, thick slices on sourdough, roasted whole with olive oil. The flesh holds together when sliced, which is exactly what you want in a beefsteak. One tomato feeds two people as a side.
📖 Want to know what to cook with your harvest? Our recipe guide “Welly to Belly: Italian Tomatoes, Seed to Sauce” is packed with simple Italian recipes using exactly what you are growing. Get your copy and start cooking with what you grow.
Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: 0.5cm
📅 Sow: February to April (indoors). Plant out: late May
☀️ Light: Full sun, sheltered
🌡️ Germination: 7 to 14 days at 18 to 24°C
📏 Height: tall indeterminate. Space: 50 to 60cm
🪴 Support: strong staking required
⏳ Harvest: July to October
🧪 Approx. seed quantity: 300 seeds per gram, 1g per packet
Heritage variety from Franchi Sementi, est. 1783. Open pollinated, OGM free.
