The 'Oaxacan Jewel' tomato is one of the very early varieties with large fruits. Everything you need to know about growing Oaxacan Jewel is here.
The pretty 'Oaxacan Jewel' is a real eye-catcher in midsummer with its flat, round, yellow to orange marbled fruits. We present the ancient, high-yielding tomato variety in the profile.
Oaxacan Jewel: Profile
| Synonyms | 'Joya de Oaxaca' |
| Fruit | Beefsteak tomato; orange-red marbled |
| Flavour | sweet, juicy, aromatic |
| Maturity | early |
| Growth | Stick tomato, up to 150 cm |
| Location | Greenhouse |
Origin and history of the beefsteak tomato
The 'Oaxacan Jewel' originally comes from Mexico and is said to have been cultivated there before the 16th century. So it's a really old and historic strain that's still popular to this day. Also known as Joya de Oaxaca. Incidentally, Oaxaca is the name of one of the 31 states of Mexico and is located in the south of the country.
Description and taste of the ‘Oaxacan Jewel’ tomato variety
The 'Oaxacan Jewel' is just 150 centimeters high, so it remains very small for a beefsteak tomato. Instead, she puts her power into numerous large fruits. Its leaves are like potatoes, which makes it easy to distinguish them from other varieties. The orange-red marbled beauties ripen as early as July and are therefore among the earliest varieties. When ripe, the smooth to slightly ribbed fruits become very soft and have a pleasant texture. The taste of the 'Oaxacan Jewel' is sweet, juicy and aromatic. As an old variety, this early beefsteak tomato is of course also firm to seed. It can be grown again next year from tomato seeds you have won yourself.
Planting and caring for the Oaxacan Jewel: That's closednote
Like most beefsteak tomatoes, the 'Oaxacan Jewel' feels most at home in a greenhouse. Here it gets a lot of heat and reliably ripens early in July. From the beginning of May you can place young plants of the 'Oaxacan Jewel' in the greenhouse. To do this, dig a deep hole and place the plants in it. Remove any leaves that would now be underground so that only a third of the 'Oaxacan Jewel' is showing. It is best to fill the planting hole with a nutrient-rich substrate, such as our Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil, and press it down lightly. The tomato now develops many roots underground along the stalk and absorbs water and minerals better. Finally, stick a stick next to the plant to support it later and give it a good watering.
The 'Oaxacan Jewel' grows slowly and is therefore very easy to care for. If some side shoots still form, the tomato should be pinched out. Beefsteak tomatoes bear best on the main shoot, the weaker side shoots often cannot hold the high weight of the fruit. In June, a primarily organic long-term organic fertilizer, such as our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer, should be applied to support fruit formation. The granules are applied to the surface and decomposed in the soil. The nutrients reach the roots evenly and over weeks. In this way, the fruits are optimally supplied and both over-fertilization and deficiency of the plants are prevented.
Harvesting and Using Oaxacan Jewel Tomatoes
The 'Oaxacan Jewel' is suitable as a beefsteak tomato for fresh consumption directly from the vine. Their unique taste comes into its own in salads and snacks. Of course, the pretty tomato is also suitable for preserving soups and sauces or for preserving during the cold season.
Tomatoes need a lot of nutrients in order to bear plenty of fruit over the summer and not suffer from a deficiency. You can read about what you should consider when fertilizing tomatoes with us.