Variety characteristics:

• 599 Cuore del Drago, meaning 'Heart of the Dragon' in Italian, is a rare Italian heirloom tomato with vigorous indeterminate growth and regular-leaf foliage. The tall plants produce generous crops of meaty red fruits, frequently arranged in clusters of four to five. Averaging approximately 8 to 10 oz, the tomatoes range from broadly heart-shaped to unusually blocky oxhearts, sometimes developing shallow indentations, irregular shoulders, or a small pointed blossom end. The dense, succulent flesh contains relatively few seeds and delivers a clean, rich tomato flavor with pleasant sweetness and an inviting aroma. Delicious when sliced fresh for sandwiches, salads, and tomato platters, these substantial fruits are also especially well suited to sauces because of their high proportion of flesh. A productive mid- to late-season variety requiring sturdy staking or trellising.