Tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the most versatile vegetables there are and certainly one of the most popular choices of plants among gardeners. I have been growing my own tomatoes for a few years now and find that they taste so much nicer than mass-produced supermarket tomatoes.

♦♦ TOMATO PLANT FACTS ♦♦

Fruit or vegetable..? The tomato is something of a paradox: it tastes like a vegetable but is actually ...
...pots.

♦♦ TOMATOES AND COMMON TYPES ♦♦

As with a lot of vegetables, tomatoes can either be eaten raw or cooked. The main types are:

* Beefsteak - large, pumpkin-shaped tomatoes with a firm texture and sweet flavour. Ideal for slicing or cooking.

* Yellow Cherry - cherry tomatoes with a sweet, almost lemony tang. Nice in salads. Yellow tomatoes are known to be sweeter ... more

Tomatoes are one of the most versatile vegetables there are and certainly one of the most popular choices of plants among gardeners. I have been growing my own tomatoes for a few years now and find that they taste so much nicer than mass-produced supermarket tomatoes.

♦♦ TOMATO PLANT FACTS ♦♦

Fruit or vegetable..? The tomato is something of a paradox: it tastes like a vegetable but is actually classified as a fruit. Because tomatoes have seeds, this apparently makes them more fruit-like, although I personally refer to them as a vegetable.

In the UK, tomato plants are grown as annuals (plants that last for one season), but because they are really sub-tropical plants, are grown as perennials in warmer climes. Perennials are plants which last for more than one season.

There are two different types of tomato plant: determinates and indeterminates. Determinates have vines that grow to a determined point and stop, making them more compact and bushy. Indeterminates, however, are more viney and continue to grow and need support. Determinates are ideal for smaller gardens and people wishing to grow plants in pots.

♦♦ TOMATOES AND COMMON TYPES ♦♦

As with a lot of vegetables, tomatoes can either be eaten raw or cooked. The main types are:

* Beefsteak - large, pumpkin-shaped tomatoes with a firm texture and sweet flavour. Ideal for slicing or cooking.

* Yellow Cherry - cherry tomatoes with a sweet, almost lemony tang. Nice in salads. Yellow tomatoes are known to be sweeter than red.

* Baby Cherry - small, dainty tomatoes with a sweet taste. Ideal in salads.

* Plum - oval-shaped tomatoes with a fairly acidic flavour.

* Vine Cherry - tomatoes matured on the vine for the sweetest taste.

* Baby Plum - a miniature version of the plum tomato. Great for salads.

♦♦ ORIGINS ♦♦

Tomatoes originate from Central and South America. They were originally thought to be poisonous because people associated their red colour with danger. As a result, they were not consumed as food until around the 1800s.

The tomato plant first came to Europe in the 16th century. It is not clear who brought them in the first place, but it is thought that they were brought back from Central America by the Spanish Conquistadors. At that time, they were known as the wolf's peach and Peruvian apple.

In Italy, tomatoes became known as 'pomi dei mori' - or 'apples of the moors'. When uttered out loud, this sounds remarkably like the French 'pomme d'amour' ( 'apple of love'). Because of this, the humble tomato became known as the 'apple of love'.

♦♦ GROWING REQUIREMENTS ♦♦

Tomato plants grow best in sunny locations. They don't need much space but prefer slightly acidic soils with a PH of around 6 to 7. The soil should also be fairly deep, full of as much organic matter as possible and around 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) in temperature. Unfortunately, because tomatoes are warm season plants, they are not particularly resilient to colder weather and will die unless looked after properly. They also need to be watered fairly often and prefer water-retentive soil.

♦♦ GROWING FROM SEEDS ♦♦

If you are new to growing tomatoes, it is probably easier to grow them straight from seed. To do this, there are several straightforward steps you need to follow.

STEP 1

The first step is to decide which variety to grow. Once you have done this, sow the seeds in a pot for about 8 weeks until the seedlings are large enough to grow outside. The pot should be about 3 inches deep and filled with compost. Scatter the seeds over the surface and water gently. Then cover with a bit more compost and leave them to grow… Oh and don't forget to water them!

STEP 2

After a couple of months, you should have seedlings which are big enough to handle. Carefully remove one of the seedlings, taking as much of the root as you can. This can be tricky but holding the leaf rather than the stem is probably the best way to remove the seedling, as stems can be easily damaged.

STEP 3

Take the seedling and plant it in its own pot filled with compost. Make room for the roots and firm into position so that the roots are covered in soil. Then place in a sunny, frost-free location, such as on a windowsill (around 60 degrees Fahrenheit), to allow the seedling to flourish on its own.

STEP 4

After a few weeks, the roots will start to appear around the bottom of the pot. When this starts to happen, the plant needs to be transferred to a larger 5 inch pot. Again, take care not to damage the plant when doing this. If you have a large plant, it may also need to be shored up with a cane to support the main stem.

STEP 5

When the risk of frost has passed, it is safe to grow the plant outside. Use twine to tie the stem to a stake and ensure not to plant other tomato plants nearby as this can prevent the full ripening of the tomatoes. Then carry on as before, watering the plant and adding a high-potash fertiliser. The whole process from the planting to the harvesting stage should take about 3 months in total.

♦♦ LOOKING AFTER YOUR TOMATO PLANT ♦♦

My own experience has shown me that weeds can be one of the biggest problems once the plant is established outside in the garden. They are normally easy to remove though, either by hand or shallow cultivation. Ensuring an even supply of moisture is important as it is an effective way of getting rid of weeds in the first place.

Pruning is also important, as it eradicates any unwanted branches growing from the main stem. Doing this ensures you get larger fruit than you would if the plant was allowed to branch normally.

♦♦ VARIETIES ♦♦

There are literally hundreds of varieties of tomatoes and certainly too many to mention! But if, like me, you are a relative novice at growing tomatoes, I would particularly recommend the following varieties as they are easy to look after and grow:

* 'Outdoor Girl' *

An early-maturing tomato with a good flavour. Produces a generous yield.

* 'Alicante' *

An ideal choice for beginners. Produces a high yield of delicious-tasting tomatoes.

* 'Sungold' *

An ideal choice if you like sweet cherry tomatoes. Nice for use in salads in the Summer.

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♦♦ ARE THEY GOOD FOR YOU? ♦♦

In a nutshell, tomatoes are extremely good for you! They are not only an excellent source of Vitamins C and E; they are also low in calories and a good source of beta carotene. Beta carotene is the pigment that gives tomatoes their bright, red colour and is beneficial to health because it can be converted into Vitamin A by the body. This is vital for the healthy growth and development of the human body.

The carotenoid pigment that gives tomatoes their red colour is also thought to help prevent against certain cancers, like prostate, because it can lessen the damage caused by free radicals - destructive molecules in the body.

♦♦ POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS ♦♦

As with any food, tomatoes can trigger allergies in some people, although these are thankfully quite rare. Eczema is one such reaction, as is migraine. The latter is caused by a chemical called solanine, which is found in green tomatoes.

♦♦ TO SUM UP… ♦♦

Well…where do I start? Tomatoes are such a versatile fruit/vegetable that it is impossible to sum them up in a few sentences. For me, though, tomatoes are the absolute epitome of Summertime. This is when I always enjoy eating them most, but they can be enjoyed at any time of the year really. I love them for their luscious red colour and juicy, refreshing taste. There are so many varieties to chose from and each one has its own individual characteristics. For example, the chunkiness of beefsteak tomatoes makes them ideal for chopping up and putting in sandwiches, whereas cherry tomatoes are a must in salads as they give them a much needed sweetness.

Their versatility is definitely what makes them so special for me. They are not just red; they can be yellow and green too! They are not always sweet; they can be acidic and bitter as well if you prefer! They can be as small as a cherry or as large as a baked potato!

A truly wonderful fruit (or vegetable!)… 

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