Companion plants for tomatoes.
Every year I forget to plant my companion plants early enough, I get all excited about ordering my tomato seeds. Get the soil and greenhouse ready, Sow the tomatoes then, ah, what about them there companion plants.
They always seem to take longer to establish than the tomatoes so I should plant them earlier. Also what companion plants go with which plants, I had a bit of a mental block and started thinking it was Tansy with tomatoes, but no it's Marigold, but I will need to check just which particular strain of Marigold.
Fortunately I do have a useful book that lists a whole range of companion plants so I know what to plant with what and what to keep away.
Happy plants give healthier crops and that applies to Tomatoes as much as anything else.
If you haven't got a list of companion plants then why not pop over to this web site and for a very modest price they will email you an extremely useful book on companion plants.
Must sort out my Marigolds earlier this year.
Last year I had a few extra tomato plants so I put them amongst my Asparagus, they are supposed to like each other and gee each other along. Unfortunately the general global warming did not agree with either of them and the lack of rain spoilt any meaningful experiment.
This year I have other plans for beating the drought but that can wait until another blog.
So keep coming back.
30 Jan 2007
23 Jan 2007
Preserving Tomatoes to Retain Their Original Flavours
Preserving Tomatoes to Retain Their Original Flavours
Having harvested your tomatoes down under you may wish to preserve them to extend the tomato season, hope this helps.
When the tomatoes in your garden starts turning red, from coy pink then its time to think about preserving tomatoes.
Waiting till the end of the season is more popular but time so frequently runs out, so do it early on, of course don’t starve yourself of fresh tomatoes.
Proper preservation will retain the benefits of tomatoes for year round use.
Home preserving of tomato needs utmost care to avoid spoilage and risk of food poisoning. For preserving tomatoes at home, the acid level should be safe, pH of 4.6 or less. For tomato plant, the acid level may vary due to several factors like the type of tomato, the soil type, and conditions during the growing season. These variations call for safe preserving of tomato at home and acid is required as addition regardless of the color and type of tomatoes.
Things You Should Do For Preserving And Storing Tomatoes
Research has proved the usage of citric acid as a safe method for preserving tomatoes and tomato products. Citric acid effectively increases the acidity of tomatoes without changing the flavor. You can acidify tomatoes with bottled lemon juice by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice per pint or 2 tablespoon per quart and to offset the acid taste you can add a small amount of sugar, maybe one teaspoon per quart. However, you cannot substitute bottled lemon juice with freshly squeezed lemon juice or vinegar.
Tomatoes, which are decayed, overripe, harvested from dead or frost killed vines, late season or exposed to frost are not safe for preserving or tomato juice.
Before preserving tomatoes, avoid adding thickening agents like flour, corn, rice, pasta or starch. Carrots, celery, mushrooms, onions and green and hot peppers, which have low acid ingredients, will decrease the acidity of tomatoes. Do not overuse these ingredients other than recommended in the recipe.
Freezing Crushed Tomatoes
- First, pick fresh good quality tomatoes.
- Wash the tomatoes and dip them into boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds or till the skin splits.
- Then dip the tomatoes in cold water to slip off the skins. Remove the cores and cut the tomatoes in quarters.
- Place a large saucepan on the gas and heat rapidly and crush some quartered tomatoes in it.
- Keep stirring constantly and add remaining quartered tomatoes gradually. After adding all tomatoes boil gently for 5 minutes.
- Now fill jars with hot tomatoes but leave ½ inch headspace. Now to preserve add 2 tablespoon bottled lemon juice or ½ teaspoon citric acid to each quart jar. To offset the acid taste you can add 1-teaspoon salt and 1-teaspoon sugar per quart. Now clean the rims of the jar and cap them with properly pre-treated lids.
Wait until completely cold before placing in the freezer.
Use up the frozen tomatoes within one year otherwise quality may suffer if frozen longer.
Using these methods of preserving tomatoes will help retain the lovely taste of tomatoes for long period of time.
Having harvested your tomatoes down under you may wish to preserve them to extend the tomato season, hope this helps.
When the tomatoes in your garden starts turning red, from coy pink then its time to think about preserving tomatoes.
Waiting till the end of the season is more popular but time so frequently runs out, so do it early on, of course don’t starve yourself of fresh tomatoes.
Proper preservation will retain the benefits of tomatoes for year round use.
Home preserving of tomato needs utmost care to avoid spoilage and risk of food poisoning. For preserving tomatoes at home, the acid level should be safe, pH of 4.6 or less. For tomato plant, the acid level may vary due to several factors like the type of tomato, the soil type, and conditions during the growing season. These variations call for safe preserving of tomato at home and acid is required as addition regardless of the color and type of tomatoes.
Things You Should Do For Preserving And Storing Tomatoes
Research has proved the usage of citric acid as a safe method for preserving tomatoes and tomato products. Citric acid effectively increases the acidity of tomatoes without changing the flavor. You can acidify tomatoes with bottled lemon juice by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice per pint or 2 tablespoon per quart and to offset the acid taste you can add a small amount of sugar, maybe one teaspoon per quart. However, you cannot substitute bottled lemon juice with freshly squeezed lemon juice or vinegar.
Tomatoes, which are decayed, overripe, harvested from dead or frost killed vines, late season or exposed to frost are not safe for preserving or tomato juice.
Before preserving tomatoes, avoid adding thickening agents like flour, corn, rice, pasta or starch. Carrots, celery, mushrooms, onions and green and hot peppers, which have low acid ingredients, will decrease the acidity of tomatoes. Do not overuse these ingredients other than recommended in the recipe.
Freezing Crushed Tomatoes
- First, pick fresh good quality tomatoes.
- Wash the tomatoes and dip them into boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds or till the skin splits.
- Then dip the tomatoes in cold water to slip off the skins. Remove the cores and cut the tomatoes in quarters.
- Place a large saucepan on the gas and heat rapidly and crush some quartered tomatoes in it.
- Keep stirring constantly and add remaining quartered tomatoes gradually. After adding all tomatoes boil gently for 5 minutes.
- Now fill jars with hot tomatoes but leave ½ inch headspace. Now to preserve add 2 tablespoon bottled lemon juice or ½ teaspoon citric acid to each quart jar. To offset the acid taste you can add 1-teaspoon salt and 1-teaspoon sugar per quart. Now clean the rims of the jar and cap them with properly pre-treated lids.
Wait until completely cold before placing in the freezer.
Use up the frozen tomatoes within one year otherwise quality may suffer if frozen longer.
Using these methods of preserving tomatoes will help retain the lovely taste of tomatoes for long period of time.
22 Jan 2007
Tomato Harvesting – A Guide To a Better Harvest
Tomato Harvesting – A Guide To a Better Harvest
Now I know up here in the Northern Hemisphere we have yet to plant our tomatoes, way down South it is tomato harvesting time, So for all you in the Southern Hemisphere that have cleverly found my blog, first well done, second here is something more topical for you.
Tomato harvesting is the time to reap the benefits of extensive labor. Moreover, if the tomato is garden ripe fresh red, then the harvest brings in extra pleasure. The best time for harvesting tomatoes is when the quality is at the highest. For tomato plants, the best quality manifests when the tomatoes have turned red on the vine and are just a little soft when squeezed.
Tips To Harvesting Green Tomatoes Near The End Of The Season
It is essential to harvest all your tomatoes, even the green ones before the frost hits.
The Best Tips For Tomato Harvesting
- Give the roots a little tug to disturb them. This yank will send the signal of “finish” to the plants and will make them understand that it is time to go to seed.
- Reduce watering when the tomatoes have reached almost full size. This will help the tomatoes ripen to red before the first frost hits
- If all these fast methods of outdoor tomato ripening fail then you need not worry. You can easily ripen your green tomatoes indoors. Place them in a cool and dark place like in your basement or garage.
- You can also keep them on a tray covered with newspapers or in brown paper bags. Check the trays every week and remove any ripe fruits or fruits that have already begun to rot. The newspaper covering can speed up the ripening process as it can trap the ethylene gas that the tomatoes give off. If you keep tomatoes in brown paper bags with apple or banana the ripening process will become faster with the ethylene gas given off by these fruits. Let a week pass by and they will start blushing! I mean they will start turning red.
- Light, not warmth is essential for ripening of tomatoes so you do not have to put them on a sunny windowsill. It is better to place them away from direct sunlight where the temperature range is 65 to 70 degree F.
- If the temperature is above 86 degree F, the red color of tomatoes will not form easily. So if you live in an area which has very hot summer then don’t leave the tomatoes on the vine, otherwise it will get a yellowish orange look. It will be better if your tomato harvesting job when they are pink and let them ripen indoors in cooler temperatures.
- There is another process to ripen green tomatoes. Pull the entire tomato plant from the ground and hang it upside down in a cool dark place like a basement or a garage. Don’t hang them too high because as the tomatoes ripen they will fall and too much height can damage your beautiful tomato bodies during fall. You can put an old blanket under the plants on the ground if the surface is hard. You will get better tasting tomatoes as the tomatoes ripe on the vine thus ensuring natural growth of natural sugars.
- If the weatherman suddenly predicts the first frost when your tomato plant is loaded with green fruits, don’t panic. In a light frost you can easily protect the plants by covering them with plastic, burlap bags, big boxes or old sheets. This effort can save your tomato plants because usually the second frost comes after two or three weeks after the first one.
So make your tomato harvesting perfect in any climate.
Now I know up here in the Northern Hemisphere we have yet to plant our tomatoes, way down South it is tomato harvesting time, So for all you in the Southern Hemisphere that have cleverly found my blog, first well done, second here is something more topical for you.
Tomato harvesting is the time to reap the benefits of extensive labor. Moreover, if the tomato is garden ripe fresh red, then the harvest brings in extra pleasure. The best time for harvesting tomatoes is when the quality is at the highest. For tomato plants, the best quality manifests when the tomatoes have turned red on the vine and are just a little soft when squeezed.
Tips To Harvesting Green Tomatoes Near The End Of The Season
It is essential to harvest all your tomatoes, even the green ones before the frost hits.
The Best Tips For Tomato Harvesting
- Give the roots a little tug to disturb them. This yank will send the signal of “finish” to the plants and will make them understand that it is time to go to seed.
- Reduce watering when the tomatoes have reached almost full size. This will help the tomatoes ripen to red before the first frost hits
- If all these fast methods of outdoor tomato ripening fail then you need not worry. You can easily ripen your green tomatoes indoors. Place them in a cool and dark place like in your basement or garage.
- You can also keep them on a tray covered with newspapers or in brown paper bags. Check the trays every week and remove any ripe fruits or fruits that have already begun to rot. The newspaper covering can speed up the ripening process as it can trap the ethylene gas that the tomatoes give off. If you keep tomatoes in brown paper bags with apple or banana the ripening process will become faster with the ethylene gas given off by these fruits. Let a week pass by and they will start blushing! I mean they will start turning red.
- Light, not warmth is essential for ripening of tomatoes so you do not have to put them on a sunny windowsill. It is better to place them away from direct sunlight where the temperature range is 65 to 70 degree F.
- If the temperature is above 86 degree F, the red color of tomatoes will not form easily. So if you live in an area which has very hot summer then don’t leave the tomatoes on the vine, otherwise it will get a yellowish orange look. It will be better if your tomato harvesting job when they are pink and let them ripen indoors in cooler temperatures.
- There is another process to ripen green tomatoes. Pull the entire tomato plant from the ground and hang it upside down in a cool dark place like a basement or a garage. Don’t hang them too high because as the tomatoes ripen they will fall and too much height can damage your beautiful tomato bodies during fall. You can put an old blanket under the plants on the ground if the surface is hard. You will get better tasting tomatoes as the tomatoes ripe on the vine thus ensuring natural growth of natural sugars.
- If the weatherman suddenly predicts the first frost when your tomato plant is loaded with green fruits, don’t panic. In a light frost you can easily protect the plants by covering them with plastic, burlap bags, big boxes or old sheets. This effort can save your tomato plants because usually the second frost comes after two or three weeks after the first one.
So make your tomato harvesting perfect in any climate.
19 Jan 2007
Tips For Growing Tomatoes In Greenhouses
Tips For Growing Tomatoes In Greenhouses
There are several methods for growing tomatoes in greenhouses. Where temperatures fluctuate wildly and late frost are common then a Greenhouse for tomatoes is a good solution. Greenhouse tomato production can use conventional production systems or organic production systems.
Growing Hydroponic Tomatoes
Growing hydroponic tomatoes in the greenhouse has recently picked up. Hydroponic tomatoes are grown in solution without soil in the greenhouses. I will delve into this as time goes on.
All You Need To Know About Growing Tomatoes In Greenhouses
Soil
A grow bag is what you need to enjoy a delicious crop of tomatoes. The bags are packed with fresh, sterile compost and are ready to use as planting containers. Simply transplant plants into the bags in May or June. This avoids all the hassle of disease transferred from last year’s growth.
Optimum Light And Temperature For Indoor Tomato Production
Indoor tomatoes grow best in high light and warm temperatures. The best night temperature for the growth of tomato plants is 60-62 degree F and the day temperature should be between 75 to 80 degree F. Temperature below 60 affects normal pollination and fruit development. In hot weather conditions, tomato greenhouses must be ventilated to keep temperatures below 95 degree F. If you cannot keep the temperature below 95 then pick the fruit that is nearly ripe and finish off indoors, you will get a better end product.
You can control temperature in several ways. Ventilation is best and if your greenhouse is suitably designed, have a gentle movement of air from bottom to top during the daytime and close the bottom vents at night. Alternatively you can use polyethylene to maintain even temperatures throughout the greenhouse. Indoor fans, inside the greenhouse mounted above the crops help to maintain uniform temperature. You should also maintain the proper humidity level to get rid of the tomato diseases.
Low winter light greatly minimizes fruit yield and increases energy cost so it is not advisable to start growing tomatoes in greenhouses from Mid November to Mid February. However, winter greenhouse tomatoes are common in southern Canada and Europe. Greenhouses growing tomatoes in winter usually use expensive supplementary HID lighting and they sell the tomatoes at very high prices. Growing tomatoes in winter depends on the market and consumers, whether there are on demand not.
Tomato Plant Support
Tomato plants must be tied with tomato clips to a string suspended from a strong overhead cable. You should also build up a separate support system within the greenhouse to support the crop. A tomato plant loaded with fruit may weigh 10 to 15 pounds so a strong support system is required.
Pest Control And Management
Often diseases and insects spread in greenhouses like epidemics. But little can be done after the problem has set on. You can use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in both organic and conventional production system to keep pest problems at bay. IPM is a combination of variety of tactics like biological, cultural, pest resistant varieties and physical controls. The use of pesticides is minimized without endangering the yield or quality. Biopesticides, botanicals, insecticidal soaps, and mineral-based pesticides are permitted. An over winter fumigation is a sensible precaution but needs planning, it’s no good remembering to do it the week before moving the tomato plants into the greenhouse. Bit more detail is in the earlier blog on tomato pests and diseases.
Sanitizing Of The Greenhouse
Before planting tomato plants check the greenhouse thoroughly for any tears and openings. Keep weeds and soil borne diseases at bay by removing all plant debris, cull piles and use landscape fabric on the walkways. Your work surface should ideally be of a non-porous material like stainless steel and should be sterilized after each use. Keep your hand, feet and clothing sterilized to reduce cross contamination. If you are a tobacco user use a rinse of 1-3% trisodium phosphate before washing with hot soapy water to prevent Tobacco Mosaic Virus infection in the greenhouse. If there is a contagious disease like bacterial canker sterilize all tools, machinery and electromechanical pollinators at the end of every row with ethanol or 0.5% sodium hypochlorite.
Resistant Variety Seeds
In an organic greenhouse, you can use disease resistant seeds and transplants can prevent tomato epidemics.
Pruning And Suckering For Tomato Plants
In greenhouses, tomato plants are pruned to a single stem. You need to remove all lateral branches or suckers to allow maximum air circulation and to ease up pest control. The suckering must be done on a regular basis, at least once per week.
Follow the rules for growing tomatoes in greenhouses and witness the perfect growth of your greenhouse tomato plants.
There are several methods for growing tomatoes in greenhouses. Where temperatures fluctuate wildly and late frost are common then a Greenhouse for tomatoes is a good solution. Greenhouse tomato production can use conventional production systems or organic production systems.
Growing Hydroponic Tomatoes
Growing hydroponic tomatoes in the greenhouse has recently picked up. Hydroponic tomatoes are grown in solution without soil in the greenhouses. I will delve into this as time goes on.
All You Need To Know About Growing Tomatoes In Greenhouses
Soil
A grow bag is what you need to enjoy a delicious crop of tomatoes. The bags are packed with fresh, sterile compost and are ready to use as planting containers. Simply transplant plants into the bags in May or June. This avoids all the hassle of disease transferred from last year’s growth.
Optimum Light And Temperature For Indoor Tomato Production
Indoor tomatoes grow best in high light and warm temperatures. The best night temperature for the growth of tomato plants is 60-62 degree F and the day temperature should be between 75 to 80 degree F. Temperature below 60 affects normal pollination and fruit development. In hot weather conditions, tomato greenhouses must be ventilated to keep temperatures below 95 degree F. If you cannot keep the temperature below 95 then pick the fruit that is nearly ripe and finish off indoors, you will get a better end product.
You can control temperature in several ways. Ventilation is best and if your greenhouse is suitably designed, have a gentle movement of air from bottom to top during the daytime and close the bottom vents at night. Alternatively you can use polyethylene to maintain even temperatures throughout the greenhouse. Indoor fans, inside the greenhouse mounted above the crops help to maintain uniform temperature. You should also maintain the proper humidity level to get rid of the tomato diseases.
Low winter light greatly minimizes fruit yield and increases energy cost so it is not advisable to start growing tomatoes in greenhouses from Mid November to Mid February. However, winter greenhouse tomatoes are common in southern Canada and Europe. Greenhouses growing tomatoes in winter usually use expensive supplementary HID lighting and they sell the tomatoes at very high prices. Growing tomatoes in winter depends on the market and consumers, whether there are on demand not.
Tomato Plant Support
Tomato plants must be tied with tomato clips to a string suspended from a strong overhead cable. You should also build up a separate support system within the greenhouse to support the crop. A tomato plant loaded with fruit may weigh 10 to 15 pounds so a strong support system is required.
Pest Control And Management
Often diseases and insects spread in greenhouses like epidemics. But little can be done after the problem has set on. You can use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in both organic and conventional production system to keep pest problems at bay. IPM is a combination of variety of tactics like biological, cultural, pest resistant varieties and physical controls. The use of pesticides is minimized without endangering the yield or quality. Biopesticides, botanicals, insecticidal soaps, and mineral-based pesticides are permitted. An over winter fumigation is a sensible precaution but needs planning, it’s no good remembering to do it the week before moving the tomato plants into the greenhouse. Bit more detail is in the earlier blog on tomato pests and diseases.
Sanitizing Of The Greenhouse
Before planting tomato plants check the greenhouse thoroughly for any tears and openings. Keep weeds and soil borne diseases at bay by removing all plant debris, cull piles and use landscape fabric on the walkways. Your work surface should ideally be of a non-porous material like stainless steel and should be sterilized after each use. Keep your hand, feet and clothing sterilized to reduce cross contamination. If you are a tobacco user use a rinse of 1-3% trisodium phosphate before washing with hot soapy water to prevent Tobacco Mosaic Virus infection in the greenhouse. If there is a contagious disease like bacterial canker sterilize all tools, machinery and electromechanical pollinators at the end of every row with ethanol or 0.5% sodium hypochlorite.
Resistant Variety Seeds
In an organic greenhouse, you can use disease resistant seeds and transplants can prevent tomato epidemics.
Pruning And Suckering For Tomato Plants
In greenhouses, tomato plants are pruned to a single stem. You need to remove all lateral branches or suckers to allow maximum air circulation and to ease up pest control. The suckering must be done on a regular basis, at least once per week.
Follow the rules for growing tomatoes in greenhouses and witness the perfect growth of your greenhouse tomato plants.
18 Jan 2007
Secrets Of Growing Tomatoes In Cold climates
The Secrets Of Growing Tomatoes In Cold climates
The area is cold and you don’t have a greenhouse so growing tomato plants at higher elevation and or in cold weather is difficult. So knowing that tomatoes are a popular home garden crop and is easy to grow is not too helpful. Nevertheless, even though there are a number of limitations on growing tomatoes in cold, there are ways to overcome them.
The two main limiting factors in cold weather are late spring frosts and low nighttime temperatures in summer. You have to plant tomatoes early enough so that the fruits can ripen by fall but not too early or they will be damaged by a late spring frost.
Follow These Six Steps Below and Successfully Grow Tomatoes In Cold Climates.
Short Season Varieties
Go for small-fruited quick growing varieties of tomatoes in cold weather conditions. The count of the days start with the planting of a six-inch healthy plant in the garden till the first fruit is ripe. Varieties like Cold Set, Sweet 100, Galina, Olympic, Early Girl, Pixie, Hybrid and Stupice produce good yields.
Planting Tomato Plants Early
Plant six-inch tomato plants by early June. Sow seeds in late April and grow tomatoes under protection from cold. Approximately it will take six months to grow good tomato plants from seeds.
Soil Warming And Soil Preparation
Tomato plants need soil that is moderately fertile but not too high on nitrogen because tomatoes grown on soil rich in nitrogen content will be green and lush but will bear few fruits. After planting tomatoes, water the plants with a starter solution, which has a higher percentage of phosphorous than nitrogen and do not let the plants dry out.
For growing tomatoes select a wind sheltered, warm and sunny part of your garden. Cover the soil with plastic and warm the soil. Surround the newly planted tomato plants with any of the following to create greenhouse effect:
- A plastic milk jug whose top is open and the bottom is cut out
- Keep three to five plastic milk jugs filled with water around the plants
- Surround the plants with a ‘Wall-O-Water’
- A clear plastic wrapped tall cage made up of construction wires
You can get flexibility if you grow tomatoes in five-gallon cans or tubes. You can move the plants into the sun during day and can move them to a protected spot during night.
Flowers To Fruits
Flowers of tomato plants do not set fruit when night temperatures are below 55 degree F. You can prompt fruit setting by covering the plants at night or by spraying young blossoms with “Tomato Bloom Set”. If the flowers can be manually shaken by gently tapping the stem it will help self-pollination.
Improve growth By Covering The Plants With Floating Row Cover And Slitted Clear Plastic
The optimum temperature for growth and development of tomatoes is 65-80 degree F. You can improve tomato growth by using row covers like Tufbell, Agryl, Remay and Kimberly Farms. These row covers help to keep nighttime temperatures up to 10 degree F warmer. You can also use clear plastic but then you must slit or remove it daily to let the hot air out.
Proper Watering For Better Growth
Frequent watering is required when the tomato plants are young. When flowers come, it is best to lessen the frequency but increase the quantity. When the plant bears the first fruit reduce both the quantity and frequency. If the plant is wilted then add water. For starting tomatoes Multi pack pots are good but you can use other containers too.
You can also make a suitable container for starter plants by cutting off the side of a milk carton and punching some drainage holes in the base. Fill the carton with equal parts of sterilized houseplant soil mix and coarse building sand. Soak the mix in water till water comes out of drainage hole and the soil is settled. Now make ¼ inches deep hole in the soil and sow two seeds in each hole. Now cover the seeds with soil and keep it moist and maintain a warm temperature (60-85 F). The seeds will take 5 to 14 days to germinate.
The young plants need more light so choose the site for the seedlings carefully. You can add bright light for 24x7 with a fluorescent or incandescent light, you can get best results if you put the artificial light source 12” to 18” above the plants.
Follow these methods and see how growing tomatoes in cold become easier.
The area is cold and you don’t have a greenhouse so growing tomato plants at higher elevation and or in cold weather is difficult. So knowing that tomatoes are a popular home garden crop and is easy to grow is not too helpful. Nevertheless, even though there are a number of limitations on growing tomatoes in cold, there are ways to overcome them.
The two main limiting factors in cold weather are late spring frosts and low nighttime temperatures in summer. You have to plant tomatoes early enough so that the fruits can ripen by fall but not too early or they will be damaged by a late spring frost.
Follow These Six Steps Below and Successfully Grow Tomatoes In Cold Climates.
Short Season Varieties
Go for small-fruited quick growing varieties of tomatoes in cold weather conditions. The count of the days start with the planting of a six-inch healthy plant in the garden till the first fruit is ripe. Varieties like Cold Set, Sweet 100, Galina, Olympic, Early Girl, Pixie, Hybrid and Stupice produce good yields.
Planting Tomato Plants Early
Plant six-inch tomato plants by early June. Sow seeds in late April and grow tomatoes under protection from cold. Approximately it will take six months to grow good tomato plants from seeds.
Soil Warming And Soil Preparation
Tomato plants need soil that is moderately fertile but not too high on nitrogen because tomatoes grown on soil rich in nitrogen content will be green and lush but will bear few fruits. After planting tomatoes, water the plants with a starter solution, which has a higher percentage of phosphorous than nitrogen and do not let the plants dry out.
For growing tomatoes select a wind sheltered, warm and sunny part of your garden. Cover the soil with plastic and warm the soil. Surround the newly planted tomato plants with any of the following to create greenhouse effect:
- A plastic milk jug whose top is open and the bottom is cut out
- Keep three to five plastic milk jugs filled with water around the plants
- Surround the plants with a ‘Wall-O-Water’
- A clear plastic wrapped tall cage made up of construction wires
You can get flexibility if you grow tomatoes in five-gallon cans or tubes. You can move the plants into the sun during day and can move them to a protected spot during night.
Flowers To Fruits
Flowers of tomato plants do not set fruit when night temperatures are below 55 degree F. You can prompt fruit setting by covering the plants at night or by spraying young blossoms with “Tomato Bloom Set”. If the flowers can be manually shaken by gently tapping the stem it will help self-pollination.
Improve growth By Covering The Plants With Floating Row Cover And Slitted Clear Plastic
The optimum temperature for growth and development of tomatoes is 65-80 degree F. You can improve tomato growth by using row covers like Tufbell, Agryl, Remay and Kimberly Farms. These row covers help to keep nighttime temperatures up to 10 degree F warmer. You can also use clear plastic but then you must slit or remove it daily to let the hot air out.
Proper Watering For Better Growth
Frequent watering is required when the tomato plants are young. When flowers come, it is best to lessen the frequency but increase the quantity. When the plant bears the first fruit reduce both the quantity and frequency. If the plant is wilted then add water. For starting tomatoes Multi pack pots are good but you can use other containers too.
You can also make a suitable container for starter plants by cutting off the side of a milk carton and punching some drainage holes in the base. Fill the carton with equal parts of sterilized houseplant soil mix and coarse building sand. Soak the mix in water till water comes out of drainage hole and the soil is settled. Now make ¼ inches deep hole in the soil and sow two seeds in each hole. Now cover the seeds with soil and keep it moist and maintain a warm temperature (60-85 F). The seeds will take 5 to 14 days to germinate.
The young plants need more light so choose the site for the seedlings carefully. You can add bright light for 24x7 with a fluorescent or incandescent light, you can get best results if you put the artificial light source 12” to 18” above the plants.
Follow these methods and see how growing tomatoes in cold become easier.
17 Jan 2007
How To Grow Tomatoes
A Guide On How To Grow Tomatoes
Here in the Northern hemisphere our thoughts are turning to spring and sowing seeds.
Eating tomatoes is great, growing your own makes it even better so, know the particulars of how to grow tomatoes and have a beautiful tomato selection in your garden. Tomatoes are a popular home crop and growing tomatoes is quite easy. First, choose methods for raising, then choose the variety you want to grow. Amongst the various blogs I have produced there should be all you need to get you started.
How To Grow Tomatoes
Sowing Tomato Seeds
Sow the tomato seeds in a pot or seed tray towards the end of April. (If you are in the Southern Hemisphere then please take off 6 months as you are so far ahead of the rest of us.) Fill up a 3-inch pot with seed compost, firm the surface lightly and then water the pot. Scatter the seeds thinly, cover them with a small amount of compost and then label the pot. Always keep the compost moist but do not over water and create a waterlogged disaster. Use top quality peat free compost. Leave them to germinate at a place, which is warm, and frost-free like a windowsill.
For starting even earlier try placing a damp sheet of kitchen roll in a shallow tray sprinkle the seeds then cover with a second damp sheet of kitchen roll, place this all inside a plastic bag and put into your airing cupboard.
Handling Tomato Seeds
Let the tomato plants grow large enough so that you can handle them easily. Now, with a dibber, prick out a single seedling fetching as many roots with it as possible. Hold a leaf and lift the seedling gently. Try to avoid the stem as it can get easily damaged.
Planting Tomato Seedlings
Plant the tomato seedling in its own 3-inch pot of seed compost. Softly position it into its place and water. Keep it in a frost-free, well-lit and warm location. Turn the pot daily if you have placed it on a windowsill.
Growing on the Tomato Plants
When you see the roots of the tomato plant are growing through the drainage holes transfer the tomato plant into a 5-inch growing tomato container. Be careful to prevent the roots from damaging and water the pot well. If the plant has grown very tall, tie it to a cane for support.
Planting Out Tomato Plants
Add organic matters into the soil. Drive a strong stake around 0.75 inches (19mm) diameter into the soil after the threat of frost has passed. Then dig a hole into the soil next to the stake that is a little deeper than the height of the tomato plant’s pot. Then place the tomato plant in the hole and firm in the ground. Feed the plants with high potash fertilizers for a healthy growth. More on growing tomatoes in greenhouses will follow very soon.
Staking Of Tomato Plants
Tie the plant’s stem loosely to the stake with soft twine. Check the ties regularly throughout the growing process of tomatoes and to prevent stem damage loosen the ties occasionally. Plant the next tomato 18 inch away from the first plant so that the ripening fruits can get sunlight.
Remove Side Shoots From The Tomato Plant
The full energy of the plant should be channeled into the fruits but the side shoots often hinder the process. So you must nip out any side shoots developing between the leaf and the stem, use your thumb and finger for this job.
Harvest Of Tomatoes
After the fruits have ripened, bend back the fruit at the notch on the stem to pick it. You can eat the fruits immediately or can store them for a week in the fridge. Help the remaining fruits mature by feeding and watering them continually.
Some Brilliant Tips For Better Tomato Growing
- Sow the seeds six to eight weeks before the expected last frosts
- Label the seed pot with the “variety name” and date of sowing
- 59 F to 68 F is the best temperature for the germination of tomato seeds
- Place the tomato plants outside during the day for a few weeks to harden them off before planting them out
- The site of planting should contain organic matters
- After the first flower-bearing truss has formed, the tomato plant is ready for planting out
- Water the plants regularly to prevent the fruit’s skin from splitting
- When four trusses have borne fruit, remove the growing tip to make ripening faster
- During summer, remove weeds from around the tomato plants for better growth
These “how to grow tomato easy tips” will make your garden flourish with healthy tomato plants.
Here in the Northern hemisphere our thoughts are turning to spring and sowing seeds.
Eating tomatoes is great, growing your own makes it even better so, know the particulars of how to grow tomatoes and have a beautiful tomato selection in your garden. Tomatoes are a popular home crop and growing tomatoes is quite easy. First, choose methods for raising, then choose the variety you want to grow. Amongst the various blogs I have produced there should be all you need to get you started.
How To Grow Tomatoes
Sowing Tomato Seeds
Sow the tomato seeds in a pot or seed tray towards the end of April. (If you are in the Southern Hemisphere then please take off 6 months as you are so far ahead of the rest of us.) Fill up a 3-inch pot with seed compost, firm the surface lightly and then water the pot. Scatter the seeds thinly, cover them with a small amount of compost and then label the pot. Always keep the compost moist but do not over water and create a waterlogged disaster. Use top quality peat free compost. Leave them to germinate at a place, which is warm, and frost-free like a windowsill.
For starting even earlier try placing a damp sheet of kitchen roll in a shallow tray sprinkle the seeds then cover with a second damp sheet of kitchen roll, place this all inside a plastic bag and put into your airing cupboard.
Handling Tomato Seeds
Let the tomato plants grow large enough so that you can handle them easily. Now, with a dibber, prick out a single seedling fetching as many roots with it as possible. Hold a leaf and lift the seedling gently. Try to avoid the stem as it can get easily damaged.
Planting Tomato Seedlings
Plant the tomato seedling in its own 3-inch pot of seed compost. Softly position it into its place and water. Keep it in a frost-free, well-lit and warm location. Turn the pot daily if you have placed it on a windowsill.
Growing on the Tomato Plants
When you see the roots of the tomato plant are growing through the drainage holes transfer the tomato plant into a 5-inch growing tomato container. Be careful to prevent the roots from damaging and water the pot well. If the plant has grown very tall, tie it to a cane for support.
Planting Out Tomato Plants
Add organic matters into the soil. Drive a strong stake around 0.75 inches (19mm) diameter into the soil after the threat of frost has passed. Then dig a hole into the soil next to the stake that is a little deeper than the height of the tomato plant’s pot. Then place the tomato plant in the hole and firm in the ground. Feed the plants with high potash fertilizers for a healthy growth. More on growing tomatoes in greenhouses will follow very soon.
Staking Of Tomato Plants
Tie the plant’s stem loosely to the stake with soft twine. Check the ties regularly throughout the growing process of tomatoes and to prevent stem damage loosen the ties occasionally. Plant the next tomato 18 inch away from the first plant so that the ripening fruits can get sunlight.
Remove Side Shoots From The Tomato Plant
The full energy of the plant should be channeled into the fruits but the side shoots often hinder the process. So you must nip out any side shoots developing between the leaf and the stem, use your thumb and finger for this job.
Harvest Of Tomatoes
After the fruits have ripened, bend back the fruit at the notch on the stem to pick it. You can eat the fruits immediately or can store them for a week in the fridge. Help the remaining fruits mature by feeding and watering them continually.
Some Brilliant Tips For Better Tomato Growing
- Sow the seeds six to eight weeks before the expected last frosts
- Label the seed pot with the “variety name” and date of sowing
- 59 F to 68 F is the best temperature for the germination of tomato seeds
- Place the tomato plants outside during the day for a few weeks to harden them off before planting them out
- The site of planting should contain organic matters
- After the first flower-bearing truss has formed, the tomato plant is ready for planting out
- Water the plants regularly to prevent the fruit’s skin from splitting
- When four trusses have borne fruit, remove the growing tip to make ripening faster
- During summer, remove weeds from around the tomato plants for better growth
These “how to grow tomato easy tips” will make your garden flourish with healthy tomato plants.
16 Jan 2007
Different Tomato Plant Varieties
Everything You Wanted To Know On Different Tomato Plant Varieties
Tomato plant varieties start from huge beef tomatoes to small thumbnail like cherry tomatoes. Along with variety of tomatoes, shapes of tomatoes vary too. Tomatoes can be of different forms such as plum or pear shaped tomatoes. They are still working on a square one for the sandwich market!
Different Tomato Plant Varieties
Beefsteak Tomatoes:
This is the biggest tomato variety. Beafsteak tomatoes are large, ridged and deep red or orange in color. The pulp cavities of these tomatoes are small and this gives these tomatoes the ‘marbled’ appearance of a steak. With good flavor, these tomato plant varieties turn out to be the best for salads. The flavors of the tomatoes differ depending on the relative amount of sugar or acid present. Between the tomato plant varieties there are lot of variation regarding the density of the flesh, the juiciness and size and softness of the central core. Big Beef F1 Staking variety (best main season variety of tomatoes), Brandywine Staking variety and Big Rainbow Staking variety (main season tomato variety) are three-beefsteak tomato varieties. Brandywine staking varieties have no disease resistance so are unsuitable for hot humid weather where disease can be a difficulty.
Cherry Tomatoes
This dainty tomato variety is a darling of the gardeners. These tomatoes are very expensive but the delightful sweet flavor justifies the extra cash you have to pay. Good for salads and cooking. Of course if you grow them yourself you can be very smug when you see just how much they cost to buy!
Plum Tomatoes
This tomato variety is Italian grown and has fewer seeds than the round tomato. With rich flavor these are one of the best tomato varieties for cooking.
Heatmaster
These variety of tomatoes are ideal for sultry Southern gardens where the temperature is 95 degrees or more. These tomatoes are disease resistant and just 75 days is needed for growing these tomatoes.
Patio King
These excellent tasting tomatoes are perfect for container gardening and it takes 70 days for growing tomatoes of this variety. This tomato plant variety is disease resistant.
Goliath
This is a spotless tomato with deep red wrinkle-free skin and sweet and succulent fruits. This disease resistant tomato can grow anywhere and can produce huge numbers on 65 days.
Two Best Tomato Varieties From Russia
Russian Black Tomato
This rare tomato variety originated in Russia from the lower Ukraine. This tomato is known as ‘Czerno Tomat” in Russia. This is really a Russian beauty of dark maroon color and round to egg like shapes. This tomato has very firm flesh and superb taste and it is produced very early and very heavily throughout the season.
The Black Tula Tomato
This is another Russian tomato variety, known as “Czerno Tulski Tomat" and weighs up to 12 ounces. This tomato has a dusky brown to mauve black complexion. This Russian beefsteak tomato variety has green shoulders and takes 75 days to mature. This dusky beauty has a smoky taste and salty flavor.
Soil Quality For Best Tomato Varieties
For any variety of tomatoes, the soil should be loose and rich so that the tomato plants can spread their roots quickly. To enrich the soil, dig organic matter into your garden. Add organic compost in the springtime while amending the soil and add lime if needed. Neutral to slightly acidic soil is best for growing tomatoes. The best pH for absorption of the nutrients is 6.5 to 7.0. Keep the soil in the lower part of the range to avoid “yellow shoulder”.
Cold Climate Tomatoes
Tomatoes need sunlight and a proper amount of heat for perfect growth. Cold climate tomatoes are tomato plant varieties, which grows in short growing season conditions. These tomatoes mature earlier and they are suited for shorter growing seasons. It is not that you cannot grow tomatoes in winter. But you will require extra planning and arrangements like heater, greenhouse and lighting for that.
Choose the finest among the superb tomato plant varieties for your garden and reap the fruits of benefit.
Tomato plant varieties start from huge beef tomatoes to small thumbnail like cherry tomatoes. Along with variety of tomatoes, shapes of tomatoes vary too. Tomatoes can be of different forms such as plum or pear shaped tomatoes. They are still working on a square one for the sandwich market!
Different Tomato Plant Varieties
Beefsteak Tomatoes:
This is the biggest tomato variety. Beafsteak tomatoes are large, ridged and deep red or orange in color. The pulp cavities of these tomatoes are small and this gives these tomatoes the ‘marbled’ appearance of a steak. With good flavor, these tomato plant varieties turn out to be the best for salads. The flavors of the tomatoes differ depending on the relative amount of sugar or acid present. Between the tomato plant varieties there are lot of variation regarding the density of the flesh, the juiciness and size and softness of the central core. Big Beef F1 Staking variety (best main season variety of tomatoes), Brandywine Staking variety and Big Rainbow Staking variety (main season tomato variety) are three-beefsteak tomato varieties. Brandywine staking varieties have no disease resistance so are unsuitable for hot humid weather where disease can be a difficulty.
Cherry Tomatoes
This dainty tomato variety is a darling of the gardeners. These tomatoes are very expensive but the delightful sweet flavor justifies the extra cash you have to pay. Good for salads and cooking. Of course if you grow them yourself you can be very smug when you see just how much they cost to buy!
Plum Tomatoes
This tomato variety is Italian grown and has fewer seeds than the round tomato. With rich flavor these are one of the best tomato varieties for cooking.
Heatmaster
These variety of tomatoes are ideal for sultry Southern gardens where the temperature is 95 degrees or more. These tomatoes are disease resistant and just 75 days is needed for growing these tomatoes.
Patio King
These excellent tasting tomatoes are perfect for container gardening and it takes 70 days for growing tomatoes of this variety. This tomato plant variety is disease resistant.
Goliath
This is a spotless tomato with deep red wrinkle-free skin and sweet and succulent fruits. This disease resistant tomato can grow anywhere and can produce huge numbers on 65 days.
Two Best Tomato Varieties From Russia
Russian Black Tomato
This rare tomato variety originated in Russia from the lower Ukraine. This tomato is known as ‘Czerno Tomat” in Russia. This is really a Russian beauty of dark maroon color and round to egg like shapes. This tomato has very firm flesh and superb taste and it is produced very early and very heavily throughout the season.
The Black Tula Tomato
This is another Russian tomato variety, known as “Czerno Tulski Tomat" and weighs up to 12 ounces. This tomato has a dusky brown to mauve black complexion. This Russian beefsteak tomato variety has green shoulders and takes 75 days to mature. This dusky beauty has a smoky taste and salty flavor.
Soil Quality For Best Tomato Varieties
For any variety of tomatoes, the soil should be loose and rich so that the tomato plants can spread their roots quickly. To enrich the soil, dig organic matter into your garden. Add organic compost in the springtime while amending the soil and add lime if needed. Neutral to slightly acidic soil is best for growing tomatoes. The best pH for absorption of the nutrients is 6.5 to 7.0. Keep the soil in the lower part of the range to avoid “yellow shoulder”.
Cold Climate Tomatoes
Tomatoes need sunlight and a proper amount of heat for perfect growth. Cold climate tomatoes are tomato plant varieties, which grows in short growing season conditions. These tomatoes mature earlier and they are suited for shorter growing seasons. It is not that you cannot grow tomatoes in winter. But you will require extra planning and arrangements like heater, greenhouse and lighting for that.
Choose the finest among the superb tomato plant varieties for your garden and reap the fruits of benefit.
15 Jan 2007
Tomato Pest and Diseases
A Guide On Tomato Pest and Diseases
A tomato pest attack will destroy the health and beauty of your tomato plants within a few days. It is wise to first know the enemies of your tomato plant and then fight back by following some easy control measures.
Recognize Some Major Tomato Plant Pests before they become a problem.
Tomato Fruitworm
The early instars are cream or yellowish green with few markings and the late instars are green, reddish or brown with pale stripes and scattered black spots. They are up to 44 mm long, moderately hairy and have 3 pairs of legs and 5 pairs of prolegs. They chew holes in fruits and buds.
Control
- You can use Bt or Bacillus thuringiensis to control tomato fruitworm organically
- You can also treat the tomato plants with Sevin 5% dust. Use it every 5 to 7 days when the fruit begins to set. Once the pests get inside, the fruit pesticide will have little or no effect.
Wireworms
This is another common tomato pest. Adult wireworms lay eggs around the grass root of tomato plants. The larvae generally takes one week to hatch. The fully developed wireworm larvae are 1.2 to 4 cm long and are yellow, white or darker shades of brown in color. Do not confuse millipedes with wireworms. Millipedes have numerous pairs of legs and coil up when bothered. Wireworms have three pairs of legs near the front of the body and they do not coil up.
Control
- Scrutinize the fields prior to planting and don’t plant tomato plants on soil, which are susceptible to wireworms.
Blister Beetle
These tomato plant pests are slender and ½ to ¾ inches long with gray, black or striped body. They feed on the leaves of tomato plants but the larvae eat grasshopper’s eggs and are therefore advantageous.
Control
- You can hand pick them but always wear gloves as these pests extrude a caustic fluid in self-defense.
- You can chemically control these tomato plant pests with pyrethrins and 5% Sevin.
Stink Bugs
A stinkbug is a dangerous tomato pest. The adult stinkbugs are up to 5/8inch long and 3 inch wide of green, brown and black in color with or without stripes. The nymphs are smaller but otherwise resemble the adults. These tomato pests discharge a foul odour. They weaken the plants by sucking sap from the plants and the fruits thus causing malformation of buds and young fruits.
Control
- Controlling weeds in the garden area can prevent growth of some species of stinkbugs
- Organic or biological control includes dusting with sabadilla
- For chemical control you can use sevin 5% dust but do not use within 5 days of harvest
Other common tomato pests are aphids, spider mites, flee beetles, cabbage looper, and greenhouse whitefly.
Some Common Tomato Plant Diseases
Late Blight
Late blight is a common fungal tomato disease and is most common under cool moist conditions. In this disease, irregular greenish black water soaked areas can be seen on older leaves. When the fruit is infected, it remains firm but becomes rough with greasy greenish brown patches.
Control
- Apply fungicide sprays
Bacterial Speck And Spot
These two are bacteria borne tomato diseases. In these diseases, small dark spots appear on the fruit and black spots appear on the leaves with a yellow border .
Control
- Use a fungicide seed protectant.
- If the disease appears in the greenhouse or your garden, apply suitable fungicide plus copper sprays. To increase efficacy pre mix the spray for 90 minutes or longer
Tomato Mosaic Virus
In this viral tomato disease, light and dark green patches appear on the leaves of the plant and sometimes on the green fruit. The ripening of the fruits can be uneven with internal brown streaks.
Control
- Follow sanitation measures strictly while working with plants
- Do not unnecessarily touch the plants because this highly infectious virus spreads simply by touching
So apply the suitable control measures and keep tomato pest problem at bay.
A tomato pest attack will destroy the health and beauty of your tomato plants within a few days. It is wise to first know the enemies of your tomato plant and then fight back by following some easy control measures.
Recognize Some Major Tomato Plant Pests before they become a problem.
Tomato Fruitworm
The early instars are cream or yellowish green with few markings and the late instars are green, reddish or brown with pale stripes and scattered black spots. They are up to 44 mm long, moderately hairy and have 3 pairs of legs and 5 pairs of prolegs. They chew holes in fruits and buds.
Control
- You can use Bt or Bacillus thuringiensis to control tomato fruitworm organically
- You can also treat the tomato plants with Sevin 5% dust. Use it every 5 to 7 days when the fruit begins to set. Once the pests get inside, the fruit pesticide will have little or no effect.
Wireworms
This is another common tomato pest. Adult wireworms lay eggs around the grass root of tomato plants. The larvae generally takes one week to hatch. The fully developed wireworm larvae are 1.2 to 4 cm long and are yellow, white or darker shades of brown in color. Do not confuse millipedes with wireworms. Millipedes have numerous pairs of legs and coil up when bothered. Wireworms have three pairs of legs near the front of the body and they do not coil up.
Control
- Scrutinize the fields prior to planting and don’t plant tomato plants on soil, which are susceptible to wireworms.
Blister Beetle
These tomato plant pests are slender and ½ to ¾ inches long with gray, black or striped body. They feed on the leaves of tomato plants but the larvae eat grasshopper’s eggs and are therefore advantageous.
Control
- You can hand pick them but always wear gloves as these pests extrude a caustic fluid in self-defense.
- You can chemically control these tomato plant pests with pyrethrins and 5% Sevin.
Stink Bugs
A stinkbug is a dangerous tomato pest. The adult stinkbugs are up to 5/8inch long and 3 inch wide of green, brown and black in color with or without stripes. The nymphs are smaller but otherwise resemble the adults. These tomato pests discharge a foul odour. They weaken the plants by sucking sap from the plants and the fruits thus causing malformation of buds and young fruits.
Control
- Controlling weeds in the garden area can prevent growth of some species of stinkbugs
- Organic or biological control includes dusting with sabadilla
- For chemical control you can use sevin 5% dust but do not use within 5 days of harvest
Other common tomato pests are aphids, spider mites, flee beetles, cabbage looper, and greenhouse whitefly.
Some Common Tomato Plant Diseases
Late Blight
Late blight is a common fungal tomato disease and is most common under cool moist conditions. In this disease, irregular greenish black water soaked areas can be seen on older leaves. When the fruit is infected, it remains firm but becomes rough with greasy greenish brown patches.
Control
- Apply fungicide sprays
Bacterial Speck And Spot
These two are bacteria borne tomato diseases. In these diseases, small dark spots appear on the fruit and black spots appear on the leaves with a yellow border .
Control
- Use a fungicide seed protectant.
- If the disease appears in the greenhouse or your garden, apply suitable fungicide plus copper sprays. To increase efficacy pre mix the spray for 90 minutes or longer
Tomato Mosaic Virus
In this viral tomato disease, light and dark green patches appear on the leaves of the plant and sometimes on the green fruit. The ripening of the fruits can be uneven with internal brown streaks.
Control
- Follow sanitation measures strictly while working with plants
- Do not unnecessarily touch the plants because this highly infectious virus spreads simply by touching
So apply the suitable control measures and keep tomato pest problem at bay.
14 Jan 2007
Health Benefits Of Tomatoes
Health Benefits Of Tomatoes
Isn’t it great that tomatoes look good, taste good and by golly do you good. There are numerous health benefits of tomatoes. If you start from fundamentals, tomatoes contain large amounts of Vitamin C benefits and are high on antioxidants vitamins like beta carotene and vitamin E. There are approximately 25 calories in tomato. Tomatoes contain 10 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of iron for men and 7 percent RDA for women.
Tomatoes are an excellent fruit with loads of nutrients for excellent health.
Some Major Health Benefits of Tomatoes
Lycopene
Lycopene is the red pigment contained in the tomatoes. It is a compound, which acts as an antioxidant neutralizing free radicals in the body and provides protection to cells and other structures in the body from oxygen damage. Another antioxidant property of lycopene is prevention of heart disease. Studies have revealed this cartenoid’s cancer preventing properties too.
Unlike other food phytonutrients whose effects have been studied only on animals effects of lycopene have been studied on humans repeatedly. These studies have revealed that lycopene provides protection against a growing list of cancers, including prostate, breast, endometrial, colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancers.
How To Get Optimum Health Benefits From Tomatoes
- To get highest amount of lycopene, choose organic tomatoes, which give thrice as much of lycopene than the non-organic brands. One organic brand of ketchup delivers 183 micrograms of lycopene per gram where as per gram of non-organic brands deliver 60 to 100 micrograms of lycopene.
- Lycopene provides maximum cancer protection when consumed with fat rich foods like avocado, olive oil or nuts because lycopene being a cartenoid is fat-soluble. It is absorbed into the body along with fats.
Antioxidant Properties Of Tomatoes
Tomatoes provide excellent Vitamin A and Vitamin C benefits. Vitamin A is notable through its concentration of cartenoids including betacarotene. These antioxidants protect the cells and cell membranes from the harmful free radicals. High intake of these antioxidants reduces the risk of several diseases like asthma, colon cancer, progression of atherosclerosis, diabetic complications and rising inflammation.
Tomatoes Are A Good Source Of Fibre
Tomatoes are a good source of fibre providing 7.9 % DV for fibre. Thus tomatoes can prevent climb of blood sugar level, prevent colon cancer and can lower high cholesterol levels.
Tomatoes Can Reduce Heart Disease Risk
Researches have shown that the lycopene in tomatoes provide cardiovascular benefits and a dietary consumption of lycopene can protect the body from heart diseases.
Tomatoes are great sources of potassium, niacin, Vitamin B6 and folate. Foods rich in potassium has been shown to lower high blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular risks, niacin is a safe way to lower high blood pressure thus curbing the risk of heart diseases. The body needs Vitamin B6 and folate for converting a potentially dangerous chemical called homocysteine into benevolent molecules, Homocysteine can directly damage blood vessel thus increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
A cup of tomato gives you 11.4 % of DV for potassium, 5.6% of the DV for niacin, 7.0 % of DV for B6 and 6.8 % of the DV for folate.
Tomatoes- Antidote To Blood Clotting Tendencies
Tomato juice with its blood thinning properties reduces higher risk of blood clotting tendencies. Tomatoes are most beneficial for people with high cholesterol, frequent long distance travelers, smokers and all those who have recently undergone a surgery.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties Of Tomatoes
Researches have shown that a daily glass of tomato juice (Lyc-o-Mato) can lower TNF-alpha, one of the primary markers of inflammation. Production of excessive free radicals within cells known as oxidative stress and the resulting inflammatory compounds like TNF alpha has a virtual link with diseases like osteoporosis, atherosclerosis (hardening of the walls of the arteries), cardiovascular disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Lyc-o-Mato tomato juice contains a list of potent antioxidants like 3.7 mg of phytoene, 2.7 mg of phytofluene, 5.7 mg of lycopene, 1 mg beta-carotene, and 1.8 mg of the alpha-tocopherol fraction of vitamin E.
Tomatoes For Bone Health
One cup of raw tomato contains 17.8% of the DV of Vitamin K. Vitamin K plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health. Vitamin K1 stimulates osteocalcin - the major non-collagen protein in bone, which anchors calcium molecules inside the bone. Thus inadequate levels of Vitamin K mean inadequate levels of osteocalcin thus hindering bone materialization.
Tomatoes Reduce Migraine Attacks And Diabetes
Tomatoes being good source of riboflavin often help to reduce frequency of migraine attacks. A cup of tomato contains 5.3% of DV for riboflavin.
Tomatoes also contain good amount of chromium, which helps to keep blood sugar levels under control. A cup of tomato contains 7.5% of the DV for chromium.
So take tomato in any form, tomato soup, tomato slice on a sandwich or tomato sauces and reap some best health benefits of tomatoes.
Isn’t it great that tomatoes look good, taste good and by golly do you good. There are numerous health benefits of tomatoes. If you start from fundamentals, tomatoes contain large amounts of Vitamin C benefits and are high on antioxidants vitamins like beta carotene and vitamin E. There are approximately 25 calories in tomato. Tomatoes contain 10 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of iron for men and 7 percent RDA for women.
Tomatoes are an excellent fruit with loads of nutrients for excellent health.
Some Major Health Benefits of Tomatoes
Lycopene
Lycopene is the red pigment contained in the tomatoes. It is a compound, which acts as an antioxidant neutralizing free radicals in the body and provides protection to cells and other structures in the body from oxygen damage. Another antioxidant property of lycopene is prevention of heart disease. Studies have revealed this cartenoid’s cancer preventing properties too.
Unlike other food phytonutrients whose effects have been studied only on animals effects of lycopene have been studied on humans repeatedly. These studies have revealed that lycopene provides protection against a growing list of cancers, including prostate, breast, endometrial, colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancers.
How To Get Optimum Health Benefits From Tomatoes
- To get highest amount of lycopene, choose organic tomatoes, which give thrice as much of lycopene than the non-organic brands. One organic brand of ketchup delivers 183 micrograms of lycopene per gram where as per gram of non-organic brands deliver 60 to 100 micrograms of lycopene.
- Lycopene provides maximum cancer protection when consumed with fat rich foods like avocado, olive oil or nuts because lycopene being a cartenoid is fat-soluble. It is absorbed into the body along with fats.
Antioxidant Properties Of Tomatoes
Tomatoes provide excellent Vitamin A and Vitamin C benefits. Vitamin A is notable through its concentration of cartenoids including betacarotene. These antioxidants protect the cells and cell membranes from the harmful free radicals. High intake of these antioxidants reduces the risk of several diseases like asthma, colon cancer, progression of atherosclerosis, diabetic complications and rising inflammation.
Tomatoes Are A Good Source Of Fibre
Tomatoes are a good source of fibre providing 7.9 % DV for fibre. Thus tomatoes can prevent climb of blood sugar level, prevent colon cancer and can lower high cholesterol levels.
Tomatoes Can Reduce Heart Disease Risk
Researches have shown that the lycopene in tomatoes provide cardiovascular benefits and a dietary consumption of lycopene can protect the body from heart diseases.
Tomatoes are great sources of potassium, niacin, Vitamin B6 and folate. Foods rich in potassium has been shown to lower high blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular risks, niacin is a safe way to lower high blood pressure thus curbing the risk of heart diseases. The body needs Vitamin B6 and folate for converting a potentially dangerous chemical called homocysteine into benevolent molecules, Homocysteine can directly damage blood vessel thus increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
A cup of tomato gives you 11.4 % of DV for potassium, 5.6% of the DV for niacin, 7.0 % of DV for B6 and 6.8 % of the DV for folate.
Tomatoes- Antidote To Blood Clotting Tendencies
Tomato juice with its blood thinning properties reduces higher risk of blood clotting tendencies. Tomatoes are most beneficial for people with high cholesterol, frequent long distance travelers, smokers and all those who have recently undergone a surgery.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties Of Tomatoes
Researches have shown that a daily glass of tomato juice (Lyc-o-Mato) can lower TNF-alpha, one of the primary markers of inflammation. Production of excessive free radicals within cells known as oxidative stress and the resulting inflammatory compounds like TNF alpha has a virtual link with diseases like osteoporosis, atherosclerosis (hardening of the walls of the arteries), cardiovascular disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Lyc-o-Mato tomato juice contains a list of potent antioxidants like 3.7 mg of phytoene, 2.7 mg of phytofluene, 5.7 mg of lycopene, 1 mg beta-carotene, and 1.8 mg of the alpha-tocopherol fraction of vitamin E.
Tomatoes For Bone Health
One cup of raw tomato contains 17.8% of the DV of Vitamin K. Vitamin K plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health. Vitamin K1 stimulates osteocalcin - the major non-collagen protein in bone, which anchors calcium molecules inside the bone. Thus inadequate levels of Vitamin K mean inadequate levels of osteocalcin thus hindering bone materialization.
Tomatoes Reduce Migraine Attacks And Diabetes
Tomatoes being good source of riboflavin often help to reduce frequency of migraine attacks. A cup of tomato contains 5.3% of DV for riboflavin.
Tomatoes also contain good amount of chromium, which helps to keep blood sugar levels under control. A cup of tomato contains 7.5% of the DV for chromium.
So take tomato in any form, tomato soup, tomato slice on a sandwich or tomato sauces and reap some best health benefits of tomatoes.
13 Jan 2007
The Fascinating History Of Tomatoes
The Fascinating History Of Tomatoes
The history of tomatoes is a rich story with amazing facts. If you dig into the tomato history you will know that tomato is one of the few crops, which are native to the Western Hemisphere. The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a plant of the Solanaceae family. The word “tomato” is derived from the word ‘tomatl’ in the Nahuatl language. The tomatoes originated in the coastal highlands of western South America. From there the tomatoes traveled to Central America where the Mayan Indians used them as food. Then tomatoes traveled eastward to Europe with the conquest of Mexico in 1519. By 1900 tomatoes become a staple diet for Americans.
Digging Into The History Of Tomatoes
The origins of tomato history can be traced back around 700 A.D to the early Aztecs. They knew how to grow tomato. So the tomato is a native plant of America. Tomato reached Europe around 16th century when the early explorers started exploring new lands.
French botanist Tournefort christened tomato in Latin and botany by the name of Lycopersicon esculentum, which translates to “wolfpeach” in English. The tomato was considered a peach because of its roundness and succulence and ‘wolf’ because it was thought mistakenly as poisonous. Tournefort mistook tomato for the wolfpeach referred to by Galen in third century in his writings as a toothsome package used to destroy wolves. The Europeans thought the bright and shiny tomatoes of the Spanish to be poisonous.
Cortez discovered tomatoes growing in Montezuma's gardens in 1519 and brought tomato seeds to Europe. The tomato plants were planted in Europe ornamentally but tomatoes were not eaten as they were thought to be poisonous. Probably the first variety to reach Europe was yellow in color. In Europe, these tomatoes were known as ‘pomi d’oro’ or yellow apples. The first place outside South America where Tomatoes were cultivated was Italy.
The journey of tomato was set in motion when soup mogul Joseph Campbell created condensed tomato soup. This soup also took the company to soaring heights and made tomato popular to general public. However, the first recipe of tomato soup is credited to Maria Parloa who penned the recipe of tomato chowder in her 1872 recipe book.
The History Of Tomatoes Throughout The World
Spain
After Spain conquered America the Spanish distributed tomatoes throughout their Caribbean colonies. They also introduced tomatoes to Philippines from where it traveled to Asia. The Spanish introduced tomatoes in Europe and it grew easily in Mediterranean climates.
Italy
In Italy, tomato was first used decoratively till the peasants discovered that tomatoes could be eaten. Thus, the culinary development centering tomato started in around 18th century.
Britain
John Gerard was a barber-surgeon and one of the earliest cultivators of tomato in England. His writing ‘Herbal’ published in 1597 was one of the earliest discussions on tomato in England. He believed tomato to be poisonous.
However, by the mid 1700, British people started eating tomatoes widely and this acceptance is clearly stamped by the end of the century in Encyclopedia Britannica, which stated tomato as "in daily use" as garnish, on soups and broths.
Thus, the fascinating history of tomatoes entered the recent age of numerous uses for tomatoes. More will be revealed as the weeks go by.
The history of tomatoes is a rich story with amazing facts. If you dig into the tomato history you will know that tomato is one of the few crops, which are native to the Western Hemisphere. The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a plant of the Solanaceae family. The word “tomato” is derived from the word ‘tomatl’ in the Nahuatl language. The tomatoes originated in the coastal highlands of western South America. From there the tomatoes traveled to Central America where the Mayan Indians used them as food. Then tomatoes traveled eastward to Europe with the conquest of Mexico in 1519. By 1900 tomatoes become a staple diet for Americans.
Digging Into The History Of Tomatoes
The origins of tomato history can be traced back around 700 A.D to the early Aztecs. They knew how to grow tomato. So the tomato is a native plant of America. Tomato reached Europe around 16th century when the early explorers started exploring new lands.
French botanist Tournefort christened tomato in Latin and botany by the name of Lycopersicon esculentum, which translates to “wolfpeach” in English. The tomato was considered a peach because of its roundness and succulence and ‘wolf’ because it was thought mistakenly as poisonous. Tournefort mistook tomato for the wolfpeach referred to by Galen in third century in his writings as a toothsome package used to destroy wolves. The Europeans thought the bright and shiny tomatoes of the Spanish to be poisonous.
Cortez discovered tomatoes growing in Montezuma's gardens in 1519 and brought tomato seeds to Europe. The tomato plants were planted in Europe ornamentally but tomatoes were not eaten as they were thought to be poisonous. Probably the first variety to reach Europe was yellow in color. In Europe, these tomatoes were known as ‘pomi d’oro’ or yellow apples. The first place outside South America where Tomatoes were cultivated was Italy.
The journey of tomato was set in motion when soup mogul Joseph Campbell created condensed tomato soup. This soup also took the company to soaring heights and made tomato popular to general public. However, the first recipe of tomato soup is credited to Maria Parloa who penned the recipe of tomato chowder in her 1872 recipe book.
The History Of Tomatoes Throughout The World
Spain
After Spain conquered America the Spanish distributed tomatoes throughout their Caribbean colonies. They also introduced tomatoes to Philippines from where it traveled to Asia. The Spanish introduced tomatoes in Europe and it grew easily in Mediterranean climates.
Italy
In Italy, tomato was first used decoratively till the peasants discovered that tomatoes could be eaten. Thus, the culinary development centering tomato started in around 18th century.
Britain
John Gerard was a barber-surgeon and one of the earliest cultivators of tomato in England. His writing ‘Herbal’ published in 1597 was one of the earliest discussions on tomato in England. He believed tomato to be poisonous.
However, by the mid 1700, British people started eating tomatoes widely and this acceptance is clearly stamped by the end of the century in Encyclopedia Britannica, which stated tomato as "in daily use" as garnish, on soups and broths.
Thus, the fascinating history of tomatoes entered the recent age of numerous uses for tomatoes. More will be revealed as the weeks go by.
12 Jan 2007
Tomato Facts, what do you know about Tomatoes?
There is a lot of interesting tomato facts to know. Amazingly the tomato belongs to the nightshade variety of plants, the poisonous Solanceae family! There are so many tomato legends and tomato myths revolving round tomato plants, here is just a taster.
Some Interesting Tomato Facts And Tomato Myths
The history of tomato facts can be traced to the old South American civilization. The origin of tomato can be traced back to the Aztecs around 700 A.D. So tomato is native to America. Legends suggest that one person introduced tomato to the United States. Many stories name Thomas Jefferson as the introducer.
Tomato reached Europe around 16th century when the early explorers started their expeditions. As tomato is a member of the nightshade family, tomatoes were feared as poisonous when it arrived in Europe.
Another legend suggests that tomatoes were considered as aphrodisiacs and therefore the Puritans shunned them. Tomato was thought as an aphrodisiac due to a mistranslation. The legend goes like this, while on travel a Frenchman had meal with tomatoes in it. The taste of tomato enthralled him. He asked the Italian chef the name of the new ingredient. The chef answered “Pomme de’ Moors” (Apple of the Moors) but the Frenchman heard “ Pomme d’ Amore” (Apple of Love). Thus tomato became an aphrodisiac.
Until 1820 tomatoes were considered poisonous in US. The story goes like this, the suspicions about tomatoes being poisonous was put to rest in 1820, when Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson announced that he would eat a basket of tomatoes in front of Salem, New Jersey courthouse at noon on September 26. More than 2000 people gathered in front of the courthouse to watch the death of the Colonel after eating the poisonous fruits. But Robert Johnson lived even after eating tomatoes. This tomato legend became a subject of a CBS broadcast of You Are There in 1949.
Some French Facts About Tomatoes
Tomato facts in France are interesting. The iconic color of French Revolution is red. Red tomatoes became popular in France during French Revolution. There were two reasons behind the popularity of tomatoes, one is that the European Royalty was wary about this poisonous nightshade family member and secondly at some point the revolutionaries were suggested to eat red food as a show of loyalty. There is an interesting tomato myth behind it, once a zealous chef suggested that the revolutionaries should eat red food as a sign of devotion to the cause of revolution. Thus, tomatoes became popular among Republican masses.
Some other Interesting Tomato Facts
- As per the 1996 edition of the Guinness Book of Records the largest ever tomato grown weighed in at 7 pounds and 12 ounces (about 3.5Kg to you modernist!).
- There is a superstition that if you place ripe tomatoes on a mantel when first entering your new dwelling it will guarantee future prosperity and ward off evil spirits.
- In nurseries, tomato seedlings are placed in greenhouses to warn of leaking gas heaters as they cannot survive even minute amount of natural gas.
- There are numerous recipes for tomato sauce and each Italian family’s beloved sauce is different as expressed by the popular Sicilian expression, “He is always different, like a sauce.”
The story of tomatoes is full of enjoyable and amazing tomato facts I will bring out more as the months roll by.
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