Tomatoes

[Kitchen Witch]

Tomato Plants

Different tomato plants obviously produce different types of tomatoes.

Beefsteak Tomato Plants - Commonly known as the "large-fruited" types, beefsteak tomato plants are capable of producing a slice that covers a sandwich. The fruit from this variety of tomato plant can easily weigh 2 or more pounds and usually ripen late in the season.

Cherry Tomato Plants - Known to most as the small round tomatoes that accompanies a garden salad, the cherry tomato plant produces a "cherry-sized" fruit (can be a little larger than a cherry). These types of tomatoes range in size from the dwarf style tomato plant to the seven-plus foot tomato plants. Typical cherry tomato plants produce excessively, so one plant per family is usually sufficient.

Determinate Tomato Plants - Exactly the opposite of the indeterminate tomato plant, these tomato plants have similar habits of growing to a certain size, yielding the fruit and then declining. Plants within this category of tomatoes generally ripen early in the season and are incapable of producing fruit for an extended period of time. This group is commonly referred to as compact tomato plants

Dwarf Tomato Plants - Also known as the midget or patio tomato plants, this variety of tomatoes produces cherry type tomatoes (1" diameter or less). Although these plants life cycle are short lived, they quickly produce tomato corps for a short period of time. Due to their compact vines and tight root structure, dwarf tomato plants can be grown in a hanging basket or small containers.

Indeterminate Tomato Plants - The most commonly grown tomato plants for the home gardener. Typically these plants grow all summer long and will continue until cut back or killed off by frost or disease. The success of these tomato plants is very dependent on the use of tomato cages and stakes in order to promote a more natural growing environment and keep the fruit of this plant from coming into contact with the soil.

Paste Tomato Plants - Less juicy than most varieties of tomatoes, the paste tomato plant offers a pear shaped fruit without a center core. Paste tomatoes are known for their meaty insides and very few seeds, making this tomato plant an ideal canned good.

San Marzano - The ultimate tomato for making pasta sauce.

Other Tomato Plants - From the relatively new winter storage tomato plants to low temperature growing tomato plants to orange, yellow, pink or multi-color fruit bearing tomato plants, the tomato varieties can be endless. Through different trails and personal experiments, gardeners and botanists will continue to cross breed tomato plants to create the next generation tomato.

[Kitchen Witch]

Tomato Varieties

There are many different types of tomatoes, including, but not limited to: Beefsteak tomatoes and Globe tomatoes, excellent raw or cooked, Plum (or Roma) tomatoes come in yellow and red varieties, Grape tomatoes are baby romas, Green tomatoes, excellent for relishes, frying and broiling, and Cherry tomatoes and Yellow Pear tomatoes, great as a garnish or for salads.



How to Choose a Tomato

Tomato season is June through August. The best tomatoes available for purchase are vine-ripened tomatoes. Unfortunately, these are the most perishable, which is a reason why most supermarkets purchase green tomatoes and allow them to ripen at the store. These, unfortunately, will NEVER have the flavor or texture of a vine-ripened tomato. Look for firm tomatoes, with no blemishes, a distinct tomato aroma, that gives slightly to pressure, and should be heavier than it appears.



How Do You Store a Tomato? At room temperature. They should NEVER be placed in a refrigerator or placed in direct sunlight.



If I Have An Unripened Tomato, How Do I Ripen It? Place in a pierced paper bag with an apple at room temperature for several days.



The Nutritional Qualities of a Tomato Tomatoes are high in fiber, Vitamins A, B & C, potassium, iron and phosphorus. A medium tomato only has 35 calories.