Author: Elvira Bowen

The walls between the cavities join in center to form the core. During stressful weather–usually aggravated by excessive fertilization–this central core becomes tough and turns greenish white. The walls also may become pale and corky. Why are my tomatoes hard in the middle? Under stressful conditions, tomato fruit often develop a tough, white core in […]

Cherry tomatoes come to harvest during late summers, usually between July and September. While the fruits on determinate tomatoes ripen at the same time, indeterminate tomatoes continue producing until frost kills the plant. Once the fruits start ripening, pick them each day to promote further production. How long tomato can be harvested? Choose a tomato […]

Tomatoes grow best when the daytime temperature is between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They stop growing above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. If nighttime temperatures are above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the fruit will not turn red. Tomatoes need full sun and warm, well-drained soil. Where do tomatoes grow best? sunDevote a prime, sunny spot to growing […]

Seek out varieties that demonstrate a high heat tolerance, such as ‘Costoluto’, an heirloom that produces large deep red fruits, and the beefsteak tomato ‘Brandywine’. ‘Traveler 76’ is an introduction from the Arkansas Horticulture Department selected for heat and drought resistance. What tomatoes grow best in hot weather? Cherry tomatoes are the best variety to […]

Starting small, tomatoes that are handy to snack on are grape and cherry tomatoes. Grape tomatoes as their name implies are the shape of a grape. They often are crisp and crunchy and can range from sweet to tangy in taste. Grape tomatoes come in a range of colors and can be used in a […]

The most likely causes are nitrogen being too high and potassium being too low. Is it OK to eat a soft tomato? Lean into the Wrinkles by Blistering Tomatoes Tomatoes, specifically cherry or grape varieties, can start to wrinkle and get soft when they’re on the verge on going bad. They’re perfectly edible but have […]

Maybe you are growing fruit that is particularly acidic that translates as sourness to your taste buds. High acid and low sugar tomatoes tend to be very tart or sour. Brandywine, Stupice, and Zebra are all tomato varieties that are high acid. Most people’s prime tomato has a balance of both acid and sugar. How […]

The most classic way to ripen tomatoes is to tuck them away on the sunniest windowsill in your kitchen. Place the tomatoes stem-side down, which will keep them from rolling and makes them less likely to bruise on the hard surface. After a few days of soaking up the sun, they’ll be ripe and ready […]

High Temperatures Makes Tomatoes Have Thick Skin In high heat, tomato fruit can be scalded by the sun. In order to prevent sunscald on the tomato fruit, the tomato plants will start to produce tomatoes with tougher skins. Why are my homegrown tomatoes hard? Typically, there are three reasons that cause tomatoes to develop tough […]

Tomatoes and food poisoning Eating tomatoes that have been contaminated with harmful bacteria can make you sick. Contaminated tomatoes have been linked to incidents of food poisoning caused by Salmonella. Can old tomatoes cause food poisoning? Eating tomatoes that have gone bad will make you sick and can give you food poisoning from bacteria such […]

greenish yellow. The natural color of healthy common-variety tomato seeds is a greenish yellow. However, there are times when the seeds end up darker, with shades ranging from brown to black. What color are tomato seeds supposed to be? greenA. A tomato seed is green because it contains chlorophyll, the pigment in plants that gives […]

Seeds germinating inside a tomato is called vivipary. It occurs in overripe fruit when seeds have reached maturity and the natural hormone, abscisic acid (ABA), is reduced. Then, seed dormancy is lost gradually. Is it safe to eat tomatoes with sprouts inside? Eat or toss: As long as the tomato is intact and not showing […]

You can usually tell the difference between unripe red tomatoes and ripe green tomatoes by the fruit’s color and feel. The ripe varieties feel soft when pressed, usually have vertical stripes or other color variations (like the Green Zebra variety pictured below), and taste similar to ripe red tomatoes. Are green tomatoes and red tomatoes […]

What Happens If You Microwave Tomatoes? The short answer is that they get cooked! Tomatoes have so much water that microwaves them will kind of boil them from the inside out. This is great for cooking them quickly! Is it OK to microwave tomatoes? Use 2 large ripe and firm tomatoes to cook tomatoes in […]

Tomato. I know, I just said the tomato isn’t poisonous. The fruit isn’t, but the leaves, roots, and stem (and, in limited doses, even some unripe fruit) are rich in tomatine, an alkaloid that’s mildly toxic to humans. Do tomatoes have poison in them? While it’s true that tomatoes are members of the nightshade family, […]

Turn it over and check to make sure that they’re are no “finger squeeze” bruises or signs of rotting, or mushy spots. How long are heirloom tomatoes good for? 1-2 daysAs I mentioned, heirlooms spoil very quickly. It’s best to enjoy them within 1-2 days of buying them. If you need to keep them for […]

2 If left unpruned, these suckers will eventually grow into full-sized branches, adding lots of foliage and, eventually, a few fruits. This will also result in a tomato plant that quickly outgrows its space in the garden. Is it OK to not prune tomato plants? Pruning tomato plants isn’t required. You may choose not to […]

Here are our favorite ways to salvage bruised tomatoes: Tomato Sauce. Boil the tomatoes for a minute, peel them (here’s how), chop them, then let them simmer into a tomato sauce, and add whatever seasonings you like. Tomato Vinaigrette. Tomato Jam. Bruschetta. Tomato Soup. Salsa. Gazpacho. Pan con Tomate. What to do with tomatoes that […]

As you read above, Roma tomatoes are more meaty and cherry tomatoes are sweeter and have a higher water content. If substituting cherry tomatoes in a sauce recipe, you may need to reduce the sauce or you will have a thinner (watery) sauce. Do cherry tomatoes taste the same as regular tomatoes? While regular tomatoes […]

When higher temps and hot sun strike tomato tops, carotene (yellow) shines through while lycopene (red) is squelched. The lower part of the tomato is often protected from direct exposure by the top of the fruit. Thus the sun inhibits lycopene (red) in the parts of your tomatoes that receive the most direct sun. What […]