Author: Lorraine Wade

For example, if you take the pollen of a large beefsteak tomato and pollinate a cherry tomato flower, the fruit will still develop into a cherry tomato and will not look or taste different, but the seeds inside will be hybridized. Can cherry tomatoes and regular tomatoes cross pollinate? A cross has happened. Tomatoes don’t […]

Two great examples of prolific determinate tomatoes are Roma and Marglobe tomatoes. Both produce and ripen abundant crops over a two to three week time frame. How many times will determinate tomatoes produce? Determinate Tomatoes If you plant what are known as determinate (or bush) tomato varieties, you’ll have just one harvest of tomatoes before […]

Big Boy Tomatoes are not heirloom tomatoes because they are grown from hybrid seed, not from open-pollinated seed. What type of tomato is a big boy? ‘Big Boy’ Description ‘Big Boy’ produces large, slicing-type tomatoes reaching between 10 and 16 ounces. The large tomatoes are prized for their smooth skin, firm flesh and bright red […]

Harvesting a vine-ripe tomato may give us the feeling of picking the perfect fruit, but it is not necessary for a flavorful harvest. Just remember that tomatoes develop their optimum flavor, nutrition, and color when they are in the full red ripe stage, but this does not have to occur on the plant. Do tomatoes […]

Once picked, tomatoes should be stored on a counter or shelf out of direct sunlight. If you wash them after picking them, make sure to dry them before you leave them on the counter. Tomatoes typically last 3-5 days on the counter. They can also be stored in the refrigerator so they keep a little […]

Environmental Tomato Issues Environmental issues, such as a lack of water, too much water, poor soil and too little light can also cause tomato plants to fail and die. Watering issues – When a tomato plant is under watered or over watered, it reacts the same way. It will develop yellow leaves and will look […]

What it is: Sprouting tomato seeds! Eat or toss: As long as the tomato is intact and not showing signs of rotting, etc., it’s entirely safe to eat the tomato and its sprouts. Why are the seeds in my tomatoes sprouting? Some causes of seeds sprouting in tomatoes are long storage in cool temperatures (below […]

about 70-75 days. Better Boy Tomato Info They mature in about 70-75 days, which makes them an excellent choice for a variety of USDA zones. Better Boy tomatoes are resistant to both verticillium and fusarium wilt, a key to their popularity. How long does it take for Better Boy tomatoes to turn red? Big Boy […]

Making Insecticidal Soap Solution Dry laundry or dish detergents are too strong for plant use, and even liquid laundry soap solution may harm some tomato varieties. To ensure the safety of your tomato, water it well and test spray a few of its leaves. Is Dawn dish soap safe for tomato plants? Dawn dish soap […]

A good tomato is firm enough to resist pressure, but not so hard that it doesn’t react to your touch. Watch out for soft spots — they’re well on their way to becoming bruises, which reduce the tomato’s shelf life. Should a tomato be firm or soft? A ripe tomato should feel firm, like a […]

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 expired tomatoes make you sick? Eating tomatoes that have gone bad will make you sick and can give you food poisoning from bacteria such […]

Tomatoes ripen most quickly when the temperatures are between 68 and 77 degrees. High temperatures also cause fruit with yellow shoulders and white cores. Excessive heat prevents the production of lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes resulting in yellow shoulders. Why do my tomatoes have a hard white core? The walls between the cavities join […]

A: This can be caused by stressful weather and aggravated by excessive fertilizer. The cavity walls in many older varieties join to create a core that can toughen. Newer varieties may be meatier throughout the fruit. Do tomatoes have cores? Tomatoes that tend to be juicier, especially older varieties with 5 inner chambers, are more […]

On tomatoes, sunscald will appear as a yellow or white-spotted area on the side or upper part of the fruit that has been directly exposed to the sun. As the fruit ripens, the affected area may become blistered before it finally turns thin, wrinkly, and paper-like in appearance. What does Sunscald look like on tomato […]

Prepare the soil of your tomato bed by adding compost or a slow-release fertilizer. Once you plant your roma tomato plants, water them at least once a week. Once your roma tomato plants are 6-12 inches (15 to 30.5 cm.) high, start staking the roma tomatoes up off the ground. How do you support Roma […]

In order to collect tomato seeds to be used in your garden the following year, you have to first ferment them. A tomato seed is typically encased in a gel sac. The gel sac prohibits germination. Do tomato seeds need to be fermented? Fermentation removes germination inhibitors and the gelatinous sheath from seeds, and it […]

These would include the right temperature range, wind, good soil preparation, disease, pollinators such as bees, humidity, sunlight and a few other things as well. What causes tomatoes to grow? Shallow watering can stress and weaken tomato plants. Soil kept uniformly moist will promote the development of a large, healthy root system and will result […]

Cutting cherry tomatoes is a necessary evil because slices are easy to eat in salads and cook faster in quick pasta sauces. How should tomatoes be cut for a salad? Instructions Remove the tomato core with a sharp knife. Cut the tomato in half from the stem to far end and continue cutting those slices […]

Canned tomatoes are picked at peak ripeness and then canned straight away, so they retain their deep red color. Therefore using canned tomatoes will often result in a redder sauce just because the starting tomatoes are redder. If tomatoes aren’t in season where you live, they’ll never be as red as canned tomatoes. Why are […]

“They have a very nuanced flavor and texture, they’re sweet and just slightly sour, which make them a perfect raw ingredient in a simple salad with farmer’s cheese and roasted bits of rye bread.” But if cherry tomatoes remain the darling of chefs, why does it appear grape tomatoes have taken over the market? Why […]