Author: Marilyn Medina

Human and pet hair is said to be a great fertilizer for tomatoes. The hair contains many nutrients, mainly keratin, that benefits tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Keratin is a valuable protein that helps tomatoes establish strong root systems. Can human hair help plants grow? Summary: Studies have shown that human hair, a readily available waste […]

It lowers bad cholesterol, also known as LDL, and reduces oxidative stress that may lead to heart strokes. Plum tomatoes can be helpful in improving the protective lining of the blood vessels and help lower any risk of blood clotting. What’s the difference between a plum tomato and a regular tomato? Plum tomatoes, also known […]

Place 2 tablespoons bottled lemon juice or ½ teaspoon citric acid crystals in the bottom of each quart jar before filling with the tomato product. Use half those amounts when canning in pint jars. Other tomato products should also be acidified. How do you store yellow tomatoes? If you’re worried about that, America’s Test Kitchen […]

They are juicy, have few seeds, and if just ripe, they are crisp as well. Better Boys make great salad slices, sandwich tomatoes, sauces, salsas, stew additions, and more. Even green Better Boys are less bitter than most other varieties and make for good frying or pickling. What Are Better Boy tomatoes good for? This […]

Or, even a quick slash on the tomato will work. Then, once the water boils, I drop three to four tomatoes into the boiling water and within five to ten seconds, the skin on the tomatoes will split open. The cut on the tomatoes allows the skin to curl and this makes it easier to […]

If you’re not sure which yellow tomato variety to try, consider one of these popular choices: Dr. Golden Honey Bunch – Hybrid grape tomato with a honey sweet flavor. Golden Jubilee – Large globe-style heirloom tomato with few seeds and mild flavor. What is the best-tasting yellow tomato? Lemon Boy – The most popular of […]

How to Peel Tomatoes: Tomatoes are way too soft to attack with a regular vegetable peeler. But a simple scoring and blanching technique is sufficient to separate the skin and fruit with ease. What is the easiest way to peel tomatoes? Prepare a bowl of water with ice. Place the tomato carefully into the boiling […]

Tomatoes will definitely explode in the microwave. That’s why it is so important to cut, puncture, or slice them before microwaving them. Tomatoes and other vegetables and fruits like them have such a high water content that they cook quickly inside microwaves. This process builds up pressure. Can you heat tomatoes in a microwave? To […]

The Quickest Way to Peel Tomatoes Set a pot of water to boil on the stove. While the water is boiling, prep your tomatoes. Add the tomatoes to the boiling water for 20 to 30 seconds until the skin begins to wrinkle and peel away from the flesh. Can you steam tomatoes to get skin […]

Tom Brady doesn’t eat tomatoes because they fall in the nightshade category — among other produce. Some people (including Brady) believe that fruits and vegetables in the nightshade group cause inflammation (specifically arthritis) but there is no medical evidence that supports that. Why does Tom Brady avoid tomatoes? Brady and his famous family will not […]

The USDA and University-based researchers have determined that to ensure a safe acid level for boiling water canning of whole, crushed, or juiced tomatoes, add 2 tablespoons of bottled lemon juice or ½ teaspoon of citric acid per quart of tomatoes. What happens if you don’t use lemon juice when canning tomatoes? First don’t panic. […]

If you’d like a less watery version to freeze, halve the tomatoes and squeeze each one to remove most of the water before you place them in the freezer bag. Remove air, and freeze. Puree Simply purée them whole and place the purée in a freezer bag. How long can blended tomatoes last in the […]

Yes, you can store tomatoes in the fridge. However, since most tomatoes are sold or bought a bit before their ideal ripeness to account for the changes they’ll undergo when sitting out, placing them in the fridge will actually halt their progress. Why should you not put tomatoes in the fridge? Tomatoes contain an enzyme […]

Tomato blotchy (uneven) ripening is greenish, yellow areas or blotches on the tomato fruit, normally confined to the outer walls. These areas of the fruit have low concentrations of organic acids, dry matter, total solids, starch, sugars and nitrogenous compounds. Can you eat blotchy tomatoes? You can cut out affected areas (cloudy spots) and eat […]

The Short Answer Diced tomatoes are chopped up, stewed tomatoes are chopped and cooked, and plum tomatoes are peeled whole tomatoes. Are plum tomatoes the same as chopped tomatoes? What are plum tomatoes? Plum tomatoes are long and oval in shape and are generally fleshier than chopped tomatoes. Perfect for making a thick and tasty, […]

Solanum lycopersicum var. lycopersicum: the oldest surviving tomato fruit and leaves. What is the oldest tomato? Now this is an heirloom tomato. Scientists searching a prehistoric lake bed in southern Argentina recently uncovered the fossilized remains of a tomato that dates back 52.2 million years. Which is the most antique variety of tomato? Some of […]

To compare, a Cherry Tomato usually delivers a different set of flavors: Very sweet, almost candy-like. Incredibly juicy and fresh flavor. What does a cherry tomatoes taste like? What Do Cherry Tomatoes Taste Like? Cherry tomatoes taste similar to other fresh tomatoes, but because of their small size, the flavor can be a little more […]

Most commercial growers allow about 6 square feet per plant. Productive heirloom tomato varieties will produce 20 pounds or more of salable tomatoes, worth about $80 at retail prices. That’s a return of $13 per square foot of growing area. Is there a market for heirloom tomatoes? Direct markets for heirloom varieties in- clude farmers […]

That first taste of a perfectly ripe, fresh off the vine, sun-warmed tomato is pure awesomeness! We’ll take you through growing tomatoes from planting to harvest without chemicals, plus companion plants and organic fertilizer tips to give you tons of tomatoes. How do you grow organic tomatoes? Building soil with a combination of cover crops, […]

12 SMALL TOMATO VARIETIES. Tiny Tim. Tiny Tim is a compact tomato variety that is ideal for containers or tubs. Cherry Cocktail. Another small tomato variety is cherry cocktail , which produces small bite-sized tomatoes that are full of flavor. Golden Nugget. Golden Grape. Tumbling Tom. Green Grape. Baby Red Pear. Which tomatoes are the […]