Category: Fruits

ANSWER: Soaking your tomato seeds before planting, or letting them sprout on a damp paper towel, can help increase the rate of successful germination, resulting in more healthy plants that make it to your garden. How long should I soak my tomato seeds before planting? Let the seeds soak in the water for 24 to […]

spring. Plant cherry tomatoes in the spring after all threat of frost has passed. Seeds also can be started indoors about four weeks before your area’s projected frost date and then planted outside when seedlings are at least 6 inches tall. When should I start my tomatoes indoors? The best way to get a head […]

There’s nothing quite as perfect as a ripe tomato – that distinctive fresh, green smell of a sun-warmed fruit that bursts in the mouth. It speaks of the summer’s heat like nothing else in the garden — but it does require starting tomatoes indoors. Do tomato seeds have to be started indoors? Starting seeds indoors […]

Seeds are best sown under cover in March and April ready for harvesting from July to September. Sowing times will vary depending on the variety of tomato you choose to grow, so always be sure to follow the instructions on the seed packet. What happens if plant tomatoes too early? Planting too early causes a […]

Is it too late to start tomatoes? Definitely not. You can plant tomato seeds anytime in the spring. When should I start tomato seeds indoors? Quick to germinate and grow, tomato seeds are best sown indoors about six weeks before your average last frost date. What is the latest date to start tomato seeds? Generally, […]

The acidic properties of tomatoes can further irritate the skin, leading you to itch the under-eye area, and thereby increasing the severity of dark circles. Tomatoes can make your eyes irritated, especially the under-eye skin due to the thin texture. Instead of tomatoes, Dr Sharad recommended the use of cucumber. Does tomato get rid of […]

While a sweet and juicy fruit, tomatoes are also highly acidic. In fact, they contain both types of major acids known to incite heartburn—citric and malic acids. Due to its high acidity, tomato can prompt severe heartburn and acid reflux even when only used as the base of a meal. Why do I get acid […]

Tomatoes. You say tomato, I say tomahto. However, you pronounce it; tomatoes are great for reducing bloating. “Tomatoes are rich in potassium, which helps balance out sodium levels in the body, resulting in less water weight and bloat,” says Ficek. Will tomatoes cause gas? Tomato. The tomato fruit is high in naturally occurring acids. Because […]

The tomato was eaten by the Aztecs as early as 700 AD and called the “tomatl,” (its name in Nahuatl), and wasn’t grown in Britain until the 1590s. Who discovered tomatoes not poisonous? Colonel JohnsonAs the story is told, it was Colonel Johnson who on September 26, 1820 once and for all proved tomatoes non-poisonous […]

Because of the highly perishable nature of the fruit, it seems likely that the tomato was among the last of the native American species to be adopted as a cultivated food plant by the Indians and that it remained of little importance until after the arrival of the white man. Did Native Americans use tomatoes? […]

Why would you peel tomatoes? The tomato skin is a different texture from the tomato flesh, and will remain so in sauces and purées—you’ll get tiny chunks of skin instead of an uniformly smooth mixture. Moreover, the tomato skin is heavy in a kind of nutrient called flavonols, which impart a bitter flavor. Why do […]

Green tomatoes contain the poisonous alkaloid solanine. This ensures a deterring, bitter flavor and if, despite the taste, the unripe fruit is eaten in large amounts, the symptoms of poisoning soon begin to show. Are unripe tomatoes safe to eat? Unripe (traditional red) tomatoes will not be as good a source for nutrients dense since […]

Both are present in tomato leaves, as well as in the stems and flowers. Poisoning from tomatine and solanine can include many grisly symptoms like stomach pain and cramps, vomiting, dizziness, hallucinations, heart arrhythmia, and more. Is tomato leaf poisonous? There appears to be no risk in consuming tomato leaves in moderate quantities, so it’s […]

While it’s true that tomatoes are members of the nightshade family, they actually produce a slightly different alkaloid called tomatine. Tomatine is also toxic but less so. However, when ingested in extremely large doses, it may cause gastrointestinal problems, liver, and even heart damage. Why were tomatoes considered toxic? Tomatoes – Lycopersicon esculentum – are […]

Now we’re talking about the leaves of the plant itself, not the small leaves attached to the stem — those are generally too fibrous to eat. But the leaves of the plant are tender, fragrant and, yes, completely edible. Contrary to popular opinion, you can eat tomato leaves just like any other garden green. Are […]

solanine. Tomatoes are member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and, as such, are related to eggplants, potatoes, and of course, deadly belladonna or nightshade. These cousins all produce a toxin called solanine. How do you remove solanine from tomatoes? Additionally, frying the green tomatoes in hot oil diminishes the solanine content, rendering the green tomato […]

A bowl of tomato soup every day can help boost fertility among men, scientists have claimed. Researchers at the University of Portsmouth have revealed that lycopene, which gives tomatoes their bright red colouring, can improve male fertility and turn sperm into super-sperm. Does tomato soup increase sperm count? Lycopene – a nutrient found in tomatoes […]

ANSWER: A tomato plant will only last a year in most vegetable gardens. As soon as it gets cold and freezes, the tomato plant will die. In places where the temperature never falls below 60 degrees or when indeterminate tomatoes are grown indoors, they are short-lived perennials that will last for two years. What is […]

Aspirin Increases Plant Size And Yield The tomato plants were sprayed with different concentrations of foliar salicylic acid four times at 10-day intervals, two weeks after planting. There were improvements in plant growth, early yield, and total yield. Aspirin may help the plant deal with the stress and grow well. How do you apply aspirin […]

Before planting tomatoes, check your topsoil to ensure that it is well draining and has lots of organic matter. For tomatoes and other vegetables, you want good topsoil from 6 to 10 inches deep. Adding bark, compost or aged manure will lighten clay or hardpan soil and help sandy soil retain moisture. What kind of […]