:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tomato-garden-2000-d3de7267d65c442b987c67c6e43e5e1e.jpg "GARDEN AND GARDEN: Everyone likes a good tomato")
I always forget how busy spring can be. It seems that as soon as one seminar or article is over, it's time for the next one.
I have decided that the "plant of the month" will be tomatoes. Most homes have planted tomatoes, and since we're picking and planting them this season, I thought I'd write about them.
They arrived in Europe in the 19th century and were called pomo d'oro, or "golden apples." We take the name of tomato from the Aztec language or the Spanish word "tomatl".
Tomatoes have slightly different names in different countries, but they are usually translated as "love apple" or "love apple." More than 10,000 varieties are cultivated around the world. The main tomato producer is China, followed by the United States and India.
Tomatoes started out as small, cherry-sized yellow fruits. Now they can be quite large. The Domingo variety that set the world record in 2020 weighed in at 10,795 pounds with a girth of 33 inches. However, the common variety that is considered to have the tastiest large tomato is the Brandywine.
Tomatoes are red, pink, yellow, black, purple, or white. They can be smooth or striped. The taste can be sour or mild. But one thing can be said for sure: you cannot eat bitter vines or leaves, because they are poisonous. The toxin in tomatoes is the same as that in potatoes, tobacco, eggplant, and peppers, which also belong to the nightshade family.
Although the plant is toxic, its fruits, which we eat as "vegetables", are very useful and contain lycopene, potassium and vitamins. It is said to be heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory, and linked to brain health. Lycopene is what gives tomatoes, papayas, and melons their pinkish-red color.
The yield of tomatoes is strongly influenced by the air temperature. The ideal range for pollen from a plant flower is 55 degrees at night and 85 degrees during the day. Proper pollination will not occur outside of these temperature ranges, as the pollen becomes sticky and non-viable.
If the temperature is above 85 degrees in the summer, continue to water and care for the plants, and later in the summer when the temperature drops to that range, they will flower and pollinate. If the flowers are not pollinated, they will fall off the plant and will not bear fruit. An inflorescence is considered a complete flower, meaning that it contains the reproductive parts of the male and female flowers. They can also be pollinated by wind and insects.
There are two types of tomatoes. Ultimate and unlimited. Specific plants grow thicker, like bushes, produce high yields in less time, and most fruits ripen immediately. This is useful if you want to process, freeze, or dehydrate a certain amount at a time. Indeterminate plants have a strong spreading habit and fruit longer. This is useful if you don't want all the fruit at once.
Plant the tomatoes where they can receive 6 to 10 hours of sunlight. Also, avoid planting plants in the same spot year after year and avoid placing them on stakes or cages to prevent bacterial and fungal diseases. This promotes good air circulation and prevents soil-borne pathogens from entering the plants.
Now I expect juicy tomato wedges on my burgers and sandwiches. And you?
If you have questions about your garden or landscape, contact us at the University of Illinois at Mattoon Extension at 217-345-7034 or our help line at form.illinois.edu/sec/1523725. Be sure to visit the U of I Extension website at exteniosn.illinois.edu/ccdms and like the Master Gardeners Facebook page @ColesCountyMasterGardeners.
Illinois Extension works with the community for the University of Illinois, translating research into action plans that empower Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to address challenges, make informed decisions, and adapt to change and opportunities.
