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Growing Tasty Tomatoes
By
Michael Russell
For the gardening enthusiast there can be very little that surpasses the
satisfaction obtained from growing
 and eating vegetables and fruits from your
own garden. In this article we will look at the motivation and the method for
growing tomatoes.
Let's look first at a brief history of this once much maligned fruit. It is
believed to have originated from ancient Peru, where today you can still find
several wild species growing. From there it was taken to and cultivated in
Mexico and then found it's way to Europe. In Europe in the 16th and 17th
centuries, it was believed by many to be poisonous, as it is a member of the
deadly nightshade plant family. The actual reason though was found to be the
manner of cooking. Rich people at that time used platters made of pewter, which
has a very high lead content. The high acidic content of tomatoes would cause
the lead to be leeched from the platter into the food, resulting in lead
poisoning and many times death. The poorer people, who used wooden boards as
platters, had no problem.
Today, with a growing concern and emphasis on healthy living and nutrition,
the tomato has become a vital part of a healthy diet. Its main benefit is
Lycopene, which is one of nature's most powerful antioxidants. Some other
beneficial properties of the tomato are the calcium and vitamin C content. A
recent study showed that those living in Northern Italy, who ate a minimum of 7
servings of raw tomato per week, had up to 60% less chance of developing cancers
of the colon, prostrate, cervix and stomach, when compared to people who ate 2
servings or less.
The best tomatoes to eat are those that have been home grown, free of
pesticides. They should be ripened while still on the vine.
Let's look now at the method for growing tomatoes. It is mainly a summer
crop. The soil needs to be well prepared using well-decomposed compost. You can
sow the seeds directly into the soil in shallow holes and spaced about 2 - 2 ½
cm apart. Cover the seeds with fine soil. When the seedlings are about 10cm
high, they must be transplanted to the final positions. Refrain from watering
the seedlings for about 3 days before transplanting. This tends to harden the
seedling. They need to now be spaced from 60cm to 1metre apart. This wider
spacing allows air to be able to circulate freely and prevent humidity building
up. Excessive humidity causes a fungal infection detrimental to the plant.
Once the plants are established, they must be mulched. Add some 6:1:5
fertilizer for flowers and fruit. When the plants start maturing they will need
to be staked. The fruit must be kept clear of the ground. Tomatoes need
consistent watering, but only at root level, using either flooding or drip type
irrigation, or by watering with a fine spray rose directly to the base of the
plant. This is to prevent fungal attacks on the leaves and fruit.
The tomato fruit should be ready for harvesting from 6 - 8 weeks after
planting. The tastiest tomato is the one which is ripened on the vine. If green
tomatoes still remain on the vines at the end of the season, they can be picked
and placed next to bananas or apples. These contain certain elements that cause
the tomato to ripen more quickly. After the last picking, the entire plant must
be removed and if there is any sign of root damage from eelworms, the plant
should be burned.
So, there you have it. The how's, why's and wherefores of growing your own
crop of healthy, tasty tomatoes.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to
Gardening
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
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