These are the days of ripe tomatoes. From the bite-size cherry tomatoes to the big Beefsteak tomatoes, there are hundreds of varieties--heirlooms and hybrids.
Did you know that tomatoes are the
most popular plant to grow for home vegetable gardens?
The tomato is a flowering plant of the nightshade family. It is grown for its edible fruits, but it is considered a vegetable for nutritional purposes. Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C and the phytochemical lycopene.
If you're thinking of growing your own next summer, I hope this article from the Old Farmers Almanac inspires you!
How I admire those who
can start plants from seeds, and devote time and space to them. This
year, I am growing one tomato plant I got from the Jewel. It is a small Roma variety, but it's a big plant now! The tomatoes are a little
larger than cherry tomatoes, and they are wonderful in salads.
Nothing can compare to the taste of home-grown tomatoes, warm from the sun. The aroma clings to your fingers. It is the aroma of summer, ripening.
What to do with all those tomatoes? Think sauces, soups, salsa, salads. Try them with sliced cucumbers and a simple salad dressing of vinegar and olive oil. Now that's the taste of summer. Enjoy!
You can share them, too---Food banks, friends, neighbors, the mail carrier---who wouldn't want some home-grown ripe tomatoes?
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