Gardening Bible: All You Ever Wanted to Know about Tomatoes

Tomato. My favorite vegetable. I mean fruit. I mean both. I mean what? Well, it all depends on the point of view from which we talk about the tomato. It is familiar that tomato grows from a flowering plant.

Maybe it is somewhat less familiar that it originates in the area of modern Peru. Over there tomatoes were domesticated by the Aztecs. It is believed that the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes was the first European who came in contact with tomatoes.

One Day Tomato is a Veggie, the Next Day It’s a Fruit

According to botanists and scientists, it’s clear that tomato is a fruit. However, cooks and the U.S. Supreme Court believe that it’s a vegetable. Who is right and who is wrong here?

No one is wrong. Tomatoes are grown from seeds. Those seeds come from the ovary. All together they represent a flowering plant. These are the reasons why tomatoes can be titled as fruits.

And then, at the end of the 19^th century, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that tomatoes are vegetables. And as far as cooking is concerned, tomatoes are also vegetables. Most cooks share this opinion because tomatoes are typically served as a salad or a main course, rather than a dessert.        

What are Determinate, Indeterminate and Semi-Determinate Tomatoes?

Although official records on the numbers of tomato varieties are not precise, it is believed that there are more than 10,000 varieties of tomatoes. All these tomato varieties come in different sizes, shapes, flavors and colors. Besides the heirloom and hybrid labels, tomatoes are classified as determinate and indeterminate. Tomato classification also includes semi-determinate varieties.

 The above mentioned tomato classification is based on their growth habits. Determinate or “bush” type tomatoes ripen at the same time and stop growing at a specific height. Indeterminate or “vine” tomato varieties produce fruit until they are killed by frost or some other external or internal cause.

Finally, semi-determinate tomatoes are a mixture of the two previously stated. They tend to grow higher than determinate tomato varieties. Semi-determinate tomatoes produce majority of fruits at once while a small percentage may ripen later. On the other hand, they have a less extensive growth than the indeterminate ones.

Your Sense of Taste Will Love Dwarf Tomatoes

I can’t imagine what this post would look like without dwarf tomatoes. And when I say dwarf tomatoes I don’t mean only cherry tomatoes. I refer to all delicious, tasty, juicy small tomato varieties whose growing can easily turn even a fresh gardener into a green thumb.

In fact, not many plants, veggies and herbs could match with thesimplicity and easiness of growing dwarf tomatoes in containers. These tomato varieties are simply perfect for indoor growing. Not to mention their decorative quality.

Regardless of the variety of tomatoes that a gardener may prefer to grow, one thing is certain – tomato is full of healthy substances. It is a good source of vitamins A, C, K and potassium. Tomatoes are also rich in lycopene, which is a vital antioxidant that helps preventing some cancers and heart diseases. 

Are you looking for more info about tomatoes? Share your thoughts and experiences with me!