Growing Tomatoes

Tomatoes are nutritious, inexpensive and the easiest vegetable to grow. You don’t have to have acres of land to grow your own tomatoes. You can have a small patch of land or even a container garden.

Most people say home-grown tomatoes are much tastier than store-bought ones. Tomatoes come in various sizes, from small cherry tomatoes to large beefsteak tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes are ideal for salads. Plum tomatoes are a meatier fruit and are great for making into sauces. Your larger tomatoes such as beefsteak are less meaty and more juice and are great for slicing up to put on sandwiches or to just eat alone.

Fully ripened tomatoes should not be refrigerated. They lose flavor and they deteriorate quickly. If storing tomatoes that aren’t quite ripened, refrigeration will slow the ripening process.

Tomatoes are abundant with vitamin C, potassium, fiber, vitamin A, iron, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, calcium and cobalt. Tomatoes also contain lycopene, which research suggests helps to fight cancer. By growing your own tomatoes, you will probably eat them within a few hours or a few days after you harvest them, therefore retaining more nutrition. This will help to boost your immune system.

Tomatoes can be easily stored for later use. Tomatoes can be canned, frozen, dried and dehydrated. Depending on space available, your own tastes and purpose of usage will determine the method of storage you choose.

One of the best benefits of growing your own tomatoes is knowing that you accomplished this task with your own two hands. This is also something the whole family can join in on. Even small children can join in on planting and caring for your crop.