Growing your own vegetables means bountiful harvests no matter how much or little garden space you have. The key to success is in planning and execution.

Varieties, Zones, Seeds

Vegetable gardens require lots of hands-on weeding and monitoring for potential problems. A location that receives six to eight hours of sun a day is essential.

Cathy Terry

Whether you think of a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as a fruit or a vegetable – it’s both. No matter how you slice it, a tomato is technically a fruit, but typically treated as a vegetable. But just because botanically tomatoes are fruits, it doesn’t mean the issue is settled. I like this quote from Miles Kington, British journalist/humorist: “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.” LOL Mr. Kington!

Whatever your decision, vegetable or fruit, in my opinion they are absolutely delicious. Big or small they are yummy. You can snack on them or put them in a salad. Add them to a main dish. Another reason I grow tomatoes is to preserve and gift them to my family and friends that don’t garden.

Tomatoes are considered a fruit along with avocados, eggplant, cucumbers, green bell peppers, zucchini, and butternut squash. All are classified as fruits by botanists since fruits have a fleshy layer surrounding the seeds. However, for culinary purposes, these foods are considered vegetables.

In my research of 65 years tasting tomatoes, I have found tomatoes are juicy and sweet. They are full of antioxidants and may help fight several diseases. Tomatoes can be part of a healthy diet. But remember, tomatoes are part of the Nightshade family and might cause inflammation in certain individuals.

There are four different types of tomatoes: Indeterminate, semi-determinate, determinate and dwarf. The semi-determinate and dwarf varieties grow as a bush to a pre-determined height, stop growing, bloom and set fruit within a shorter period of time. Indeterminate tomatoes continue to grow and produce fruits all season long, weather permitting.

Indeterminate tomatoes can grow out of control. Yes, it may seem counterintuitive to remove leaves or trim suckers but the plant grows as a vine. It needs a lot of space and support. Train it to a vertical support system or trellis. When is the appropriate time to prune your indeterminate plant? In my opinion, there are 3 reasons to trim your indeterminate tomato plants (1) Space & Airflow (2) Increase the size of the tomato (3) Reduce disease or bug infestation. Always remember to clean any gardening tools (trimmers) with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol or disinfectant wipes. You can spread germs and diseases from one plant to another.

Last year (2022) I did not have great success at gardening as others will also attest about their gardens. I grew heirloom tomatoes. Although they are special, the plant yields less fruit. This year I have quite a selection. The first to bear fruit, the dwarf “Orange Hat” is near my grilling area, ready for snacking! I started the plant from seed and have taken several cuttings.

My garden is in the ground. The raised rounded rows are covered and have a drip hose down each row. Regular watering helps prevent blossom end rot. Each plant in every row has mulch around it to help retain moisture and keep them cooler during the hot temperatures.

Fertilizing your plants is crucial for blooming and continued production. Be very careful not to over apply or use during the heat of the day. Don’t water tomatoes from the top down. Only water at the base of the plant and never during the heat of the day. Disclaimer: I’m still trying to learn more each and every day and this is my own personal opinion. If you have any questions about your tomatoes, contact the Pottawatomie County OSU Extension at 405-273-7683.

It seems like 2023 is a better year for tomatoes and for gardening. The rain in late June and July was a definite blessing but it gave me a problem with a fungus followed by the attack of the grasshoppers.

Enough about growing tomatoes. Let’s talk about my favorite part—why we grow them. Yes, to eat them! My youngest son once said, “They will never list your cause of death as starvation.” I love to cook! Let me just list a few ways we enjoy tomatoes: Fresh, rinsed, sliced with or without seasoning, in a salad, roasted, grilled, on a skewer, in a main dish like pasta, as tomato pie and fresh Pico de Gallo. I also like the Kerr canning recipe for Taco Sauce, or Picante sauce as we call it.

I hope you have recently been able to enjoy some fresh fruits and vegetables. I hope you and your gardens are doing well and prospering.

Remember: always do as least one kind thing each day for yourself, your family and your community.

Happy Gardening.

Source: news-star.com