I love a good tomato, they are my favourite vegetable, even though they are technically a fruit due to having seeds within them. One of the reasons for this is that tomatoes can be used in so many different dishes, from pasta sauces and pizzas to being added to sandwiches and quiches and many others besides.

The tomato is a native to Peru, where it has been cultivated by indigenous peoples in the area, along with growing wild differing habitats, including woodlands and open plains. What I have discovered while I have been doing some reading is that there are so many binomial names for this particular plant-it is a good job that everyone knows what a tomato is. Just to highlight this point, I knew it as Lycopersicum esculentum, the book I have looked at calls it Lycopersicon esculentum and the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew website has the name as Solanum lycopersicum. It can get confusing and annoying, but I like to add these names to hopefully make them seem less intimidating (but I may be failing miserably!). For those that want to have a binomial name, and then stick to that one, then the Kew Gardens name will be the most up to date one I would think.

Anyway, aside from vague naming conventions aside, what can I say about this particular food? There are so many varieties available, in a whole range of sizes, colours and flavours-from the orange to yellow in colour (as well as the usual red) to beefsteak, heirloom and cherry types.

Propagation

Tomatoes plants can be bought from many garden centres, at least here in Australia, but you can get a far wider choice of different tomatoes by buying, and then growing, from seed. Tomato seeds need a minimum of sixteen degrees Celsius to germinate-sow the seeds in trays or punnets filled with seed raising mix. This can be done all year round in tropical areas of Australia, in temperate areas wait until the end of August at the earliest (the end of winter in Australia, which is when I’ll start mine off hopefully), while in colder areas, start in a glasshouse (a windowsill is just as good).

Seedlings can be transplanted into a larger pots once three true leaves are formed-they can be put into the ground once plants reach 10-15 cm tall. The plants need a good position with plenty of light and a sheltered position. If grown in a greenhouse and then planted outside, the plants need hardening off and plant out when there is no chance of frost-air temperatures need to be at least seven degrees Celsius and soil should be at least ten degrees Celsius. When planted in the ground, plant so that the first true leaves are only just above the ground-this stimulates root formation and provides more stability. Plant 50-75 cm apart-tomatoes are rather hungry plants, so they need space to get their requirements-ensure they still get plenty of water and fertilising. Provide stakes for your tomatoes-put these in before planting or sowing. Seeds can also be sown outside when the weather is warm enough.

Growing tomatoes

For tomatoes grown outdoors, they need a warm spot in full sun that’s also sheltered. Well-rotted organic matter can be added to the soil, which should ideally have a pH of between 5.5 and 7. Do not grow where potatoes, eggplants or capsicums have grown in the previous year. Temperatures need to be between twelve and thirty-five degrees for fruit to set-shade if required.

Keep the soil free of weeds, well-watered and fertilise frequently. Stake plants by using twine, but don’t tie too tightly. When there are six trusses of tomatoes, or they reach the top of the stake, remove the growing tip of the plant to allow the plant to put more energy in fruit growth, rather than leafy growth.

Tomatoes can be grown in containers-choose smaller varieties. Ensure that the soil doesn’t dry out.

Pest and disease problems

Blossom end rot looks like a hard, dark, flat patch on the bottom of the fruit, indicating a calcium deficiency but often results from irregular watering. Ensure frequent watering and fertilising.

The usual aphids, whitefly and red spider mite can be common, as can fruit fly. Fusarium and verticillium wilt can cause plant death-use crop rotation and resistant varieties.

Harvest and storage

Tomatoes need to be fully ripe before getting picked-cut the stem at the joint above the fruit. Those tomatoes that are growing outdoors need harvesting before the frost arrives.

Tomatoes can be eaten fresh or can be dried, turned into passata or cooked and eaten straight away, and any number of other food uses. I am no expert cook, so can’t offer any recipes for anything super tasty-all I know is that anything tomato related is really, really tasty!

What will I be growing?

I will be growing some cherry tomatoes, some ‘San Marzano’ tomatoes for passata and then maybe one more variety, depending on the space I have.

• https://www.kew.org/plants/tomato. Accessed 01/08/24
• Biggs, M., McVicar, J., & Flowerdew, B., 2016, The Complete Guide to Vegetables, Herbs and Fruit in Australia, Revised Edition, Simon & Schuster, Cammeray, NSW, Australia