It’s that time of year when tomatoes start rolling in at farmers markets and backyard gardens. Learn about growing and harvesting this tasty, tangy fruit.
- Tomatoes are members of the nightshade, or Solanaceae, family, along with eggplants, peppers and potatoes.
- Tomatoes are hot-weather plants, needing full sun and warm soil to survive.
- Tomatoes are in season in Illinois from June through October.
- Pick tomatoes when they are firm and fully colored.
- In the hotter summer months, harvest tomatoes more often, prior to becoming soft.
- You can pick tomatoes before they fully develop their color and let them ripen off the vine.
- Tomatoes are high in vitamins A and C, plus a great source of potassium.
- There are more than 25,000 different varieties of tomatoes.
- There are two different categories of tomatoes: determinate and indeterminate.
- Determinate varieties produce one crop on bushier, shorter plants that usually do not need to be staked, perfect for containers or smaller spaces.
- Roma, the mountain series and cherry gold are some examples of determinate varieties.
- Indeterminate varieties continuously grow and produce fruit throughout the season, requiring more space and to be staked.
See more: 10 Tasty Tomato Recipes
Sources: Chicago Botanic Garden, Illinois Extension
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Thanks for sharing farming info.