The tomato is assumed to have originated in South America's Andes Mountains, primarily in Peru and Ecuador, and was grown to eat in pre-Columbian Mexico; its name is derived from the Aztec word tomatl.
Tomatoes come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. They are typically red when fully grown, but they can also be yellow, orange, green, or purple. There are numerous types of tomatoes, each with its flavor.
Are Tomatoes a fruit or vegetable?
Tomato Life Cycle
Every tomato seed contains a miniature tomato plant. Tomato seeds will germinate when the conditions are ideal.
The radicle, or immature root, develops initially as the seed germinates and grows down into the ground. The newborn plant develops real leaves once the cotyledons, or seed leaves, form and grow up towards the sun
More leaves and blossom buds appear as the plant matures. Flowers appear on mature tomato plants.
Once the plant full matures, tomatoes begin to grow until they are ready to be harvested.
Life History
The tomato was brought to Europe by the Spanish in the early 16th century, and the Spanish and Italians appear to have been the first to eat it.
Tomatoes came from Europe and were brought to North America. The tomato was first used for food in 1812 in Louisiana.
It wasn't until the early twentieth century that it became popular in the United States. The plant is now grown all over the world.
Pollinators
Carpenter bees, native bees, and bumblebees are all important for tomato pollination. Tomato flowers hang down from a stem and the pollinating bee will grab the center of the flower and shake lots of pollen lose. The bee takes the pollen back to its nest, the tomato gets pollinated
Threats for the Tomato
A number of threats exist that harm tomato plants such as insects and disease. These factors can make tomatoes unhealthy and not grow correctly.
Whiteflies
These tiny flying insects feed on plant juices and leave behind a residue sometimes called "honeydew," which can grow mold which harms plant growth.
Hornworm
They eat entire leaves, and small stems, and sometimes chew pieces from fruit. Even though they are big, hornworms are difficult to spot because of their camouflage on the green parts of the plant.
Aphids
In large populations, these insects will injure and kill tomato plants by feeding on them. They cause leaves to curl, wilt or yellow and decrease plant growth.
Fusarium Wilt
This is a type of fungal disease. It interferes with the water vessels of the plant. As the infection spreads up into the stems and leaves it decreases water flow making the leaves wilt and turn yellow.
Mosaic Virus
This is a parasite that destroys plants, gardens, and crops like the tomato plant. When tomatoes get the mosaic virus, it can then spread the virus to other plants and even affect an entire area if not treated.
Indigenous Uses
The bush tomato or Solanum chippendalei, is an important food source for Indigenous Australians, especially because it is entirely edible as a dried or fresh fruit. It is a popular practice among Aboriginal peoples and within the Australian food industry to sun-dry bush tomatoes. The sun-dried fruits are known as akudjura and have an intense flavor.
Recipes
Tomato flavor is commonly described as sweet, tart, tangy or balanced. The flavor of some tomatoes is described as mild or bland, which is why many chose to cook them to bring out the flavor.
Stuffed Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 6 very large firm tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage casings removed
- 1/2 cup onion finely diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 1/2 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese divided use
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped, divided use
- kosher salt and pepper
- cooking spray
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- Cut the tops off the tomatoes. Hollow out the insides of the tomatoes with a knife or grapefruit spoon. Discard the tomato seeds and pulp.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add the sausage, breaking up the sausage with a spatula. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until sausage is browned.
- Drain off any excess grease, then add the onion to the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 more seconds.
- Stir the rice, mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons of parsley, salt and pepper into the sausage mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Put the tomato shells onto a pan greased with cooking spray. Mound the rice mixture evenly into the tomato shells.
- Place the panko breadcrumbs and remaining parmesan cheese in a bowl. Add the butter and stir to combine.
- Bake the tomatoes for 15-20 minutes or until breadcrumb topping has browned. Sprinkle with remaining parsley and serve.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Air Fryer
Ingredients:
- 5 ounces red grape tomatoes, halved
- ¼ teaspoon olive oil
- salt to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat an air fryer to 240 degrees F (115 degrees C).
- Place tomatoes in a small bowl. Add olive oil and salt. Stir until evenly combined. Transfer tomato halves to the air fryer basket, skin-side down.
- Air fry for 45 minutes. Using a spatula, smash tomato halves and air fry for an additional 30 minutes.
- Transfer tomatoes to a paper towel-lined plate and let sit for 1 hour. Repeat with remaining tomatoes you are needing to use.
When Tomatoes Were Blamed For Witchcraft and Werewolves
Between 1300 and 1650, science was not used as it is today to help us understand the world. Europeans at that time thought humans could turn themselves into witches and werewolves by using tomatoes to make potions.
People were afraid of some tomatoes because of their big size and red color, many believed they were poisonous
Eat more tomatoes, they make you healthy!
Works Cited
- Air Fryer "Sun-Dried" Tomatoes. Allrecipes.
- Albert, Steve. Tomato Flavor Explained. Harvest to Table.
- Dalkin, Meg. Indigenous Crop: Dried or Fresh, Wild Bush Tomato Is Delicious and Nutritious. Foodtank.
- Reeves, Walter. (2020). Bees buzz tomato flowers for pollination. The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
- Stott, Romie. (2016). When Tomatoes Were Blamed For Witchcraft and Werewolves. 31 days of Halloween. Atlas Obscura.
- Stuffed Tomatoes. (2019). Dinner at the Zoo.
- The Life Cycle of a Tomato Plant. Tomato Sphere. Lets Talk Science.
- Tomato: Fruit. Britannica.
- Tomatoes 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits. Healthline.
- Tomato Pests & Disease. Tomato Gardening Guru. Planet Natural Research Center
- 7 Recipes That'll Make Tomato Lovers Out of Your Kids. (2016). Food Network.
Credits:
Created with images by casanisa - "Tomatoes varieties colorful dark background. Top view." • gpointstudio - "Mature male farmer smelling first ripe tomato" • JustLife - "Beautiful woman having fun in kitchen. Mixed race woman playing with food. " • yod67 - "Image of Yellow Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa latipes) on the branches on a natural background. Insect. Animal." • Heather - "Bee sitting on Australian native flower macro " • Evita - "bee on a flower"