Cultivating Tomatoes in Personal Backyard Gardens
Tomatoes, the most popular home-grown vegetable in the United States, are not only delicious but also packed with health benefits. From their rich taste to their outstanding disease resistance, these vibrant fruits offer a multitude of reasons to grow them in your garden.
Nutritional Benefits of Tomatoes
Rich in vitamins C and A, and containing small amounts of the B vitamins and potassium, tomatoes are a nutritious addition to any diet. But it's their lycopene content that truly sets them apart. About 80 to 90 percent of lycopene consumed by humans comes from tomatoes. This powerful antioxidant offers several health benefits.
Key Health Benefits of Lycopene
- Cancer Prevention: Lycopene is known for its potential to reduce the risk of various cancers, including prostate, breast, lung, colon, oral, and cervical cancers. It acts by neutralizing free radicals and preventing cancer cell proliferation.
- Cardiovascular Health: Lycopene helps protect the cardiovascular system by reducing cholesterol levels and improving blood vessel function. This can lower the risk of heart disease.
- Skin Protection: Lycopene provides protection against skin damage from UV rays, which can reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer. It also supports healthier skin by enhancing skin elasticity and hydration.
- Immune System Support: Lycopene, often consumed alongside vitamin C in tomatoes, helps boost the immune system by protecting cells from oxidative stress.
- Antioxidant Properties: As an antioxidant, lycopene shields the body from damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.
Enhanced Bioavailability
The bioavailability of lycopene increases when tomatoes are cooked, as heat breaks down cell walls, releasing more of this antioxidant. Consuming tomatoes with healthy fats like olive oil can further enhance lycopene absorption.
Growing Tomatoes
Tomatoes thrive in a slightly acid soil with a pH of 6.5 to 6.8. They are warm-season plants and should be planted only after danger of frost has passed. Since tomato plants should be watered on a regular basis, it is a good idea to place the garden close to a water source for ease of watering.
When choosing tomato cultivars, consider their disease resistance, as many cultivar names are followed by one or more letters indicating resistance to certain diseases. Heirloom tomatoes are gaining popularity, but not all heirlooms are good; some may be more prone to diseases and cracking.
Select several tomato cultivars of different types and ripening time so that you have an abundant supply of tomatoes throughout the season. Determinate (D) tomato plants grow to a certain height and then stop, while indeterminate tomato plants grow, flower, and set fruit over the entire growing season. Keep in mind that some of the indeterminate tomato plants can easily grow at least 6 feet tall in one season.
Proper spacing and plant support are essential for plant health and good fruit production. Gardeners tend to plant tomato plants too close to one another since transplants are small at planting time. Stakes and cages should be placed at planting time or soon thereafter so as not to disturb the roots.
Tomatoes can be grown on many different soil types, but a deep, loamy, well-drained soil supplied with organic matter and nutrients is most suitable. An application of a starter fertilizer at transplanting will help tomato plants grow faster and flower sooner.
Tomatoes are very productive, capable of producing 8 to 10 pounds or more of fruit per plant. They can be sliced for sandwiches and hamburgers, or added to various pasta, meat, and vegetable dishes. Excess tomatoes can be canned for future use.
Caring for Tomato Plants
Tomatoes need 2 to 3 pounds of a complete fertilizer, such as 6-24-24, 6-12-18, and 8-16-16 per 100 square feet of garden area. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and respond well to fertilizer applications. Improved air circulation in supported tomato plants will reduce disease pressure.
Blossom drop can occur in early spring when daytime temperatures are warm, but night temperatures fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This phenomenon will also occur during the summer as daytime temperatures are above 90 F and night temperatures are above 75 F.
Gardeners who have limited space can still grow tomatoes by participating in a community garden. Fruits on supported tomato plants are also easier to harvest. Fewer fruits are lost to fruit rot due to lying on the ground.
Air temperature is an important factor in the production of tomatoes, which are particularly sensitive to low night temperatures and extremely high temperatures. Tomatoes grow best in full sun, meaning the more sunlight they receive, the better they will perform.
The History of Tomatoes
Thomas Jefferson was one of the first to grow tomatoes in the United States, which were called "Love Apples" at the time. Tomatoes were first introduced to the United States in the 1700s. Surprisingly enough, lycopene is absorbed better from processed tomato products than from fresh tomatoes. The tomato was once thought to be poisonous by early American colonists.
Ohio is well suited for tomato production, and was once ranked second in the nation for processing tomatoes. Today, tomatoes continue to be a beloved garden staple, offering both culinary delight and numerous health benefits.
- Tomatoes, being rich in vitamins C and A, as well as B vitamins, potassium, and the powerful antioxidant lycopene, make them a valuable addition to any diet, contributing to a nutritious lifestyle.
- Besides being integral to home-and-garden and food-and-drink pursuits, tomatoes have numerous advantages in horticulture due to their disease resistance and suitability for various soil types.
- Proper soil, watering, and fertilization practices, alongside good plant spacing and support, can help maximize the yields of tomatoes in a garden, producing vast amounts of crops for food production, preservation, and consumption.
- Gardening techniques like canning surplus tomatoes can be advantageous for preserving food for later use, ensuring a continuous supply over the home-and-garden season.
- Throughout history, tomatoes have been an important part of food production and nutrition, from their introduction in the 1700s to their modern-day popularity in the United States, where they remain not only a beloved vegetable but a significant contributor to horticulture, food-and-drink, and health and well-being.
