"Tomato Varieties"From the American Salad to the Italian Pasta Bowl, Tomatoes add a Slice of Life to Recipes
Tomato plants are grown in nearly every type of garden - from the small patio garden to the large vegetable garden - tomatoes offer a wide variety of uses and benefits. Culinary Uses Tomatoes are frequently used in many Mediterranean recipes, especially in Italian food. From the Italian pasta bowl filled with long spaghetti doused in red tomato sauce, to a nice summer inspired tomato and mozzarella salad seasoned with fresh basil leaves and olive oil, tomatoes are sure to appeal to many palates.
Health Benefits Tomatoes are high in lycopene which acts as an antioxidant in our bodies. Antioxidants help our bodies fight against infections. According to http://www.mayoclinic.com, studies have shown that diets high in lycopene have reduced rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Tomatoes are also high in vitamin C, folate and potassium.  Types of Tomato Plants You can find literally hundreds of tomato varieties that will meet every gardener's need and every gardener’s palate. The huge array of available tomatoes even has varieties segmented off into ethnic categories, such as Italian or Roma tomatoes. • Hybrid tomatoes have been worked on by gardeners and scientists. These plants are typically better at handling disease and pests, and are also designed to produce specific attributes in the fruit. • Dwarf tomato plants are those varieties which have been cultivated to grow in compact spaces. They are an excellent choice for small container gardens, or even for hanging baskets. Most of the fruit from these plants tend to be of a smaller size. • Paste tomatoes are those that work best in sauces and soups. They are meaty with a low concentration of seeds. • Bush tomato varieties that grow in a compact form. These do not necessarily need to be staked, but may benefit from a cage around the bush to help hold the weight of the tomatoes. • Vine tomatoes need to have a trellis or stake to climb. These varieties will produce runners that will climb up what you offer, and the tendrils will hold on. The vine tomatoes will benefit from the added help of ties to hold the runners in place. • Determinate is a tomato variety which grows to a certain size before it bears its fruit. Bush tomato plants are often determinate. The benefit of these plants is that the fruits all are ready to harvest at about the same time on each plant. These varieties are good choices for canning or freezing purposes. • Indeterminate tomato varieties continue to grow and bear fruit until the first frost. These are typically the vine plants and they can be staked or allowed to grow on their own on the ground. • Brandywine is another vine plant of the heirloom tomato variety. It produces large fruit, and the vine produces well over a long season. It is a classic garden tomato. • Beefsteak tomatoes are one of the largest varieties ever to have been cultivated. Mature fruits can weigh up to 16 ounces. Most of the fruit are a light red with small seeds. The meat is juicy and sweet. • Big Boy is a bush hybrid designed for smaller garden spaces. The fruits grow up to around 10 ounces each and provide a sweet flavor. This variety is very disease resistant. • Roma tomatoes are a variety of paste tomatoes which produces a large number of fruits on each plant. The average plant may set up to 200 fruit, usually all at the same time. This attribute makes the Roma variety another good choice for those gardeners who want to can some of their harvest. • Super Bush is another compact tomato plant, which is an ideal choice for container gardens. The plant reaches approximately two feet tall, and produces medium fruit that grow up to nine ounces. This hybrid is also disease resistant.  Tomato plants are one of the best choices of plants to grow, suitable for any size vegetable garden. There are almost no limits to size or colors. With a little care and patience, you can have a lovely supply of healthy and mouth watering tomatoes ready to be enjoyed all summer long. Whether intended for homemade soup or pasta bowls with spaghetti, it is no wonder tomatoes are a staple ingredient found in kitchens around the world.Author Bio: This article was contributed by Elizabeth Krause with www.simpleitaliancooking.com, a website featuring easy Italian recipes which she has gathered from her and her husband's family. Her love of Italian food began on a trip to visit relatives in Italy where she got the chance to witness true Italian culture and cuisine. From the Italians using simple stovetop espresso pots to make quick shots of espresso for friends and family, to the 2 course midday meals, she learned the value of simple living - including growing one's own vegetables and crops. "Thanks Elizabeth, it's great to know more about the different tomato varieties available!" Happy Gardening! Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back To Garden Vegetables Back to Flower and Garden Tips Homepage Click here to subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - your FREE monthly ezine! http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/tomatovarieties.html |
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