Crisp bacon, fresh lettuce and the perfect slice of tomato were the three things on my mind as I put that first tomato plant in the ground this year.  Small, five-lobed, yellow flowers made a promise to me of what was to come.  The month of July shows us the fruits of our labor in every aspect of the garden.  One of these areas is our vegetable patch.  The tomato is truly the king of all things edible as we coast into the season were what you did in the spring should simply be enjoyed.

Red, Ripe ….History

It’s widely accepted that the tomato originated in some sort of wild form somewhere near Peru, Ecuador or Bolivia.  The plant was then carried out of the Andes northward into Central America and Mexico.  Our word “tomato” is a slight modification of tomati, the word used by the Indians of Mexico who have grown the plant for food for perhaps thousands of years.  An interesting part of the tomato’s history is that although it has roots in the Americas, it has only been widely consumed in the United States for the last 100 years.

One of the first known written accounts of tomatoes being grown and consumed for food didn’t take place until the 1550’s.  European explorers and writers mentioned seeing the tomato in far-off places.  However, there was never a mention of the plant being grown or consumed anywhere near what is now the U.S. In fact most early Americans considered the tomato a poisonous plant.  The Italians (as you might have guessed) really helped transform the tomato into an everyday culinary delight.  They have been growing and cooking with them for the last 450 years.  It was, in part, the Italians who helped spread the tomato throughout Europe.

Frustrations in the Garden:

There are several very common garden problems that can play havoc with tomatoes this time of year.  For many in our region, the big two are fruit cracking and blossom-end-rot.  However, there are many other common diseases and insect pests of tomatoes.  Contact your local county extension office for specific problems you might be having.  To handle fruit that cracks as it ripens, switch to a more consistent watering schedule. Cracking occurs when the outside skin of the tomato expands and stretches too fast. Watering on a schedule helps plants take up water more consistently and allows for  slower expansion of the fruit.

Blossom-end-rot can be a discouraging problem in the tomato garden.  It’s caused by a calcium deficiency induced by water stress.  The characteristic symptom is a progressive deterioration of the bottom end of the fruit, from a water-soaked appearance to a sunken, black, leathery lesion.  Just like fruit cracking, proper irrigation and water management are key to control this disorder.  Mulch plants to hold water in the soil and provide good, consistent moisture.

Bacon…. A Love Affair

As you slice your first tomato this year, take a second and think about the journey this plant has taken to end up on your plate — from high in the Andes to the gardens of the Aztecs; loved by early Italian chefs and shared throughout Europe, to your kitchen counter.  Of all the interesting things you can do with a tomato, I will have mine with two, three or maybe even four slices of bacon, just the right amount of mayo and a few leaves of lettuce.  I will make the always-important “to-toast-or-not-to-toast” bread decision on game day.

Tomato Q and A:

Who eats the most catsup in the U.S.?

Children under the age of 12 consume 19 percent of catsup but they are not the leading consumers.  Teenage boys (12-19) have the highest per-capita consumption of catsup.

Who eats the most fresh (non-processed) tomatoes?

Men and women over the age of 39 consume 50 percent of all fresh tomatoes.  Also, Hispanic populations in the U.S. are the strongest consumers of fresh-market tomatoes.

In the U.S. do we eat more potatoes or tomatoes?

Tomatoes are second only to potatoes in both U.S. farm value and vegetable consumption.  Per capita consumption of fresh tomatoes has been on the increase. Average annual per capita consumption in 1981 was 12.3 pounds and has steadily increased to over 18 pounds per person, per year.

What states grow the most tomatoes?

California is the tomato king, followed by Florida.

How important are tomatoes to our diet?

For many in the U.S., tomatoes contribute more nutrients to their diet than any other fruit or vegetable.  The tomato is full of nutrients including Vitamin C, Vitamin A, potassium, folic acid and more.