You Say Tomato, I say “Love Apple”

Cooking Up a Story: Cooking Fresh

Though I now have a deep and abiding love for tomatoes, it has not always been so…but I count myself in the minority. The romance with this tempting fruit has existed for decades and spans multiple cultures, countries and centuries. At times thought of as an aphrodisiac (thus the name Love Apple or pomme d’amour) and always thought of as delicious, the tomato’s sensuous curves and delicate flesh have resulted in the occasional riot. In fact, the Church of Rome banned it for lewd and lascivious behavior for nearly 150 years.

Tomatoes can be prima donnas and are definitely resource intensive, but their allure brings me back to growing them year after year. If you want to grow tomatoes, here are some things to remember:

1. Tomatoes don’t like it too cold or too hot. This means don’t plant too early, the soil needs to be nice and warm. It also means that if air temperatures are above 90 degrees the little guys likely won’t set fruit. You can try shading in the heat of the day.
2. Plant tomatoes with a good portion of the vine underground. Some experts say to lay the tomato on its side, I just plunge it straight n the ground, but my seedlings are not very large either.
3. Tomato seedlings are easy to start…and it’s an easy way to get more variety with less cost. Just remember they need warmth and lots of light.

Jean Ann Van Krevelen, Portland, Oregon author and garden coach, enjoys a passion for growing, harvesting, preparing and storing vegetables and fruits of all kinds. Her new book, Growing Food: A Guide for Beginners consists of easy to follow steps to start growing your own food. For more information, visit her Growing Food Guide website.

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