Relevant answers to your frequent questions...

Tomato: Frequently Asked Questions

My tomato plants are not producing any tomatoes. Why?

Usually tomatoes that are deficient in calcium suffer from blossom rot. No blossoms, no tomatoes. Enrich the soil with some pelletized lime or use Chesapeake Blue, a soil additive made from crab shells which contains lots of calcium. We are told that the tomatoes produced by plants that have been planted with Chesapeake Blue are delicious! TIP: Do not water the leaves on tomatoes as this too causes the rot.

Are Demko whole peeled tomatoes and Demko tomato preserves suitable for use in baby food preparation?

Yes, Demko tomato products meet stringent health and safety standards. Tomatoes are picked at optimal ripeness and prepared under high heat. The product is then immediately packaged into hermetically sealed containers with no added or artifical ingredients.

How many kilos of fresh tomatoes is one kilo of Demko Tomato Paste equivalent to?

One kilo of Demko Tomato Paste is made from 6.5 kilos of fresh tomatoes. As for Demko Tomato Preserves, one package is made from 1.6 kilos of fresh tomatoes.

Every one of my tomatoes has a dark blemish on the bottom of the tomato fruit. Some of the areas are sunken. What caused that?

It sounds like damage from by tomato blossom blight, which is caused by uneven moisture supply that results in a lack of calcium in the plant during fruit formation. It begins as light tan water-soaked lesion on the blossom end of the fruit. The lesions enlarge and turn dark and leathery. The problem may be very severe where the soil has a high salt content, is sandy, or has poor drainage. Container or pruned plants are more likely to suffer. Apply a two-inch layer of organic mulch under plants and water consistently. ...

Will practicing yoga help prevent the squirrels from stealing the tomatoes from my tomato plants in the back yard?

YogaDawg: Hummm, that’s a tough one. Unfortunately the answer is no. Nothing on the face of the earth will prevent the squirrels from stealing your tomatoes. Squirrels will eat every tomato that they lay their eyes on. When the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse approach, the squirrels will be in front of them eating all the tomatoes.

I want to ensure that my tomato plants will produce a lot of healthy tomatoes. What can I do to get good tomatoes?

To help ensure a good crop of tomatoes, use Bonide Tomato-Blossom Set Spray. Spray the blooms and surrounding foliage to increase blossom set, which will increase yield and production. Use a side dressing of Garden Naturals Tomato & Vegetable Food.

I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT A TOMATO IS A FRUIT, BUT YOU HAVE RECIPES THAT INCLUDE TOMATOES AND TOMATO PRODUCTS. DO YOU CONSIDER IT A VEGETABLE?

Tomatoes are technically fruits, but they are lower in sugar than most fruits, so I include them as a vegetable for Somersizing.
Tomatoes are technically fruits, but they are lower in sugar than most fruits, so I include them as a vegetable for Somersizing. IS GEM SQUASH LEGAL? IT'S DARK GREEN, ROUND, AND BRIGHT YELLOW INSIDE. Sorry, but this is like pumpkin and considered a Funky Food.

Why tomatoes?

Tomatoes are extremely versatile and nutritious . They have high levels of vitamin A and vitamin C and also contain lycopene, an ingredient that may help prevent certain cancers and cardiovascular disease. Tomatoes are included in Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating as part of the recommendation of five to ten servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Are tomatoes a fruit or vegetable?

Botanically, tomatoes are fruits of the tomato plant. Green peppers and cucumbers are also fruits of their plants. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture places all of these "fruits" in the vegetable group. In 1893, the Supreme Court ruled that tomatoes are a vegetable when a gentleman named John Nix sued the port of New York's customs collector for back duties he paid on imported tomatoes. At the time, a 10 percent tariff was required on imported vegetables, while fruits were imported duty–free. ...
Tomatoes are really a fruit, which are related to the chilli, capsicum, potato, and eggplant families, all of which claim to have originated from South America
Botanically, tomatoes are a fruit, because a fruit is the edible part of the plant that contains the seeds, while a vegetable is the edible root, stems or leaves of the plant. However, it is generally used as a vegetable.

What are heirloom tomatoes?

Heirloom tomatoes are open pollinated, non hybrid tomatoes, which have been bred over the years in the traditional manner, with no genetic modifications for disease resistance or attractiveness. Heirloom tomatoes come in many colors and shapes, and have become popular in recent years due to their unusual looks and traditional tastes.

Where are Beekist tomatoes grown?

Beekist tomatoes are grown throughout the North Island of New Zealand in both state-of-the-art glasshouses or for speciality lines, in state-of-the-art greenhouses. These houses protect crops from adverse weather conditions and enable all year round supply

How are Beekist tomatoes pollinated?

Environmentally friendly bumblebees pollinate the tomato blossoms - hence the name Beekist

How are Beekist tomatoes grown?

Beekist tomatoes are grown either Hydroponically in Rock Wool (organic rock substance) or Coco Fibre (coconut tree fibre)

Our tomatoes are growing on the vine, and they are beginning to turn red, however there is a soft spot on the bottom of the tomato where it is beginning to rot. What is happening to them?

The tomatoes may be experiencing some calcium deficiency. You may wish to add some CalMax fertilizer to the MaxiKap fertilizer. You can mix them together in a diluted state (in the MaxiKap watering kit) however, do not mix them in the concentrated state. Vermicomposting Questions:

I have several tomato plants in 5-gallon containers that are growing well but produce few flowers. Do tomatoes produce well when grown in containers?

Plenty of foliage and few flowers suggest you have been overfertilizing. Another possible cause for lots of tops, and no buds is too much shade. Move the plants into the sun and reduce the feedings to every other week. Unless these are cherry tomatoes or one of the heat-resistant types, you might not see good fruiting until fall. But don't give up; start a new planting in mid-August.

Q. I have the best tomato crop I have ever had, but the large tomatoes are falling off the vines. Even the ones that stay on the vine are jarred off easily. What is the problem?

Cool fall temperatures cause the abscission zone, the area where the tomato is attached to the plant to weaken, and the heavy fruit subsequently falls. Gather fallen tomatoes as soon as possible, wipe them clean and store them in a warm place to ripen. These aborted tomatoes will rot if left on the ground.

Q. My tomato fruit have small yellow specks on the surface. When the fruit are peeled, those yellow specks form a tough spot that must be cut off before eating the tomatoes. What's wrong?

Your problem is not of a varietal origin. The yellow speckling is caused by sucking insects such as stinkbugs or leaf- footed bugs. Early control of sucking insects that feed on the fruit is helpful in alleviating the problem.

Is a tomato a fruit?

The world really has two different meanings for the word fruit. There is the use of the word when you go to the grocery store, and then there's the use of the word by a botanist. In the grocery store, we generally understand a fruit to be a natural plant product that is sweet, and a vegetable to be a natural plant product that is not sweet. In this standard definition, apples, strawberries, grapes and bananas are all fruits, while green beans, tomatoes, squash and potatoes are all vegetables.

Who is this Tomato?

Tomato is a professional translator, (Dragon Ball) and is currently hacking Mother 3. Treat him with honour, decency, and respect. He is awesome, in physical form. Kind of like Giygas, just replace "evil" with "epic pwnage".

Which tomato is best for containers?

There are several to pick from, Patio, Better bush, Early Pick, Keepsake will all do fine.

How is tomato concentrate used?

Simple, double and triple Tomato Concentrate , is ideal for flavouring and adding colour to all sorts of dishes: only a small amount is needed to make any dish much more tasty. If added during cooking to meat, soups or sauces, it will bring out their flavour and turn them an appetising shade of red. If used on its own, dissolved in a little hot water it is ideal for making mouth-watering sauces for pasta and rice.

What is an heirloom tomato?

Although there is no standard definition for heirloom, most experts describe heirlooms as being passed down through several generations of a family because of its best characteristics. They are soft tomatoes with limited shelf life and fall into four major categories: commercial, family, created, and mystery. Commercial heirlooms are open-pollinated varieties introduced before 1940. Family heirlooms come from seeds passed down over several generations. ...

What is a hydroponically grown tomato?

Growing plants hydroponically is an alternative to growing them in soil. In this method, plants are suspended so that their roots can be submerged in a solution supplying all their nutrients. With the nutrients highly available to the plant, it grows very well and produces a lot of fruit or vegetables.
Source: ensure.com

Which tomato variety or varieties aren't affected by tomato blight?

Don't think there is such a variety. NDSU did some testing a few years back and all the varieties tested became infected. Just watch your plants and start spraying with a fungicide when you notice brown spots on the lower leaves. Tomato Leaf Roll

Is it safe to freeze tomatoes?

It is safe to freeze tomatoes, however, once you defrost them is better not to use them as fresh tomatoes, since freezing makes their texture to become mushy. It is important that you wash tomatoes in clean water and dry with a clean cloth before freezing them. Tomatoes can be frozen whole, sliced, chopped or puréed, and either raw or cooked, or prepared in any recipe that you like.

Which tomatoes are the earliest?

Some of the earlier ones include: Early Girl and Scotia. TREES & SHRUBS

Are tomatoes really a fruit?

The tomato has been called both a fruit and a vegetable, however, its acidic content gives it characteristics similar to that of acid fruits. Experiment and see how you feel after the various combinations. Everyone's system is different.
Source: www.hsu.com
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