It has been said that tomatoes are the most popular garden vegetable. (Botanists tell us a tomato is actually a fruit and not a vegetable.)
The plants are relatively easy to grow and, with some care, can be quite productive. Most people like eating them. Nothing beats the flavor of a homegrown tomato.
There are many types of tomatoes. There are cherry tomatoes, globe tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, and Roma tomatoes. These can be further classified as hybrid or heirloom, determinate and indeterminate.
Hybrid tomatoes are a cross between different varieties. Heirloom tomatoes aren’t bred to be resistant to transportation or long shelf lives. They often have unique shapes and interesting colors.
Determinate tomato plants bear fruit all at once and then die. Indeterminate tomatoes can bear fruit for a longer period and only stop when the weather begins to turn cooler.
Tomatoes are delicious, especially when they are ripe and juicy and plucked from the vine. They can be squeezed for juice, cooked in soups, used in casseroles, baked and stewed, and made in to sauces, ketchup and pickles. Tomatoes can be frozen or canned for later use.
Tomatoes are nutritious when fresh and, unlike other vegetables, they lose few vitamins and minerals in cooking.
Late summer is prime tomato season, and it will be coming to an end soon, so enjoy the taste of fresh tomatoes while you can. It won’t be long before people will be grumbling about supermarket tomatoes, their tough skin and tastelessness. Lack of flavor. Supermarket tomatoes have been bred to withstand the rigors of transportation and refrigeration. Pale and lackluster and don’t have the big, bright flavors of juicy, peak-season summer tomatoes.
This simple tomato salad recipe is healthy and tasty, too. If possible, use several varieties of tomatoes to enhance the flavor and appearance of this salad.
Mix together olive oil, sesame oil, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic sugar, pepper, and basil. Pour over chopped tomatoes. Allow tomatoes to marinate in the sauce for a while before serving.
Just before serving, give the tomatoes a stir. Top with toasted sesame seeds.
For questions about recipes or other information, contact Susan Maslowski at mudriverpottery@aol.com or go to metrokanawha.com. Susan also has a Farmer’s Table page on Facebook.
