One of the most common crops of the home gardener - there is nothing quite like plucking a sun-warmed, ripe tomato off its vine and enjoying it with some fresh garden basil. With over ten thousand varieties to choose from, just one plant can yield between 10 - 15 pounds or more in a growing season. While technically a fruit, the tomato is used across all cultures in nearly every type of cuisine and is usually treated as a vegetable.
While almost 95% of the tomato’s weight is water, they are actually quite high in fiber. Their red color comes from the organic pigment Lycopene, which also has health properties when consumed, like protecting from the sun, supporting the heart, and reducing the risk of cancer.
Growing tomatoes in GardenSoxx® | Plant Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade)
Nutritional Information For Tomatoes
Nutritional Facts - per 100/g
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 20 | - |
| Total Fat | 0.3 g | - |
| Sodium | 5 mg | - |
| Potassium | 215 mg | - |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.1 g | - |
| Sugar | 2.4 g | - |
| Protein | 0.8 g | - |
| Vitamin C | - | 14% |
| Iron | - | 2% |
| Vitamin A | - | 5% |
| Calcium | - | 1% |
How to Grow Tomatoes in Your GardenSoxx®
Tomatoes love the sun and heat and will grow best when given a good amount of both. While seeds can be started indoors, many gardeners choose to simply purchase their tomato plants from a nursery to save them the trouble of having to harden off the seedlings before putting them in the soil. Tomato seedlings should only go into the soil well after the last frost date when the weather is consistently on the warmer side.
Add a stake next to the tomato at the time of planting so that it can support the plant as it grows (adding the stake after the plant has been established can cause damage to the plant roots). As the tomato plant grows, remove the “suckers” (the small branches that grow at a 45-degree angle between the main stem and branches) so that the plant grows straight and remains sturdy.
Tomato Seed to Harvest Time: 50 - 100 days depending on the variety
How to Harvest Tomatoes
Wait for tomatoes to blush and pick them off the vine while they are still firm and showing some color. They can continue to ripen on the counter. If the weather turns cold and you are left with green tomatoes on your vine that are not turning red, remove them and place them in a cardboard box in a cool, dry spot in your home. They will take time, but will eventually ripen. Green tomatoes can also be used in some recipes and for pickling.
