By Thomas Cenci

We all know green tomato chutney.

It’s the first recipe that comes to mind when even mentioning the green fruit, but it doesn’t have to be just green tomatoes.

Why not try adding something else to help liven it up a little like using cardamon, coriander, chilli or even extra fruits like apple or pears. Try this recipe using poppy seeds or tell us what you add to yours.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs Green tomatoes
• Large pinch poppy seeds
• Half an onion Read the rest of this entry »

By Amelia Tucker

Most people think that a frost is sudden death to a tomato patch.

They watch the frost dates carefully and consider the season over as soon as the forecast warns of impending cold weather.

This is not always the case.

With a little careful planning, you can continue to harvest tomatoes after the frost of fall comes knocking on your door.

A very light frost will usually kill a few leaves but leave the plant and fruit untouched.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Amelia Tucker

Although it is fun to search the web and find fun, quirky sites about tomatoes, there comes a time in every tomato gardener’s day that they need cold, hard facts about raising the best, most, tastiest of the tomatoes for their area.

Where do tomato producers go to find the serious stuff like production sheets, pricing, cultivating and what is new to the tomato industry?

Here is a good place for your more serious growers to start.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Amelia Tucker

One of the things that tie backyard gardeners together is the desire to eat the freshest and healthiest produce they can.

If you are buying your tomato from someone else, how do you know if it is organic?

• Buy locally
• Know your tomato’s history
• Check the sticker number

Read the rest of this entry »

By Amelia Tucker
With the peak tomato season upon us, there are only a few simple rules to continue your tomato harvest.

1. Water

Keep the plant watered.

Letting a tomato plant dry out leads to cracking fruit and puts undo stress on the fruit. If you want to water overhead, remember to do so early in the morning so that the leaves have time to dry out in the sun to prevent disease.

2. Pinch

Pinch extra plant material like leaves and side stems that are not producing any fruit.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Tomato Queen

Are you a container-gardener hanging your tomato plants?

Try growing them upside-down!

This recent trend is thought to put less stress on the weight-bearing stems, which require no staking, providing better circulation and a better yield.

You can also grow other delicious edibles out of the top.

Read the rest of this entry »