Did You Know – Tomatoes
1. Tomatoes Are Not Only Red
Tomatoes come in a variety of colors including yellow, pink, purple, black and even white.
2. There Are Over 15 Thousand Varieties Of Tomatoes
There are thought to be more than 3,000 varieties of heirloom or heritage tomatoes and more than 15,000 known varieties in total.
3. Tomatoes Are Technically A Fruit
A tomato is technically a fruit because a fruit is defined as the edible part of the plant containing seeds whereas a vegetable is the stem, leaf or root.
4. Tomatoes Have Been to Space
600,000 tomato seeds were sent to the International Space Station to see the effect of outer space on seed growth and development.
5. The First Tomatoes were Gold and Considered an Aphrodisiac
When tomatoes were first introduced to Europe, they were small, golden and cherry sized so they gave them the name ‘golden apples’. The French were convinced tomatoes were aphrodisiacs and named them “love apples.”
6. China is the Largest Producer of Tomatoes
China produces a quarter of the worlds total tomato production whereas the USA and India are the second and third highest producers.
7. Guinness Book Of World Records For Tomatoes
The Guinness World Record for “most tomatoes harvested from a single plant over one year” was 32,194 tomatoes harvested between May 2005 and April 2006, and the plant weighed 1,151.84 lbs.
8. Tomatoes Are Very Rich in Lycopene
Tomatoes are the most natural and richest source of lycopene available to us. Lycopene is a very powerful antioxidant.
9. Tomatoes are Well-Known for Heart Health
Tomatoes contain some anti-inflammatory properties and are a good source of potassium, which is linked with lowering elevated blood pressure in the body and helping to prevent cardiovascular issues.
10. The Word Tomato Comes From A Spanish Word
The English word for tomato comes from the Spanish word tomate. The Aztec name is translated to “Plump thing with a navel.”
Source: http://www.Campbells.com
Image: http://www.Pixabay.com
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
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Categories: Did You Know, Vegetables/Slaws/Salads
Black and purple tomatoes – wow! We always have tomatoes in our house – fresh and canned. This morning we enjoyed fresh pan-fried tomatoes with cheese on top for breakfast.
Can I add another tomato “fact”? In 1991 there was a movie called “Fried green tomatoes” – I was a student then and we were a bunch of girls who went to see the movie and loved it!
Thank you for your ode to the delicious tomato Diane!
Oh yes Fried Green Tomatoes is an excellent movie and very popular! Thank you Corna!
Love the Aztec definition!
Me too!
Very curious to see the different coloured tomatoes! I’ve seen small cherry tomatoes that are yellow and purple but have never seen pink, black or white ones. Interesting!
We haven’t seen any in our area but we have in the gardening books. Thank you Ab!
I eat tons of tomatoes – love them!
You sound like my husband. I would if the store’s tomatoes tasted like home grown.
We’re fortunate that there’s so many market gardens close by
I would definitely eat more greens if we had better choices and ones that tasted good. You are very fortunate!
I do know that Diane
I know
They are also most delicious!
Yes, looking forward to our garden tomatoes!
Even more reasons to love tomatoes. 🙂
Thank you!
You are very welcome. 🙂
Being Italian, it is mandated by the Constitution that you grow tomatoes in your yard, on the patio…
Tomatoes also have a history.
In baseball, a pitch that is easy to hit is called a tomato can.
In the movie MARTY with Ernest Borgnine, his mother, who is worried that he is not yet married, urges him to go to a dance because there a lot of tomatoes there.
Hahaha Love your facts!
I enjoyed all these tomato facts, thanks 🙂
You’re very welcome!
I am trying my hand at growing tomatoes and so far, I have not a single one. I was told this happens. You can get so many you don’t what to do with them all or none at all like me!
Our plants have blossoms but that’s it so far. Our tomatoes don’t ripen until August. I hope you get some! Picking our own tomatoes and eating them right off the vine, warm, is my favorite way to eat them.
Feed them some coffee grounds. That will help them.
They are right on track for our area JC. However, I do create a lot of coffee grounds every day. Lol
Oh, well that’s good to know. Maybe I just need to be more patience.
I did just pull one massive tomato off the other day since I first commented and I’m waiting for it to ripen a bit more in the window. It was huge and turning red when I pulled it. I was scared the bugs were going to get it, so I pulled it. I hope it works out because it’ll be my first!
You did good! I did a post on picking the tomatoes when they get their first bit of color change. The tomato will not get any bigger once it first starts to turn (color) and then put it upside down on the counter. You can also put it in a bag with a banana to ripen well.
Awesome! Thank you!!
Very interesting Diane!
Thank you Kellye!
I did not know any of these facts Diane, especially about the heart health and lowering blood pressure – wow! I should be eating more tomatoes since heart disease runs in the family.
I love home grown tomatoes but they are only here for a month. I just don’t like the store bought ones. Terry did find some vine ripen store bought smaller tomatoes that are usually pretty good but I let him have them. He is an avid salad eater, I like them with salt. Besides that, my heart is healthier than his. Hahaha
I used to like those vine-ripened smaller tomatoes too as they tasted like home-grown. I don’t really like the Roma tomatoes as they have no taste in my opinion.
I agree and the grape tomatoes are nasty too.
Tasteless!
Yes and hard!
We are growing some tomatoes this year – all potted. One variety is a black cherry tomato, which was purchased by mistake, but still pretty cool to see.
I love cherry tomatoes and make sure my husband buys them every year. I have seen pictures of the black cherry tomato plants for sale in catalogs but I have never tasted them. I would love to know how they taste. It’s always fun to try something new.
I will keep my eye out for white tomatoes – new to me!
We have tried many different types, colors and shapes of tomatoes and there has never been anything as good as the traditional Big Boy, Better Girl etc.to me!
A few years ago we discovered the sweetest little tomatoes I’ve ever tasted, even though I wouldn’t have guessed it by their orange color. Not sure what their official name is, do you? (They’re small, like cherry tomatoes.)
We’re they Sun Sugar Cherry tomatoes?
You always have interesting posts ! We went to a local farmer this morning to buy tomatoes and a huge assortment of other fruit/veg. Peas, strawberries, radishes etc.
Thank you Susan! I am so jealous, our stands are selling Tennessee tomatoes and they did have strawberries. We only have itsy-bitsy vegetables starting on ours.
I can’t wait for the cherries to come out locally!
We just finished with ours.