Do you grow tomatoes? If you do not, then I advise you to have a go. Some Googling gives the credit to Aztecs as the original growers of tomatoes and on their arrival in Europe, a 16th century Italian herbalist called Pietro Andrae Matthioli made reference to pomi d'oro," apples of gold ", a note that as we know today there are yellow tomatoes as well as the traditional luscious red ones. Pietro then went off at a tangent by weaving in the pomi d'oro into the same classification, plant wise as the mandrake, revered at that time as an aphrodisiac. Hence the pomi d'oro became a " love plant ", more specifically " a love apple ". Then the French, who might be said to enjoy a certain, shall we say je ne sais quoi around aphrodisiacs, renamed the plant to the pomme d'amour or love apple. But I am not advising you to have a go at growing the love apple as a boost to anything other than your taste buds!
And I am steering clear of the merits on the fruit v. vegetable definition on tomatoes. Here is my 2020 tomato growing report In 2020, I grew the following tomato varieties either on Plot 106 or in the greenhouse at home. I sowed the seeds in February 2020 Roma The star of the tomato crop this time. A huge crop, 15kg from 6 plants. Roma is a bush variety that is very fleshy. Best used for cooking and preserving, the crop was used for chutney MORE Alicante A salad tomato of the classic type that slices well and is a very attractive dark red colour on the plate. Two plants in the greenhouse produced about 4kg from eight trusses MORE Gardeners Delight Could almost be described as sweeties or candy as they can be eaten at any time, with or without a meal. Small, deliciously flavoured and very prolific MORE Super Marmande Bit of a trial here, grew a couple of plants on 106 to see how they would go. A success. Large beefsteak type with super flavour. Best sliced. One to concentrate on next time by growing more plants MORE Report completed. November is knocking at the door, but the time will pass quickly until it is time to sow the love apples again. There may well be storms, wind and ice but then too, a new beginning ...
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AuthorI launched this website on 16th August 2020 to bring together my thoughts on gardening,, its importance for health and wellbeing and two projects running concurrently, a renovation of my own garden on the West Sussex coast at Lancing and a nearby allotment. But also to learn from other gardeners about the inspirations for their plots, about their gardening projects and enjoyment of beautiful plants and gardens Archives
February 2024
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