TOMATOES

Hello Folks, I know it’s been a while since you’ve heard from me, sorry about that. I’ve been busy with the Co-Filipino Canadian Association in Halifax and unfortunately I didn’t have access to a computer where I stayed, but I’m back now, so let’s get on with today’s topic, Tomatoes.

                                                                                                     

Quite often Tomatoes are considered to be vegetables, but in fact they are a fruit. In any case to me they are simply delicious and healthy.

                                                                                                                                                

This year I’m growing two varieties of Tomatoes, the Nova Scotia’s Beef Steak Tomatoes and the Sweet Cherry Tomatoes. Due to a late spring and summer here on the East Coast my little garden is progressing a little slower than usual , so I will need to wait until the end of July before we can eat this savory fruit. Hopefully from here on out we will have a nice mix of sunshine and rain.

                                                                                                                               

As I had previously mentioned, if you wish to have tomatoes that are both sweeter and larger than usual, remove some of the little branches or twigs from the plants. Simply pinch off the smallest twigs between the bigger branches when they are soft.

 

Another good tip in having sweeter fruit is to let it ripen on the branches before you harvest. To serve, first wash them and then place them in the freezer for 5 minutes to solidify the juice. Then slice them with a corrugated knife.

 

A great way to enjoy the fruit of your labor is to cut your tomatoes into thin slices, then sprinkle them with fresh basil leaves, add a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of salt and “voila!” - Italian Tomato Salad.

 

If you would like to know more about this wonderful fruit please go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato

 

I’ve grown veggies in my garden for 6 years now. To begin with I bought the vegetables at the local grocery store. I then saved the seeds and planted them the following year. Now I recycle my own seeds yearly.

 

Next time when we will talk about Bok Choy (Petchay-Filipino) – so until then keep it growing and keep it green! Thank you and happy gardening everyone.

 

Clara Canta Simpson was born in a small farming community in the Philippines 63 years ago. She is an eternal optimist and believer that if it can be done she can do it. She has now offered her services to http://www.yoursecondfifty.com to help you enhance your gardening green thumb.