10 Things You Didn’t Know About Tomatoes

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a widely used and adaptable item that may be found in a wide variety of dishes and diets. Nutritionists primarily classify it as a vegetable even though it is really a fruit. In many different cultures around the world, tomatoes are a staple component in many dishes and a crowd-pleasing favourite. They are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K. They also have many other health advantages.

Around the world, a wide variety of tomato plants are cultivated in temperate regions, and greenhouses enable the production of tomatoes at all times of the year. Typically, tomato plants reach heights of 1-3 metres. The width of a tomato can range from 1 to 10 cm (1 to 24 inches) depending on the cultivar. Here are the 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Tomatoes;

1. Tomatoes are Actually a Fruit, not a Vegetable

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Although tomatoes are considered vegetables in the culinary sense, their fruit is categorised as berries in the botanical sense. After fertilisation, it grows from the plant’s ovary into a real fruit, the flesh of which makes up the pericarp walls.

The fruit has locular cavities, which are hollow pockets filled with moisture and seeds. Depending on the type, they differ among domesticated species. Some smaller kinds have two cavities, globe-shaped varieties normally have three to five, beefsteak tomatoes have a large number of smaller cavities, and paste tomatoes have a very small number of cavities.

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2. There are Thousands of Tomato Varieties

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Tomatoes with a lengthy history and a reputation for purity are known as heirlooms. Some have been crossbred to thrive in confined quarters or in areas with shorter growing seasons More than 3,000 heirloom or legacy tomato varieties are reportedly being grown now in different parts of the world, and there are more than 15,000 known types overall.

3. Not all Tomatoes are Vine-grown

Actually, determinate and indeterminate tomato plants are the two varieties. In essence, the indeterminate type refers to an endless period. The vining variety of which this is a specimen will continue to yield tomatoes until the first frost.

A determinate tomato, often known as a non-vining tomato, is the other type of tomato. When these bush kinds reach a particular height, generally five or six feet, they suddenly begin to bear fruit. Because you can harvest a lot of tomatoes at once, this is typically a wonderful variety of tomatoes to grow if you want to create tomato paste, tomato sauce, or salsa.

4. Not all Tomatoes are Red

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It should not be surprising that there are many tomato colours given the wide variety of tomato types. They can be white, green, orange, purple, yellow, or purple. In fact, a yellow variety known as “golden apples” was among the earliest tomatoes to reach Europe.

5. Tomatoes are Great for Cardiovascular Health

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Tomatoes have a number of advantages for the circulatory system. They contain plenty of potassium, a mineral that, when consistently ingested, lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke. In addition, lycopene, the chemical that gives most tomatoes their red colour, is also known to offer protective qualities against heart disease and some cancer types, including prostate and breast cancer.

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6. Tomatoes have been to Space

For growth in the Advanced Plant Habitat, scientists launched tomato seedlings to the International Space Station. They were trying to see if they could survive and grow for longer space journeys. NASA scientists developed a programme so that students can cultivate seeds that have travelled to space in conjunction with this study and then provide the researchers with their findings.

7. Tomatoes were Once Considered Poisonous

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Up until the 1590s, tomatoes were not produced in England. John Gerard, a barber and surgeon, was one of the first farmers. One of the oldest discussions of the tomato in England can be found in Gerard’s Herbal, which was first published in 1597 and heavily borrowed from continental sources.

Gerard was aware that Italy and Spain both consume tomatoes. But he thought it was poisonous. Although the plant and the fruit contain small amounts of tomatine, they are normally safe. Gerard’s ideas had a considerable impact, and for many years throughout Britain and its North American colonies, the tomato was regarded as unfit for consumption.

8. Refrigerator Storage of Tomatoes Is Not Recommended

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The ideal way to store tomatoes is unwashed, at room temperature, and shielded from the sun. It is not advised to refrigerate them as the flavour may be harmed. Cold-stored tomatoes frequently experience a permanent loss of flavour. Stems-down storage may prevent too rapid decomposition, extending shelf life. Unripe tomatoes can be preserved in a paper bag until they mature.

9. Tomatoes Originated in South America

Tomatoes originated in Central and South America. More specifically, they emerged in the Andes by 700 A.D.The plant was domesticated around 7,000 years ago, and it later developed into the tomatoes we know today.

10. A raw Tomato is 95% Water

The amount of fat and protein in a raw tomato is less than 1%, and it is 95% water. It also has 4% carbs. In a reference serving of 100 grammes (3.5 oz), raw tomatoes have a low quantity of micronutrients and provide just 18 kilocalories and a moderate amount of vitamins.

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