How To Grow Successful Tomatoes

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Grow Perfect Tomatoes Introduction The tomato plant or to give it its botanical name Solanum lycopersicum originated in South America. Today it has many varieties which are grown in a range of climates. The tomato is botanically a fruit, but it is considered a vegetable for culinary purposes. The tomato belongs to the genus Solanum, is the same family as the potato and nightshade. Tomatoes are often grown by those who make no other attempt to grow anything else that can be eaten, sometimes the product of our labours can start a lifelong interest in producing food we can eat. My early attempts at growing tomatoes were bad enough to ensure I did not try again for quite a few years. I did not understand the importance of satisfying the needs of the plant I thought I could just water them when they were moments from death and be rewarded for my trouble, how wrong I was!! Tomatoes are not the easiest crop to grow, but they are worth the effort, the taste of a fresh tomato cannot be matched by anything that your local supermarket can supply no matter what fancy label they give them...vine ripened...sold on the stem, the taste is still not in the same league as a tomato picked fresh from the plant. Indeed I find it difficult not to eat as many as I pick when I am in the greenhouse! Tomatoes are technically a perennial but they are grown as annuals from seed each year. They can be grown outside in the UK – specific varieties are available but the slightest frost will kill them. Tomatoes do better if they can be given some shelter from a poly tunnel or greenhouse. Types of Tomato Plant Cordon or Indeterminate Tomato Varieties These are one of the more popular types of tomatoes, they are tied to a cane or string and the side shoots are removed to ensure the plants energy goes into the fruit rather than foliage. When a number of trusses (The plant stalk that

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