Life of the Vine

1. Life of the Vine A beginner’s guide to growing tomatoes. AUTHOR – Tammy “Michelle” Connally

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3. History of the Tomato • Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) • Member of the Solanaceae family • Tomato came from Peru • Domesticated by the Mayans & Mesoamerican farmers in Central America and southern Mexico • Exported by the Europeans, the first cookbook mentioning Tomatoes as from Naples in 1692.

4. AKA - Also Known As • “Tomatl” a Nahuatl word for “the swelling fruit” • Known in Italian as “Pomidoros” • Known in Greek as “Esculentum” (edible) • Once grown in the US as an only as an ornamental because it was known as the “Cancer Apple” in early American horticulture. • Thought to have been poisonous as its relative, the deadly nightshade.

5. Team Fruit or Team Veggie? • A tomato was a fruit until 1893 when the supreme court declared they were vegetables. • This protected tomatoes from being taxed under the Tariff Act of March 1883. • Nix vs. Hedden, 149 U.S. 304 (1893)]

6. Tomatoes Today Store and Heirloom [online image] available at http://www.biostareq.com/images/articles/store-tomato-vs-heirloom-sm.jpg

7. Store bought vs. Heirloom An analysis by the US Department of Agriculture highlights that 100 grams of fresh tomato TODAYhas 30% less vitamin C 30% less B-1 19% less B-3 62% less calcium than the tomatoes did in 1960. The industrial tomatoes of today, however, do provide 14 times more sodium. (1)

8. Pesticides for Conventional Grown Tomatoes • Before the seed is planted,an infusion of chemicals applied to the soil in which the roots will grow. • Nitrogen and Potassium Chemical Fertilizer • Methyl Bromide • While the tomatoes are growing there is additional exposure to chemicals. • 19 Herbicides • 31 Fungicides • 60 Pesticides

9. What to Plant • Heirloom Tomatoes Picture • http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com30366/2256619610095447466S600x600Q85.jpg Cherokee Purples German Stripe Mortgage Lifter Brandywine Hawaiian Pineapple Mr. Stripey

10. Items needed to plant Seedling trays [online image] available http://www.energiesofcreation.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/seedlings-070322.thumbnail.jpg • Seedling Trays • Sterile Soil • Warming Pad • Mister Spray bottle • Liquid Fertilizer • Seeds of Heirloom tomatoes

11. How to plant Plant seeds 6-8 weeks before the last frost Soil is al least 60°F with warming pad Follow seed packet directions for planting the seed Keep soil Moist with mister Needs 6-8 hours of sun from sunny southern facing window or light source. Once seedling emerges, spray liquid fertilizer with mister on leaves once a week.

12. Preparing to move outside Seedlings [online image] http://www.energiesofcreation.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/tomatoes-070421.thumbnail.jpg Frost will harm and kill young plants Fruit will not set if nighttime temps are below 55°F Gradually expose them to the outside

13. How to transplant outside Sunniest spot in the Garden Go with lightly rotted manure Add in some bone meal and wood ashes Tomatoes prefer a pH range of 6 to 7 Make the hole larger than needed Cover bottom with sifted compost Soak Roots in Water or Compost Tea Mix in heaping teaspoon of Epsom salts Burying the tomato plant up to its 2ndset of leaves

14. Transplanting the seedling outside Tomato transplant [online image} available http://www.growgardentomatoes.com/image-files/planting-tomatoes-2.jpg

15. Potted or Garden Bed • Tomatoes in the Garden [online image] available • http://www.gardendesignx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Tomatoes-Garden.jpg • Potted Tomato Plant [online image]. Available • http://homention.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Tomatoes-in-Pot-Gardens.jpg

16. Fertilizer & Mulching MULCH, MULCH, MULCH whether you plant in a bed or a pot. Apply a fertilizer once a week with compost tea or worm casting tea. Side dress with compost when fruiting and cover with additional mulch.

17. Pruning Prune the plants by removing the suckers, which are the new growth between the leaf and the stem.

18. How to prune for the first time First prune [online image] available http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1156/Images/fig.5.gif

19. Pruning the sucker • Tomato Sucker [online image] available • http://www.charleysveggies.com/wp-content/uploads/tomatosucker2.jpg

20. Pole Staking • Tomato Staking [online image] available • http://www.ecoyardfarming.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/

21. Bamboo Trellis Bamboo trellis [online image] available http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4630898905_fb6bc41d83.jpg

22. Grapevine Trellis Grapevine trellis [online image] available http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/trellised-tomatoes.jpg

23. Supporting with String String Trellis [online image] available http://www.kdcomm.net/~tomato/graphics/trellis2.jpg

24. Harvesting Read the seed packet for specific harvesting time which can range from 55-105 days. Best if tomatoes are grown and harvested in 80 degrees temperatures. Temperatures above 90 degrees will adversely affect tomatoes.

25. Saving seeds for next crop Saving seeds [online image] available http://cdn1.preen.com/illustr/articles/saving-tomato-seeds-lg.jpg Save seeds from the best fruits with sweet and juicy taste that did well in your climate. Spread them out on a paper towel and let them dry out. After a month, then move seeds into a container or reseal able bag for storage.

26. Pests & Diseases • I like to give 10% of my crops to Mother Earth and her inhabitants including insects and worms. • Tomato Hornworm – green worms with black stripes • Try to prevent by dusting plant with Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth, do not dust the fruit only the plant. • Tomato Fruit worm – moth larvae eat into the tomato and then it is too late, dust with DE • Remove weak seedlings because these will only be weak and spread disease.

27. Tomato Hornworm Hornworm [online image] available http://grapeseedfarmproject.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/tomato-horn-worm.jpg

28. Tomato Fruit worm Fruit worm [online image] available http://grapeseedfarmproject.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/tomato-horn-worm.jpg

29. Gazpacho 1 1/2 pounds tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped Tomato juice, 1 lime, juiced 1 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper, red onion 1 small jalapeno, seeded and minced 1 medium garlic clove, minced 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce 1/2 teaspoon toasted, ground cumin 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, chiffonade Directions Fill a 6-quart pot halfway full of water, set over high heat and bring to a boil. Make an X with a paring knife on the bottom of the tomatoes. Drop the tomatoes into the boiling water for 15 seconds, remove and transfer to an ice bath and allow to cool until able to handle, approximately 1 minute. Remove and pat dry. Peel, core and seed the tomatoes. When seeding the tomatoes, place the seeds and pulp into a fine mesh strainer set over a bowl in order to catch the juice. Press as much of the juice through as possible and then add enough bottled tomato juice to bring the total to 1 cup. Place the tomatoes and juice into a large mixing bowl. Add the cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, jalapeno, garlic clove, olive oil, lime juice, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire, cumin, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Transfer 1 1/2 cups of the mixture to a blender and puree for 15 to 20 seconds on high speed. Return the pureed mixture to the bowl and stir to combine. Cover and chill for 2 hours and up to overnight. Serve with chiffonade of basil.

30. Credits • Estabrook, Barry. 2011. Tomatoland. Andrews McMeel Publishing LLC • (1) Quote from A Passion for tomatoes article, reference • Gazpacho Recipe • http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/gazpacho-recipe/index.html