Learn all about tomatoes, this tasty fruit! 🍅 It offers an exceptional range of tastes, shapes and colors. The tomato has become a staple on our plates, so much so that it's often eaten out of season. Find out how to grow and cook them, so you can enjoy your harvest all summer long.
Do you live in the city and want to start your own vegetable garden? Discover our composting kitchen garden, where you can grow herbs and vegetables using your own waste!
Contents
The origins of the tomato
The tomato is a fruit native to South America. The plant grows wild in the mountain valleys of the Andes. It was the Aztecs who first domesticated and cultivated it. When Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492, he also discovered the tomato. The tomato was imported to Europe in the 16th century, as a result of exploration.
The tomato soon became an emblematic food in Spanish and Italian cuisine. It was nicknamed "pomodoro", "pomme d'or" or "pomme d'amour".
However, further north in Europe, the tomato is considered a "poison apple". This was due to the fact that it belonged to the same family as belladonna, a poisonous plant. By the 16th century, many botanists considered the tomato inedible. This belief persisted for almost two centuries! From the mid-18th century onwards, tomatoes were finally recognized as edible. In France, the people of Provence were the first to eat them.
Today, its cultivation in France is highly developed. Consumed by the French all year round, French market gardeners grow them in greenhouses out of season.
Growing tomatoes
How to sow tomato seeds?
Tomato seeds can be sown under cover from February and March. Beware of the risk of spinning, and give your seedlings maximum light. Transplant young plants from mid-May, once the risk of frost has passed, until June.
How to maintain it
Tomatoes thrive in rich, well-drained, sunny soil. Tomatoes need space and depth, so set them back at least 20 cm. If you're planting them above ground, choose planters or deep pots.
It's important to stake your tomato plants so they don't collapse under the weight of the fruit. You can also prune the lowest branches to prevent them from bearing fruit.
Water regularly. Remember to mulch the base of your tomatoes to limit water evaporation. Take care not to water the leaves, but rather the base. Tomatoes are sensitive to mildew.
Tomatoes often fall prey to aphids and other insect pests. To avoid chemical treatments, think of crop combinations! Plant fragrant plants like basil or marigolds to keep pests at bay.
When to harvest?
The eating season for French tomatoes therefore runs from June (for tomatoes grown in the south of France) to October, i.e. until the first frosts. Given the right environment, tomatoes can produce up to 3 kg of fruit per plant.
Cooking tomatoes
It's the ultimate summer fruit! Its nutritional qualities are the proof. Rich in water, beta-carotene and vitamin C, tomatoes hydrate you and give you a tan! Rich in antioxidants and fiber, tomatoes ease transit and combat age-related illnesses.
To make the most of its nutrients, eat it raw, with skin and seeds. Likewise, to preserve all its benefits, don't store it in the refrigerator, as temperatures below 15°C may spoil its taste and virtues.
Gaspard's gazpacho recipe
Father's Day, Gaspard 7 years old 👦🏻 prepared his famous 3-tomato gazpacho. Because Gaspacho is also his nickname! 🍅🍅🍅
Did you know? 💡 Mainly known as "Andalusian gazpacho", gazpacho is a cold soup prizedfor its richness in naturalingredients. Similar to the Salmorejo recipe, gazpacho is generally made with fresh, rawvegetables. Served in a glass, this soup is undoubtedly the bestsummerrefreshment.
Ingredients for 4 (tomato) gourmands 😉:
- 6 mixedtomatoes
- 1 cucumber
- 1 green bell pepper
- 2 spring onions
- 1 garlic clove
- 8 sprigs chives
- Basil
- 200 g stale breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp .sherry vinegar
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 pinchchilli pepper
- A pinch ofsalt and pepper
Step1👩🍳:
Peel the cucumber, split it in half and remove the seeds.Cutinto small pieces. Peel and seed the tomatoes, and cut the pulp into small cubes. Remove the ribs and seeds from the bell pepper and dice.Clean and chop the onions.Set asidea few spoonfuls of these vegetables in a cool place for garnishing.
Step2👨🍳:
Soak the breadcrumbs in cold water. Peel the garlic and remove the germ. Combine all the vegetables, chives, garlic and crushedbread in the bowl of a food processor. Blend to a smooth consistency.
Step3 🍽:
Season with salt, pepper, chilli, olive oil and vinegar. Chill for at least 3 h. Sprinkle with diced vegetables before serving.
Ceercle little extra Ceercle Choose severalvarietiesof tomatoes and basil (such as purple basil, for example) to give your dish a thousand and onesummer colors ☀️🌈
Our recipe for seasonal tomato coulis
The tomato is a fruit that's hard to live without for 8 months of the year... Why not preserve your summer tomato harvest in jars, so you can enjoy the taste all year round?
This anti-waste tip allows you to respect the seasonal nature of the product, while enjoying all the benefits of summer tomatoes. If you don't have a sterilizer, don't panic - you can still put them in jars!
Step 1: Prepare a tomato sauce with your ripe tomatoes (they'll add flavor), season to taste (garlic, oregano, olive oil, olives, basil, onion, red wine, for example).
2- Simmer until the desired consistency (coulis, sauce, purée, etc.) is reached.
Step 3 : Meanwhile, plunge your empty jars and lids into boiling water to sterilize them, and leave to soak for 10 min. Then drain them upside down on a clean cloth.
4- Pour the hot tomato sauce up to 1 cm from the rim of your clean jars and close them tightly.
Step 5: Place your jars in a large casserole dish and cover with at least 2 cm of water above the lids.
Stage 6: Bring to the boil and sterilize for 30 minutes.
You can then store these jars at room temperature for 6 to 12 months.
Ceercle tip: if you hear a hissing sound when opening the jars, it means they are ready to eat 😉
Composting tomatoes
Do you have leftover tomatoes? Whether it's the flesh, seeds, skin or core, you can compost them!
