Through our virtual programming series, Nature in your Neighborhood, we challenged volunteers to go out into their neighborhoods or backyards to see what plants sparked their interest. Whether plants are native or non native, we can all appreciate a connection to nature and the curiosity that it can spark!
By: Angela and Charles
Tomatoes are commonly called vegetables, but they are actually fruits. They are eaten in soups and salads. Tomato plants are bushy annual, and generally have many spreading branches. The plants require relatively warm weather and much sunlight. The flowers are yellow and hang in clusters. The fruit can be round or oval or shaped like a pear. When ripe, the fruit is usually red or yellow. Tomatoes contain many small seeds surrounded by jelly like pulp. This pulp contains most of the tomato’s vitamin C.
Tomato plants first grew wild in the South America. The Spanish brought tomatoes to Europe in the 16th century. It was first grown in Italy about 1550. At first Europeans grew tomatoes only for decoration, because they thought that tomatoes were poisonous. Tomatoes were introduced to North America from Europe, and did not become popular in the United States until the early 1900s. Tomatoes are now cultivated and grown commercially throughout the world.
Grow Tomatoes in 6 Steps
Plant the seeds
Water the seeds
See the seedling
Time to transplant
Water the seedling
Stake the plant
Pick the tomatoes!!