Summer Tomato Harvest

Tomatoes are by far the most popular garden vegetable in America. They provide a variety of riches, mainly antioxidants such as lycopene. Studies have shown that lycopene has a direct connection with bone health. Also, fresh tomatoes have been shown to lower total cholesterol.

I have been planting tomatoes for the last 6 years and my household impatiently waits for the tomato season. I usually plant the seedlings in early March and I start harvesting around the end of June. There are over 115 varieties of tomatoes available for the home gardener. I usually plant about 28 different varieties and they yield about 250 to 300 pounds of tomatoes per year. I can about 150 pounds for the entire winter and eat and distribute the rest.

Tomatoes are great in salads, soups, and stews. I slow roast them in the oven with a bit of olive oil. I make pasta sauce and pizza sauce, and also tomato jam. I have shared the tomato jam recipe in a previous post.

Enjoy!