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| common_names = Tomato
| common_names = Tomato
| growth_habit = herbaceous shrub or vine
| growth_habit = herbaceous shrub or vine
| high = <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
| high = 1-3m (3-10 ft)
| wide = <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
| wide = <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
| origin = [[Mexico]] to [[Peru]]
| origin = [[Mexico]] to [[Peru]]
| cultivar =
| cultivar =
}}
}}
Tomatoes are technically fruits (berries to be exact) that are treated like vegetables. Tomatoes are one of the most common garden vegetables in the United States and, along with [[zucchini]], have a reputation for outproducing the needs of the grower. Plants typically grow to 1–3 m in height, with a weak, woody stem that usually scrambles over other plants. The [[leaf|leaves]] are 10–25 cm long, pinnate, with 5–9 leaflets, each leaflet up to 8 cm long, with a serrated margin; both the stem and leaves are densely glandular-hairy. The [[flower]]s are 1–2 cm across, yellow, with five pointed lobes on the [[corolla]]; they are borne in a [[cyme]] of 3–12 together.
Tomatoes are technically fruits (berries to be exact) that are treated like vegetables. Tomatoes are one of the most common garden vegetables in the United States and have a reputation for being easy to grow, and producing a prolific crop{{SSN}}. Plants usually grow 1–3 m high, on a weak, woody stem that often needs support. [[leaf|Leaves]] are 10–25 cm long, pinnate, with 5–9 leaflets, each leaflet up to 8 cm long, with a serrated margin; both the stem and leaves are densely glandular-hairy. The small, 1-2cm yellow [[flower]]s have five pointed lobes on the [[corolla]], and come on a [[cyme]] of 3–12 together.
Tomatoes are grown around the world for their edible fruit, and thousands of [[cultivar]]s having been selected for varying fruit types, colors, sizes, textures, shapes, and for optimum growth in different climates and conditions. They range in size from the 1-2cm [[cherry tomato]]es, to the 10cm or more beefsteak tomatoes. Most cultivars are in the 5-6cm range and red is the most common color, though yellow, orange, pink, purple, green, or white fruit are also easily found. Some have multicolored and striped fruit. Tomatoes grown for [[canning]] are usually elongated, at 7–9 cm long and 4–5 cm wide; they are known as [[plum tomato]]es.
==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==
===Hydroponic and greenhouse cultivation===
===Hydroponic and greenhouse cultivation===
[[Image:Tomatplanta.JPG|thumb|left|Young tomato plant]]
[[Image:Tomatplanta.JPG|thumb|left|Young tomato plant]]
In cooler climates, tomatoes are frequently grown in [[greenhouse]]s. Cultivars like the British 'Moneymaker' and some of the cultivars grown in [[Siberia]] have been specifically bred for indoor growing. Starting seeds in a greenhouse (or at least indoors) in more [[Temperate|temperate climates]] during the winter is a common way to get a head start on the growing season. These greenhouse starts need to be hardened before planting outdoors.
[[Hydroponic]] tomatoes are also available, and the technique is often used in hostile growing environments as well as high-density plantings.
Tomatoes are also grown [[hydroponic]]ally, either for high-density plantings and production, or in hostile climates.
Tomatoes are falsely claimed to be self-pollenating. Outdoors, bees and wind do the trick, but in a greenhouse, pollination must be aided by artificial wind, vibration of the plants (one brand of vibrator is a wand called an "electric bee" that is used manually), or more often today, by cultured [[bumblebee]]s.
Tomatoes are falsely claimed to be self-pollenating. Outdoors, bees and wind do the trick, but in a greenhouse, pollination must be aided by artificial wind, vibration of the plants (one brand of vibrator is a wand called an "electric bee" that is used manually), or more often today, by cultured [[bumblebee]]s.
===Pests and diseases===
===Pests and diseases===
:''[[List of tomato diseases]]''
:''[[List of tomato diseases]]''
Tomato cultivars vary widely in their resistance to disease. Modern [[hybrid]]s focus on improving disease resistance over the [[heirloom plant]]s. One common tomato disease is [[tobacco mosaic virus]], and for this reason smoking or use of [[tobacco]] products should be avoided around tomatoes.<ref> [http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1168.html Tomato-Tobacco Mosaic Virus Disease] ''Extension.umn.edu''. URL Accessed June 30, 2006.</ref> Various forms of [[mildew]] and [[blight]] are also common tomato afflictions, which is why tomato cultivars are usually marked with letters like [[VFN]], which refers to disease resistance to ''[[verticillium]]'' [[Wilting|wilt]], ''[[fusarium]]'' [[fungus]], and [[nematode]]s.
Tomato cultivars vary widely in their resistance to disease. [[Tobacco mosaic virus]] is a common problem, so smoking and the use of [[tobacco]] products should be kept away from tomatoes.<ref> [http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1168.html Tomato-Tobacco Mosaic Virus Disease] ''Extension.umn.edu''. URL Accessed June 30, 2006.</ref> Different forms of [[mildew]] and [[blight]] are also often tomato afflictions, which accounts for why tomato cultivars usually get marked with letters like [[VFN]], which indicate disease resistance to ''[[verticillium]]'' [[Wilting|wilt]], ''[[fusarium]]'' [[fungus]], and [[nematode]]s.
Some common tomato pests are [[cutworms]], [[tomato hornworm]]s, [[aphid]]s, [[cabbage looper]]s, [[whitefly|whiteflies]], [[tomato fruitworm]]s, [[flea beetle]]s, [[slug]]s,<ref>[http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG7561.html Slugs in Home Gardens] ''Extension.umn.edu''. URL Accessed July 14, 2006.</ref> and [[Colorado potato beetle]]s.
Some common tomato pests are [[cutworms]], [[tomato hornworm]]s, [[aphid]]s, [[cabbage looper]]s, [[whitefly|whiteflies]], [[tomato fruitworm]]s, [[flea beetle]]s, [[slug]]s,<ref>[http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG7561.html Slugs in Home Gardens] ''Extension.umn.edu''. URL Accessed July 14, 2006.</ref> and [[Colorado potato beetle]]s.
[[Image:Heirloom tomatoes.jpg|thumb|150px|A variety of heirloom tomatoes.]]
[[Image:Heirloom tomatoes.jpg|thumb|150px|A variety of heirloom tomatoes.]]
: See [[List of tomato cultivars]]
: See [[List of tomato cultivars]]
There are a great many tomato [[cultivar]]s grown for various purposes. This section attempts a listing of some of the more common cultivars. Heirloom cultivars are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among home gardeners and organic producers, since they tend to produce more interesting and flavorful crops at the possible cost of some disease resistance. Hybrid plants remain common, however, since they tend to be heavier producers and sometimes combine unusual characteristics of heirloom tomatoes with the ruggedness of conventional commercial tomatoes.
There are countless tomato [[cultivar]]s today, and some of the more common are listed below. Heirlooms tend to be grown for their flavor, colors and shapes, while hybrids are chosen for disease resistance, larger crops and uniformity.
Tomato cultivars are roughly divided into several categories, based mostly on shape and size. "Slicing" or "globe" tomatoes are the usual tomatoes of commerce; [[beefsteak tomato]]es are large tomatoes often used for sandwiches and similar applications; [[plum tomato]]es, or paste tomatoes, are bred with a higher solid content for use in [[tomato sauce]] and [[tomato paste|paste]]; and cherry tomatoes are small, often sweet tomatoes generally eaten whole in salads.
Tomato cultivars can be divided into several rough categories, based mostly on shape and size
*"Slicing" or "globe" tomatoes are the usual tomatoes of commerce
*[[Beefsteak tomato]]es are large tomatoes, often used for sandwiches
*[[Plum tomato]]es, or paste tomatoes, have a higher solid content and are used in [[tomato sauce]] and [[tomato paste|paste]]
*Cherry tomatoes are small, often sweet tomatoes generally eaten whole in salads
Tomatoes are also commonly classified as determinate or indeterminate. Determinate, or bush, types bear a full crop all at once and top off at a specific height; they are often good choices for container growing. Indeterminate cultivars develop into vines that never top off and continue producing until killed by frost. As an intermediate ground, there are plants sometimes known as "vigorous determinate" or "semi-determinate"; these top off like determinates but produce a second crop after the initial crop. Many, if not all, tomatoes described as heirlooms are indeterminate.
Tomatoes are also commonly classified as determinate or indeterminate.
*Determinate, or bush, types bear a full crop all at once and grow to a specific height; these can work well in containers
*Indeterminate cultivars grow like vines that, continuing growth and production until killed by frost (most, if not all heirlooms are are indeterminate.)
*There are also tomatoes called "vigorous determinate" or "semi-determinate", which stop growth like determinates, but produce a second crop after the first one.
Commonly grown cultivars include:
Commonly grown cultivars include:
*'Purple Haze' (large cherry, indeterminate. Derived from Cherokee Purple, Brandywine and Black Cherry)
*'Purple Haze' (large cherry, indeterminate. Derived from Cherokee Purple, Brandywine and Black Cherry)
*'[[Roma]] VF' (a [[plum tomato]] common in supermarkets)
*'[[Roma]] VF' (a [[plum tomato]] common in supermarkets)
*'Rutg
*'Rutgers' (a commercial heirloom cultivar)
*'San Marzano' (a plum tomato popular in Italy)
*'San Marzano' (a plum tomato popular in Italy)
*'Santa F1' (a [[China|Chinese]] [[grape tomato]] cultivar popular in the U.S. and parts of southeast Asia)
*'Santa F1' (a [[China|Chinese]] [[grape tomato]] cultivar popular in the U.S. and parts of southeast Asia)
*'Sweet 100' (a very prolific, indeterminate cherry tomato)
*'Sweet 100' (a very prolific, indeterminate cherry tomato)
*'Yellow Pear' (a yellow, [[Pear shaped|pear-shaped]] heirloom cultivar)
*'Yellow Pear' (a yellow, [[Pear shaped|pear-shaped]] heirloom cultivar)
==Gallery==
==Gallery==