Is it a bad time to start a garden blog, when everything is turning over and going to sleep? Well there is still a lot to do for most gardeners, clearing up and saving leaves for mulch if you’ve got the space, and of course planting bulbs for spring colour. It’s all in the planning and also reflecting on what has and hasn’t worked. Next years mission – change the hydrangea!
I’ve been amazed to find that our little back garden in Bristol still has a few tomatoes growing and ripening, even though it is October and they are outdoors. It’s a very protected little corner. There are a few green ones still there and I’m thinking about turning them into chutney – my mum has a brilliant recipe that I will share with you later.
7 Things you may not know about tomatoes…..
- Tomatoes are related to potatoes as they are part of the nightshade family
- They evolved in pre-historic times along the banks of rivers in the Pruvuian Andes
- In the 16th century it was given various names including, golden apple (mall aurea), wolf peach and the better know Italian name pomodoro which it is still called today. (the Italians know when they’re onto a good thing)
- From the 16th century until the late 1700’s it was generally considered to be at best of no nutritional value at worst poisonous and to be avoided and were grown in Europe only as an ornamental fruit.
- In 1820 – a rich eccentric and tomato convert from Salem called Robert Gibbon Johnson, announced that he would publicly eat a basket of tomatoes from his garden on the steps of the Salem courthouse. Apparently he drew quite a crowd and Man vs Food was born (not really) and did wonders for the tomatoes reputation.
- tomatoes have been proven to lower skin sensitivity to the sun.
- China is the worlds largest grower of tomatoes ahead of America.
Albion Gardens 