Tomato: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
(condense, typos) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Common |
'''Common tomato''': ''Lycopersicon esculentum'' |
||
[[image:tomato.jpg]] |
[[image:tomato.jpg]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | The origin of the word tomato is Latin for 'juicy [[wolf]] [[peach]]' because they were believed to evoke |
||
| ⚫ | The origin of the word tomato is Latin for 'juicy [[wolf]] [[peach]]' because they were believed to evoke werewolves, and were initially believed to be poisonous (and despite being proven otherwise, some people like to hold onto the belief that they are still poisonous to avoid eating them... unless they're made into a sauce). They only became popular in the early 1820s after it was discovered they weren't poisonous, and became exceptionally popular in the 1920s when they became widely cultivated. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
It's a common SCA myth that tomatoes were not available in Europe in the SCA [[period]] (pre-seventeenth century). |
|||
In fact, as with many [[New world foods|New World]] (read North and South Americas) foods (like [[chocolate]]), it was in fact known, and utilised, if in different ways to the modern palate. If anything, |
In fact, as with many [[New world foods|New World]] (read North and South Americas) foods (like [[chocolate]]), it was in fact known, and utilised, if in different ways to the modern palate. If anything, the initial rarity value made it an expensive novelty. |
||
They were known as "Golden Apples", and were for example eaten as follows: |
They were known as "Golden Apples", and were for example eaten as follows: |
||
Revision as of 19:45, 11 August 2003
Common tomato: Lycopersicon esculentum
A widely cultivated South American plant having edible, fleshy, usually red fruit.
The origin of the word tomato is Latin for 'juicy wolf peach' because they were believed to evoke werewolves, and were initially believed to be poisonous (and despite being proven otherwise, some people like to hold onto the belief that they are still poisonous to avoid eating them... unless they're made into a sauce). They only became popular in the early 1820s after it was discovered they weren't poisonous, and became exceptionally popular in the 1920s when they became widely cultivated.
It's a common SCA myth that tomatoes were not available in Europe in the SCA period (pre-seventeenth century).
In fact, as with many New World (read North and South Americas) foods (like chocolate), it was in fact known, and utilised, if in different ways to the modern palate. If anything, the initial rarity value made it an expensive novelty.
They were known as "Golden Apples", and were for example eaten as follows:
"The golden apple one eats in the same way as the eggplant with pepper, salt and oil, but it gives little and evil nutrition." (Source: "Herbario nuovo", Roma, 1585, dall'introduzione di Piero Camporesi a "La scienza in cucina e l'arte del mangiare bene" di Pellegrino Artusi)
For an excellent discussion on tomatoes and their use in the SCA period, read this excellent article available at Stefan's Florilegium: http://www.florilegium.org/files/FOOD-VEGETABLES/16C-Tomato-art.html
If, for some bizarre reason, you want to grow tomatoes, they're apparently fairly easy to cultivate. You can readily buy seeds and seedlings from the supermarket or Bunnings, and you should plant them in full sun so they get plenty of water. You may have to fight a number of tomato problems such as anthracnose, bacterial canker, black mould, curly top, early blight, root rot, powdery mildew, southern blight, infectious chlorosis virus, tomato pith necrosis, water mould, white mould.
There are also lots of insects which like to munch on your tomato plant, such as: lygus bugs, potato tuberworm (they've clearly become confused), stink bugs, fruit worms, pin worms, leafhopers, aphids, leaf miners, mites, cutworms and symphlyans. Nematodes will also have a fun time with your tomato.
There are many tomato varieties (non-hybrid) such as:
