Tomato: origin, cultivation, pests and why it was believed to be toxic

Nothing brings color and flavor like the tomato. And not only in food, but also in the garden. You have to see first the yellow of its flowers and then the transition of the fruit that goes from green to red, passing through yellow, orange and sometimes even pink tones.

Initially, when it first arrived in Europe, it was believed that the tomato was toxic. Red is usually a colour that means warning. That is why, at first, it was used as an ornament, something that also happened with the potato .

In this article, we will hear from Julio. He has several varieties in his fields, including the Valencian tomato. He is currently worried about a pest , so he will also tell us how he fights it using an ecological method.

We always say it: Farming is not as simple as planting the seed, watering it and leaving the plant in the sun. Farming is hard, conscious work that requires daily work. So let's learn about tomato cultivation. But first, let's briefly explore the origins of this delicious fruit.

Origin of the tomato

Like many fruits and vegetables, the tomato came to Europe from the American continent. It grew wild in the areas of Peru and Ecuador , but it is said that the first to domesticate these plants were the Aztecs . Its name comes from these ancient Mexican settlers, from the Nahuatl language: tomat. 

The curious thing is that the avocado comes from the same area and its name also has origins in Nahuatl . If you want to know more, we recommend this article that talks about the history and origin of the avocado . Now let's move on to the tomato.

As we were saying, once it arrived in Europe, it was used for ornamental purposes. From the 18th century onwards it began to be cultivated for food purposes and quickly became more popular . And of course, once it arrived in Valencia it became part of the cultivation tradition, so much so that one of the varieties that Julio grows exists: the Valencian tomato.

About tomato cultivation

Like peppers and potatoes , tomatoes belong to the Solanaceae family of flowering plants. The plant is completely covered with hairs through which it absorbs water and nutrients. Its leaves are aromatic and have serrated edges.

They are plants that flower profusely and their flowers begin to produce tomatoes that take on their characteristic red color once they are ripe.

Julio tells us that the tomatoes he grows in his field are hybrids : We have had to sacrifice the local varieties because they are creeping, they are the ones that are grown in the ground.

Among the creeping plants we have the zucchini , a plant for which growing close to the ground works, but not in the case of tomatoes.

As Julio tells us: tomatoes are staked to obtain good quality fruit. We have chosen this way of growing them because it is more difficult for them to develop in optimal and healthy conditions in the ground.

By staking tomatoes, the plants produce more, making fruit harvesting more comfortable and helping to control pests and diseases .

In this image you can see Eduardo, founder of Campos del Abuelo, next to a plantation of staked tomatoes. Look how firm that structure looks:

 

The tuta pest in tomato crops

One of the pests that tomato growers like Julio have to deal with is the tuta. The tuta is a moth-like bug that affects the fruit at any stage and “mines”, that is, makes tunnels while it feeds on it.

To combat it, our farmer colleague has a biological control with insects that feed on the eggs and larvae of the tuta. Julio tells us about this:

The tuta hides between the trunk and the tomato, also damaging the stems of the fruit, always looking for places to take shelter. The treatments for this pest, in addition to being ecological, must be respectful of these insects that feed on the tuta , for this reason we use sulfur.

The insects that feed on the tuta arrive because Julio has different plants in his field in which they live. At the beginning of spring, he intentionally places them in the hedges, where they live and feed on the Tuta. The positive thing is that they do not affect the bush and maintain a balance of harm-benefit.

Another pest that can affect crops in the Solanaceae family is the beetle. In this article on potato cultivation , Vicent, an agroecological grower, gives the example of how crop rotation is used to combat this type of insect .

Another tool that Julio uses is sulfur in his crops, considered very useful to combat fungi and allowed in organic farming . Julio tells us about this: When dried, sulfur leaves white spots on the surface of the fruit or vegetable, which helps eliminate mites. Sulfur does not pose any risk, since in organic farming it has a shelf life of one day or none, that is, it can be applied and harvested on the same day.

A little about the origin, the cultivation in July and about one of the pests that affect tomatoes, but we still don't know why it was considered toxic. Let's find out the reason because it is a very curious story.

Why was tomato considered toxic in the past?

As we said at the beginning, when it first arrived in Europe, it was believed that tomatoes were toxic . This was because people actually died when they ate them. But don't worry, it wasn't the tomato's fault.

It began to be seen that those who were poisoned were the people who ate with dishes . If someone found a tomato on the street and ate it, nothing would happen to them. Now, if they were sitting at a table and used plates, well, most likely they would end up badly.

The real problem was that the plates used were made of a lead alloy. So, when the plates came into contact with the acidity of the tomato , the lead was released, ended up in the diner's body and led to his death.

When this was discovered, the potential toxicity of the tomato was put aside and it became very popular in European kitchens. As popular as it is today.

Knowing this story, and although at first the relationship with tomatoes in our lands began with certain disputes, we can say that today it is a basic part of our cuisine and our diet. And of course, also in our fields.

Remember that by visiting our online store you can purchase seasonal fruits and vegetables straight from the field to your home . In addition, you can customize your box with the products and quantities you want, starting from one kilo. Our products are free of post-harvest chemicals and do not undergo any type of refrigeration.

Until next time and thanks for reading!