Greenhouse Tomatoes by Dana Angelo White in Eating Green, Farmers' Market Finds, In Season, June 3, 2010
I make it a point to only eat tomatoes when they’re in season. After spending the summer months eating sweet and juicy tomatoes from the local farmers market and my own garden, there’s just no going back to those dull and flavorless ones at the grocery store. So how was I able to make my favorite tomato sandwich for lunch yesterday? It’s all thanks to a local farmer’s greenhouse.
Soil, Seeds and … Fire?
So how is it possible to have freshly grown tomatoes in Connecticut in May? My favorite local farm has a wood-fired greenhouse that keeps plants warm and allows them to grow tomatoes months ahead of their normal growing season –- how cool is that?!
I won’t even pretend to fully understand the delicate balance of light, temperature, water and soil (and firewood) required to plant tomatoes indoors as early as February. Only certain varieties prosper in these conditions –- the classic Beefsteak is a popular greenhouse farmer choice. Even the greenhouse itself needs to be extra sturdy to support such hardy plants.
So, How Do They Taste?
My greenhouse tomatoes taste like what they are: amazingly fresh tomatoes. I’ll admit they are missing the slightest hint of that mid-summer tomato flavor, but I’ll happily eat them on tomato sandwiches until the summer ones are here.
Where to Find Greenhouse Tomatoes
Grocery stores may also have greenhouse tomatoes –- they are sometimes referred to as “hot house” tomatoes. If they came from a local source, give them a try. If they were flown in from thousands of miles away, you might want to wait until they show up at your farmers’ market.
To find a farm growing greenhouse tomatoes near you, ask around at your local farmers’ market or search at localharvest.org.
TELL US: Have you ever had a greenhouse tomato?
Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition. See Dana’s full bio »
You Might Also Like:
- Grow Your Own Veggies at Home, Easily
- 5 Ingredients: Tomato-Basil Pizza
- More Late-Spring Produce Recipes
-
More posts from Dana Angelo White.
Hey there! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog. Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Thank you
One more thing. I really believe that there are several travel insurance internet sites of reputable companies that let you enter your journey details and have you the prices. You can also purchase your international holiday insurance policy on-line by using your credit card. All you have to do will be to enter all travel particulars and you can view the plans side-by-side. Simply find the system that suits your budget and needs and then use your bank credit card to buy that. Travel insurance online is a good way to begin looking for a reputable company for international travel cover. Thanks for giving your ideas.
Hmm is anyone else having problems with the images on this blog loading? I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Howdy! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I came to check it out. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Exceptional blog and terrific style and design.
F*ckin’ remarkable issues here. I am very happy to look your post. Thanks a lot and i am taking a look forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?