Tomato

Where does Tomato grow?

Found in: Africa, Albania, Angola, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Congo DR, Congo R, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Liberia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Romania, Rotuma, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Seychelles, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, United States, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, West Africa, West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are 7 Lycopersicum species. The Lycopersicum were transferred to Solanum in 1993.

Status: It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Common in small amounts in most areas of Papua New Guinea but often for sale as it is not a popular food.

Growing Tomato

Cultivation: Plants are sown from seeds. These are normally sown in a nursery and transplanted. They are transplanted when 40-45 days old or 15 cm high. They are spaced about 60-90 cm apart. Seeds can also be sown directly in the field. They can also be grown from cuttings. To give fewer and larger fruit the side branches of upright types are removed. Upright plant types need to be tied to stakes. Plants are often grafted into stronger rootstocks.

Edible Uses: The fruit are eaten raw or added to salads. They can be cooked, stewed, pureed, stuffed, made into sauces, juice, and used in soups and stews. Unripe fruit are pickled, roasted, fried and dried. CAUTION Although in a lot of places in Papua New Guinea the leaves are eaten this is probably not a good idea. Leaves and green fruit are poisonous.

Production: Harvesting commences after about 14 weeks. Yields can be 3-4 kg of fruit per plant.

Nutrition Info

Tomato Photos

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