When do tomatoes

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

come into season?

That helps with healthy eating.

[hungryhousewife Profile]

Hi Gill - nice to see you!
It depends where you live! If in the UK, then not till mid-late summer (unless you live in a polytunnel!!)

Most of the tomatoes at the mo seem to be from Holland and are grown inside, probably hydroponically, and have virtually no smell or taste IMO. I bought some the other day which came from Israel and they smelled tomatoey and were OK.

Even in the height of the season, I hardly by UK grown toms, unless they smell fab, but try and get those grown in hotter climes!
HH

[Suelle Profile Website]

That helps with healthy eating.

I find raw tomatoes in large quantities make my arthritis worse, so not so healthy for me.......

[hungryhousewife Profile]

Poor you Suelle!
That is rotton luck! I know that all the Solanums are supposed to be bad for arthritis.
You probably already know this, but I was talking to an Indian doctor the other day, and she said that there is very little arthritis in India, because they all eat food spiced with Turmeric. Turmeric is not only antiseptic, but anti-inflamatory. I gather it is quite effective - obviously, depending on how badly you have it.

Since this conversation, I always put Turmeric in my salad dressings, casseroles etc. Stains like hell, but that's a small price to pay.

HH

[LaConchita Profile]

That is one of the best tips İ've come across. Thanks HH. Off to buy a sack of turmeric!

[hungryhousewife Profile]

Hi Conchita!
I wouldn't want to promise a miracle cure, but apparently is is a fact that there isn't much arthritis amongst Indians.
Also, whenever I have had (not for ages) a bit of pain in my thumbs (too much gardening in the rain!!), I have a mug of honey and cider vinegar - about a tablespoon of each - cider vinegar and honey - top up with hot water (add more honey if you want). It is an acquired taste - but can become quite addictive - it gets rid of the arthritic pain (mine is only occasional and mild!) But I gather it is the cider vinegar - although arthritis is supposed to be due to an acidic system, for some reason, cider vinegar - although acidic - seems to balance out the acidity.
I know it sounds like gobbeldy-gook, but cider vinegar is amazing stuff too.
HH

[juliana50 Profile]

Hello there. This really useful information HH and certainly worth a try. Many thanks

[Renée Profile]

I've seen some nice large "new season" tomatoes, which were grown in the UK, in Booths in the northwest. They were a lot cheaper than their French cherry tomatoes, which are an astronomical price, but absolutely delicious, of course.

I feel so sorry for anyone who suffers with arthritis. A friend of mine bought some fresh turmeric root and just about stained most of his kitchen!!! A slight exageration, maybe! It was Johnny, Gill!

[hungryhousewife Profile]

Yes, it does stain very badly - I always put my salad dressing bottle on a saucer now, so it doesn't stain the table cloth with the dribbles!

I don't use the root - just straight forward powder.

HH

[Global_Worming Profile]

I grow a large amount of various toms each year, I was banned from eating them and lots of other veg we grow because of Kidney Stones

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

Arthritis, Sue, & kidney stones, Global. That's a blow.
Maybe tomatoes aren't the miracle food I always thought.

Interesting to hear about turmeric. I do like that as an ingredient.

Renee - I've still got Johnny's tomato seeds in an envelope from his trip to Italy. I'm waiting for the right conditions to plant them, but it's always seemed not summery enough for them.

[juliana50 Profile]

I understand they are "better" for you in quantity when cooked, but uncooked should be eaten more sparingly.
Not sure what the science is. I do love them cooked but also like to snack on full flavoured cherry tomatoes.

[Renée Profile]

I grew tomatoes outdoors for a couple of years, but due to the damp weather they were destroyed by blight, so I've given up now. I grew Gardeners Delight, but as they are a bushy plant, there's not much air circulation around them, so they are prone to these attacks. There are times when I miss my large greenhouse, but not all the work that's involved.

[hungryhousewife Profile]

Yay!!!! My picture is working!!! Thanks so much Gill!!
HH

[Frillz Profile]

I absolutely adore tomatoes, all kinds, both cooked and raw.

We don't have a greenhouse here and we do have a lot of destructive wildlife, so I haven't tried growing our own.
Luckily the local veg shop sells a really good selection and reasonably priced too.

I've got a link about cider vinegar and honey for health as I tried it myself, I'll put it in another thread I think to make it clear where it is.

[hungryhousewife Profile]

I understand they are "better" for you in quantity when cooked

I saw a programme recently that was saying tinned tomatoes are very good for you, as they contain high quantities of Lyposene (??spelling??), which is apparently good for all sorts of reasons!

I bought 3 whole trays of chopped tinned tomatoes yesterday as we eat loads of them.

Gillthe Painter - we have grown toms outside in the garden several times, and they always seem to ripen up in the end. Last year wasn't a good year as it was so cold, but they eventually ripened - didn't taste of much though, as not enough sun.

We got some really good seeds from Seeds of Italy - all sorts of different types.
HH

[bubblingcara Profile]

Hi all,
Lycopene, western nutritionists say, is at its strongest when the tomato is cooked.
Macrobiotic specialists's point of view is that tomato is a very dangerous vegetable-fruit for your health.

Could you imagine life without pizza napolitana or any kind of tomato based pasta?
Spain without gazpacho?Greek salad, tabboule or fattoush and no tomato?

[Renée Profile]

Well, the Mediterranean diet is now said to be the healthiest in the world, but there was no mention of the macrobiotic diet!
I wouldn't like to live without tomatoes.

[Suelle Profile Website]

I don't have any problems with cooked tomatoes - I can't imagine how I'd manage without them!

[hungryhousewife Profile]

No, I think they're fine - they're cooked before being tinned - so not a problem I don't think.
HH