Tomatoes, the Vegetable That Is a Fruit

Tomatoes are scientifically a fruit. The plant forms from the ovary of a flower and contains seeds. In the culinary world, the tomato is a vegetable because of it savory flavor and its uses. Depending on the contexts, both terms can be correct. Regardless of which side of the debate you find yourself on, there's no denying the large variety of taste, shape and use for tomatoes. The right tomato can be a perfect focus of a meal or a great part of the melody. Here are some common types of tomatoes.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes include a wide range of produce. Gardeners can trace the history of these seeds back at least 50 years, and many have a history that begins before the U.S. Heirloom seeds are unaltered from their original source and provide a robust flavor that is best as a focal point of a meal. For a quick but tasty meal, pair heirloom tomato slices with mozzarella, basil and olive oil.

Cherry Tomatoes

The cherry tomato, which grows well in a raised garden, received its name not because of its flavor, but because of its size. The tomatoes range in size, but they are usually around the size of a cherry, or your thumbnail. Many have been crossed and cultivated for years to produce the best snacking tomato.

Cherry tomatoes are perfect for pasta salads or in premixed green salads since you don't need to cut them. As an added benefit, using whole cherry tomatoes reduces extra liquid in the salad. Plus, the squirt of fresh tomato juice in your mouth can be quite refreshing.

Beefsteak Tomatoes

The beefsteak variety produces large round red tomatoes, and it is a hybrid of two popular kinds of tomatoes. These tomatoes are usually an award-winning size, and the plant in your organic garden will usually produce a bunch of 1-pound to 1.5-pound tomatoes. The uniform-shaped globes of beefsteak tomatoes have a great consistency for sandwiches and hamburgers.

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Green Tomatoes

While the green tomato is not a specific type of tomato, it should not go without notice. In actually, green tomatoes are unripe. Gardeners may not want to pick their tomatoes early during the middle of the season, but they may have many toward the end of the season that will not reach maturity before it gets too cold for them to grow. The texture of a green tomato is more firm than a ripe tomato, and the flesh slightly resembles a zucchini. You can use these tomatoes for fried green tomatoes, salads, sauces, desserts, and other tomato recipes.

Super Italian Paste Tomatoes

This tomato grows to about 6 inches in length and ripens to an orange-red color. Just as the name suggests, this tomato is excellent for use in pastes and sauces. You can bottle and store the paste for use throughout the winter. Additionally, this tomato is full of flavor and is enjoyable fresh from the vine in your beautiful garden.

Roma Tomatoes

The roma tomato has a meaty flesh and is a bright red oval shape when ripe. The flesh has few seeds and less liquid than other tomatoes. The outside is firm and holds up well to heat. Roma tomatoes work well on pizzas or cooked under the broiler with cheese on top. The roma is also a great tomato for stuffing and cooking in the oven. The stuffing can be one of hundreds of recipes, or you can easily create your own.

Regardless of whether you call a tomato a fruit or vegetable, the edible part of the tomato plant is versatile and delicious. The above categories are just the tip of the iceberg. Each category has more subcategories. Whether you decide to grow or buy your tomatoes, you can make them the centerpiece or the background to a wonderful meal. Learn more about organic gardening at our DIY blog.