For the gardening enthusiast there can be very little that surpasses the satisfaction obtained from growing and eating vegetables and fruits from your own garden. In this article we will look at the motivation and the method for growing tomatoes.

Let's look first at a brief history of this once much maligned fruit. It is believed to have originated from ancient Peru, where today you can still find several wild species growing. From there it was taken to and cultivated in Mexico and then found it's way to Europe. In Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, it was believed by many to be poisonous, as it is a member of the deadly nightshade plant family. The actual reason though was found to be the manner of cooking. Rich people at that time used platters made of pewter, which has a very high lead content. The high acidic content of tomatoes would cause the lead to be leeched from the platter into the food, resulting in lead poisoning and many times death. The poorer people, who used wooden boards as platters, had no problem.

Today, with a growing concern and emphasis on healthy living and nutrition, the tomato has become a vital part of a healthy diet. Its main benefit is Lycopene, which is one of nature's most powerful antioxidants. Some other beneficial properties of the tomato are the calcium and vitamin C content. A recent study showed that those living in Northern Italy, who ate a minimum of 7 servings of raw tomato per week, had up to 60% less chance of developing cancers of the colon, prostrate, cervix and stomach, when compared to people who ate 2 servings or less.

The best tomatoes to eat are those that have been home grown, free of pesticides. They should be ripened while still on the vine.

Let's look now at the method for growing tomatoes. It is mainly a summer crop. The soil needs to be well prepared using well-decomposed compost. You can sow the seeds directly into the soil in shallow holes and spaced about 2 - 2