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When you think about getting to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables you probably picture some of the more popular options, like tomatoes, apples, carrots, and cucumbers. If you’re looking for freshness and flavor you’ll probably want to go with garden options over the supermarket. But, have you ever wondered why garden vegetables like tomatoes taste better than store bought?
Many people, myself included, enjoy the taste of garden-fresh tomatoes over the ones they buy at the store. They are considered the better choice in terms of both flavor and freshness. However, many people wonder why it is that garden tomatoes are better, and supermarket ones can be so bland. Store bought tomatoes may be ok for sandwiches and burgers, but forget about slicing them up and eating them with a bit of salt. It’s just not the same…
Let’s discuss this topic in a bit more detail.
Why do garden tomatoes taste better?
Garden tomatoes taste better than store-bought tomatoes for a few reasons. The enhanced taste and flavor of garden options have to be with watering, soil and nutrients, and harvest times.
Unlike supermarket tomatoes, garden tomatoes aren’t mass-produced and have the benefit of better harvesting schedules and shorter shelf-life expectations. Store-bought fruits and vegetables will certainly suffice, but homegrown garden options are known to taste better.
Garden Tomatoes
When you have garden tomatoes, they get to experience their life cycle at a natural pace. Unlike store-bought options, they don’t have to be rushed in order to get in front of customers.
The tomatoes you find in supermarkets were kickstarted into ripening through chemical sprays. This leaves them less time to build up tasty flavors before ripening and can cause them to taste pretty dull.
Tomatoes in gardens will ripen naturally on their vines and don’t have to be picked until they are ready. This longer process of growing definitely has an impact on the final product.
However, it is possible for something to grow wrong in the garden and cause homegrown tomatoes to have no taste or flavor. This happens when they receive too much water.
It causes them to ripen too early, and they end up being tasteless. Typically, growing flavorful homegrown tomatoes comes down to watering and harvest times. Specifically, the length of time between the last water and harvesting.
The difference between a garden tomato and one that you buy from a supermarket can be compared to the difference between using cake mix or baking a cake from scratch.
One is definitely seen as better. If you don’t have your own garden then you can try to find local farmers markets in order to get homegrown tomatoes.
Store-Bought Tomatoes
Store-bought tomatoes are made with mass production in mind, which is the reason they are so different from homegrown options. It’s common for supermarket tomatoes to be picked off the vine before they are fully ripe, so they never develop any of the flavorful qualities. If they are able to ripen, they don’t stay on the vine long enough to develop much taste at all.
It’s also common practice to speed up the ripening process with chemical sprays so that store tomatoes can be picked sooner. This is because of high demands in supermarkets and the need to be profitable.
Store-bought tomatoes also need preservatives so they last long enough to make it onto the shelves. These preservatives often come at the cost of taking away most of the tasteful qualities.
Store-ready tomatoes are also bred to be hardy and resistant to pests and diseases. This makes it easier for them to be transported into supermarkets, but it also gives them a bland taste. Tomatoes grown for stores are often picked unripe because it means they will last for a longer time on the shelf.
This practice applies to most fruits and vegetables that you find in supermarkets. That’s why so many people are turning to local and homegrown options, so they can have fresher and tastier food.
Ripe Time and Harvesting
Getting tasty garden tomatoes has a lot to do with how long they are harvested after ripping, and how long has passed since the last watering. Ideally, you want to harvest tomatoes a few days after they have been watered. This allows them to be picked during peak ripeness. Keep in mind, the riper a tomato is when you pick it the shorter its shelf life will be.
Even if you don’t have your own garden, it’s never too late to buy a tomato plant from the store. You can grow one just as easily on a porch or balcony as you could in a yard, providing you with plenty of fresh tomatoes to enjoy.
Soil and Nutrients Mean A Lot
Water and sunlight are vital for homegrown tomatoes, but having proper soil and nutrients is just as important. It’s recommended to use compost and organic materials for the most success with your tomatoes.
These products don’t use any chemicals and will provide the best results for your plant. Garden tomatoes will take everything you give them, sunlight, water, nutrients, and create tasty flavors you can enjoy from your own yard.
