Two popular vegetables will soon be producing in panhandle Florida vegetable gardens. One will come to the end of its season in a few weeks, and the other one is just beginning.
Tomatoes and peppers have a long history in the region’s home gardens and a much longer history of being cultivated in the New World prior to Spanish exploration. Both belong to the Solanaceae botanical family, but each represents a different genus.
The peppers grown in most local gardens originated in Mexico and have been grown for over 5,000 years. These members of the Capsicum genus are not related to the spice black pepper which is produced from peppercorns originating from India.
Peppers grown in the area come in a wide variety of sizes, colors and heat ranges. Some are even grown for ornamental purposes. Edible peppers are a useful culinary addition to many recipes, but the level of spiciness must always be considered. Fortunately, a home gardener can grow several cultivars and meet everyone’s preferences.
Historically, tomatoes began in Central American around 2500 years ago. Tomatoes belong to the nightshade genus, Solanum, which includes many toxic members, most notably belladonna, the deadly nightshade.
Belladonna was widely known in Europe to be poisonous. It was used to efficiently dispatch enemies, whether political or religious, in those periods of constantly shifting alliances from Imperial Roman to the inquisitions.
The scientific name for tomatoes, Solanum lycopersicum, further reflects the problem of public misunderstanding of this useful crop. Lycopersicum translates from German to “wolf peach”, a large economy-size nightshade fruit.
Despite the initial food safety issue with tomatoes, they and peppers spread around the globe with Spain’s colonial efforts. Cuisines both east and west now incorporate tomatoes and peppers.
Cherry tomatoes are ripening in the late spring sun. Soon, they will give way to more heat tolerant plants, but can be planted again in autumn for a fall crop.
Over the years, plant breeders on every continent have produced tomatoes and peppers which met the taste and needs of diverse populations and specific growing environments. Heirloom varieties of both vegetables are now generating great interest from gardeners, but with varying results.
During the winter months, south Florida has the only commercial production acreage of tomatoes in the United States. However, there are greenhouse operations further north which market specialty tomatoes.
For the backyard gardener in north Florida, June is the end of tomato production. Most, but not all, tomato cultivars do not set fruit in the typical summer temperatures.
One exception to the heat rule is a cultivar called Everglades. It produces a cherry-type tomato when the thermometer readings are in the 90’s.
Even so, the other tomatoes currently on the vine will soon ripen. The challenge for the gardener is to fend off the assortment of creatures which seem to enjoy the taste of tomatoes as much as people.
Chewing insects are the primary culprit. In this rogue’s gallery, the armyworm and tobacco horn worm are the most commonly encountered.
The armyworm is a small to moderate size caterpillar which is mostly brown and blends easily with the background. Eggs are left by a nocturnal moth and usually appear in multiples within a small area.
The tobacco horn worm is a large green caterpillar with red and white stripes on its sides. It has a single horn on its posterior.
Both will consume the foliage and fruit of the tomato plant, and many other vegetable, ornamental and weed species.
Peppers face the same challenges, but their productive life will continue into the summer.
The region’s human and insect populations may not be able to agree on much, but they definitely share a love for both tomatoes and peppers.
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