When faced with bright red, juicy, sweet tomatoes, most people think of fruit rather than vegetables. What category do paradise apples actually belong in? Even the scientists are having a hard time. There is still an answer.
Are tomatoes a fruit or vegetable?
Are tomatoes fruit or vegetables? Tomatoes are categorized as fruit vegetables because they have characteristics of both fruits and vegetables. They come from pollinated flowers and are cultivated as annuals, similar to pumpkins, peppers and legumes.
Botanical definitions only provide clues
It's not that easy to answer the question about the difference between fruit and vegetables. In such cases, mere mortals turn to highly qualified scientists in the hope of an informed answer. The botanists and food scientists are on hand with the following definitions:
FruitWater-containing fruits that are eaten raw. When ripe, fruit is so soft that it does not need to be cooked. The fruits come from the fertilized flowers of perennial trees or shrubs. Their natural sugar content is so high that they taste sweet without the addition of granulated sugar.
VegetablesAll edible parts of plants, such as roots, leaves or stems. Most vegetables are annual fruits and are grown every year. Even when fully ripe, vegetables are so hard that they are unsuitable for raw consumption. People can only eat vegetables through preparation, such as boiling or steaming.
The definitions clearly apply to cherries, apples and peaches. There is no need for discussion when it comes to the classification of Brussels sprouts, leeks or carrots. However, tomatoes resist precise identification. The fruits are mostly eaten like fruit. The green parts of the plant are even poisonous to humans and animals due to the solanine content. At the same time, it should not be overlooked that they are planted as annuals.
Smart back door out of the dilemma: fruit vegetables
Since tomatoes meet the requirements for being classified as both fruit and vegetables, a solution had to be found. The answer is as simple as it is convincing: tomatoes are fruit vegetables.
- the tomato develops from a pollinated flower
- only the fruits can be harvested and eaten
- Since tomato plants are not hardy, they are grown as annuals in beds, greenhouses and containers
They join pumpkins, peppers and legumes, which also defy the definition of fruit and vegetables. This has no influence on growing tomatoes in the hobby garden. Even as fruit vegetables, the paradise apples will react angrily to being planted next to red cabbage, fennel, sweet corn, strawberries and potatoes.
Tips & Tricks
The specification of tomatoes as fruit vegetables is now also taken into account in the lunar calendar. If hobby gardeners orientate themselves according to the earth's trajectory, they can also find the favorable days for sowing, planting and grafting in the fruit vegetables section.
