If you’re growing tomatoes in your garden this summer then don’t miss out on this one easy hack to make them even juicier and tastier – plus you probably have it at home
If you’re growing your own tomatoes this summer, don’t miss out on this cheap trick to make them as tasty as possible. Even better, you likely have the magic ingredient in your kitchen.
With the sun finally appearing and longer days on the horizon, many of us are trying our hand at gardening. And there are few better plants to start growing than tomatoes. Not only are they easy to cultivate, they make a versatile and delicious food source which can be used in multiple kinds of cuisines.
Tomatoes hail from South America – but they have cemented themselves as one of the globe’s most beloved fruits. Known for their meaty, tart taste, they make an excellent base for stews, curries, pasta sauces and salads (just to name a few).
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Plus, they’re filled with essential nutrients to keep you energised and healthy. Tomatoes contain high levels of vitamin C, which is known for boosting immunity and protecting your skin.
While tomatoes are best-suited to warmer climates, they can be a great addition to a UK garden. If you’re growing them in winter, best to keep them in a greenhouse. However, as we come into spring and summer, you can grow them outside.
Another incentive to grow them at home is that they will likely taste better than the ones you find in the supermarket aisle. This is because the long time it takes to cart them over to Britain from warmer climates can hugely affect the fruit’s quality.
Of course, if you’re putting effort into growing your tomatoes, you want to guarantee that they’re as tasty as possible. After all, there’s nothing worse than biting into a bitter tomato.
The quality of the soil has a direct impact on its taste and quality. This is because the wrong soil won’t allow it to absorb all the nutrients it needs to grow to its potential.
However, this doesn’t mean you need to run out and buy an expensive fertiliser. It might sound strange, but adding baking soda to the soil can make tomatoes sweeter.
This is because it reduces soil acidity and makes it easier for tomatoes to absorb nutrients. It also works to prevent common fungal infections, like powdered mildew.
The best way to carry out this hack is to sprinkle a pinch of baking soda around each tomato plant once they begin to appear. Then repeat this process once they are halfway grown.
Although, be advised to be careful with how much baking soda you use. Adding too much may inadvertently poison your tomato plant, ruining all your hard work.
If you don’t have any baking soda lying around in your cupboard, don’t worry. You can pick up a packet from Sainsbury’s for just 59p.
