The amateur gardener will always gain immense satisfaction from consuming the fruits of their garden, be it fruit or vegetable. Of these products, tomatoes have become one of the gardeners' favorites. The history of the tomato though has shown that the tomato has not always had this favored status.

The origins of the tomato are believed to have been the mountains of Peru, where it is still possible to view wild species of the fruit still growing. From Peru it made its way into Mexico and Central America where it was first harvested as a food. European explorers then took the tomato plant back to Europe when they returned home.

The tomato though failed to become universally popular in Europe. In the 16th and 17th centuries many people believed the fruit to be poisonous, as the tomato plant is a relation of the deadly nightshade.

There are also tales of people becoming ill after eating the tomato, but these tales have been attributed to the use of pewter plates rather than the fruit itself. Pewter plates have a high concentration of lead in them, and the acidic juice of the tomato would cause the lead to leak from the plate causing lead poisoning. The poorer people would seem to have had a lucky escape by using cheaper wooden plates and boards, and thus allowing them to avoid this fate.

In today's society the reputation of the tomato has recovered to such an extent that it now seen as vital by many people to a maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Healthy living is now high on many people's list of foods for nutritional intake and a healthy diet. The tomato is a key source of Lycopene, a strong anti-oxidant.

The tomato can also supply Vitamin C and Calcium. Studies have also shown that in the northern regions of Italy people are 60% less like to develop several forms of cancer. These studies indicate that the consumption of a helping of raw tomato each day will fend off the cancers of the cervix, colon, prostate and the stomach, when compared with those who consume 2 helpings a week or less.

Buying tomatoes though is less beneficial that growing your own. Those tomatoes grown in the back garden are going to be pesticide free, especially when compared with commercially grown fruit. These home grown tomatoes will also be ripened whilst still on the plant, ensuring that more beneficial elements remain in the fruit.

The tomato is predominantly grown during the summer months. The best growth occurs in soil which is mixed with compost of decomposed matter.

Tomato seeds can be planted straight into holes in the soil. Ideally the seeds should be 2.5cm apart, allowing enough room for the plants to grow comfortably in their infancy. The holes should be filled in with more soil.

Once the tomato plants have grown to about 12cm it is important that the plants are then transplanted to their ultimate growing positions. To ease the transplanting process, it is important that the seedlings are not watered for about 3 days before being moved. Non-watering will allow the seedlings to harden, hopefully ensuring that the plants will not die during their move.

This final location needs to be big enough to allow the seedlings to be planted at least 60cm apart. Any less will be detrimental to the plant's health. The more space there is between the plants will mean that air can circulate between the plants, helping to reduce humidity, and the possible fungal infection that comes with it.