Thinking of Spring

March came in like a lion for us in Minnesota. And that made me think about spring like its fresh breezes, warm sunshine, green grass, and gardening. Well, gardening is already underway in my household. No, I am not planting seeds out in the snowdrifts that fill my backyard. I am talking about starting seeds indoors. You experienced gardeners already know that March is the perfect time to get those seedlings growing to plant outdoors as soon as the soil is warm and dry.

But wait... you probably thought this blog was devoted to living gluten free. Well, gardening is one item that is very important to living a healthy gluten free lifestyle. First of all, you get your exercise as pulling weeds, dragging a hose between garden beds, and trimming trees and shrubs is hard work! But is also a labor of love and passion that helps distress and calm the body from everyday hassles. Who doesn't need that? And, have you seen the prices of fresh produce in the grocery store lately?! We already are on a tight budget when it comes to purchasing processed gluten free foods already. So why make it worse by foregoing growing your own fruits and vegetables? If I haven't convinced you yet to start gardening let me tell you anyone can do it. If you have room to breathe, you have room to garden. So let's talk tomatoes...

Tomatoes are what I start the first part of March. These are easy for beginners to grow and they are used in everything from sandwiches to soups to salsa. They can be grown in pots, a bed of flowers, or even upside down. (Have you seen the Topsy Turvy Tomato commercial on TV?) There are many varieties of these fruits to suit your pallet and here is the lowdown of what you may be looking for:

Traditional Red Tomato: These guys are great sliced in a BLT, diced in a salsa, or layered on a pizza. These are the common ones I grow as an indeterminate variety of Early Girl and Independence Day. Whoa, I know that indeterminate is a big word. It means that if I snip off branches or pick the fruit, the plant will still continue to grow and produce more and more tomatoes unlike determinate varieties. Indeterminate plants get very large and tend to vine and trellis. If you do not have much space and do not want many, planting a determinate variety will be best for you.

Roma Tomatoes: These are the tomatoes for sauce. If most of your cooking centers around pastas, pizzas, and ketchup, this variety is for you. They have fewer seeds than the traditional tomatoes, which is a big plus when it comes to juicing and pureeing. If you like to can, these tomatoes are superb. You will know these by their plum or egg like shape and size.

Grape or Cherry Tomatoes: These little guys are packed with a punch of flavor for any dish. They are the perfect size to toss in a salad whole, sliced for petite tea sandwiches, or a joy to just pop in your mouth as a sweet snack. They also come in an array of colors of reds, oranges, and yellows to bring that summertime bliss into your kitchen.

Heirloom Tomatoes: These range in all sizes, shapes, colors, and flavors. These may be a little trickier to grow than the hybrids as they are not always resistant to common tomato diseases such as blight. But, they are cherished among farmers markets. Each variety has its own purpose and specialty dish. Make sure to read the instructions on the seed packets for growing and look up some new, fun recipes to add some boost of flavor to your daily menu.

I hope you try some of these in your own garden this year and savor the fresh taste of a red, juicy tomato. I know I will!

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