Quote:
Originally Posted by DanishGardener
Carolyn- could you explain to me, what you mean by "smooth tomatoes"?
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Here's an image drawn in 1581 of the tomato plant and the shapes Carolyn was referring to (reminds me of a grossly ribbed, mis-shapened beefsteak).
Up until around 1820 (give or take a few years), the common belief was tomatoes (which as I've read in old books were potato leaf variety) were poisonous and the fruits weren't eaten. By the Civil War, tomatoes were being eaten everywhere and genetic experiments were also being performed - including attempts to graft with potato and other plants - and it wasn't long before the modern looking globe shape tomato was developed.
Steve