- Joined
- May 12, 2010
- Location
- Now Florida but always a Kentuckian
There were many varieties of fruits and vegetables during the Civil War Era. They were different than ones now and would be hard to obtain today except from dealers of heirloom plant seeds. Many people had gardens and fruit bearing trees and grew their own.
It was much more common to grow them in the country, but many city dwellers in the North had their garden plots. In the South, many had their gardens and trees. This was especially important when shortages became widespread in the South. The women supplemented the family income by selling fresh and canned produce from their gardens.
One of most popular of home grown garden produce were tomatoes. The French introduced tomatoes in their cooking in New Orleans. Thomas Jefferson grew them as ornamental plants at Monticello. In 1820, Robert Johnson made them popular when he ate an entire basketful to prove he could and they wouldn't make him sick. Within a few decades, tomatoes were commonplace in recipes.
Before Civil War, the varieties were named Large Round Red and Yellow Pear-Shaped Tomatoes. By the time of the war more than a thousand varieties had been introduced. The names were Abraham Lincoln, Brandywine. Mortgage Lifter, Great White Beefsteak, Cherokee Purple and Ruffled Yellow. The names suggested the colors of the tomatoes, being red, pink, purple, yellow and white.
The Civil War tomatoes were not as smooth and round as ones today. Some had a pleated texture, like the Ruffled Yellow.
It was much more common to grow them in the country, but many city dwellers in the North had their garden plots. In the South, many had their gardens and trees. This was especially important when shortages became widespread in the South. The women supplemented the family income by selling fresh and canned produce from their gardens.
One of most popular of home grown garden produce were tomatoes. The French introduced tomatoes in their cooking in New Orleans. Thomas Jefferson grew them as ornamental plants at Monticello. In 1820, Robert Johnson made them popular when he ate an entire basketful to prove he could and they wouldn't make him sick. Within a few decades, tomatoes were commonplace in recipes.
Before Civil War, the varieties were named Large Round Red and Yellow Pear-Shaped Tomatoes. By the time of the war more than a thousand varieties had been introduced. The names were Abraham Lincoln, Brandywine. Mortgage Lifter, Great White Beefsteak, Cherokee Purple and Ruffled Yellow. The names suggested the colors of the tomatoes, being red, pink, purple, yellow and white.
The Civil War tomatoes were not as smooth and round as ones today. Some had a pleated texture, like the Ruffled Yellow.