Edible Parts: Fruit  Oil  Seed
Edible Uses: Drink  Oil

Fruit - raw or cooked[1 , 2 , 3 , 37 ]. It can be used as a savoury vegetable or flavouring in cooked foods, or can be eaten out of hand as a dessert fruit. It is much used in salads and as a flavouring in soups and other cooked foods[183 ]. A juice made from the fruit is often sold in health food shops[183 ]. The fruit can also be dried and ground into a powder that can be used as a flavouring and thickening agent in soups, breads, pancakes etc[183 ]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[46 , 61 , 171 ]. Suitable for culinary purposes[183 ]. It can be used raw in salads, or used to make margarine[418 ]. The seed is small and it would be very fiddly to utilize. It is only viable to use the seed as a source of oil if large quantities of the plants are being grown for their fruits and the seed is not wanted.

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antirheumatic  Leprosy  Odontalgic  Skin

The pulped fruit is an extremely beneficial skin-wash for people with oily skin. Sliced fruits are a quick and easy first aid treatment for burns, scalds and sunburn[201 ]. A decoction of the root is ingested in the treatment of toothache[218 ]. The skin of tomato fruits is a good source of lycopine, a substance that has been shown to protect people from heart attacks. It seems to be more effective when it is cooked and so can be obtained from food products such as tomato ketchup and tinned tomatoes[246 ]. Lycopine has also been shown to have a very beneficial effect upon the prostate and is being used increasingly to treat enlarge prostate and the difficulties in urination that accompany this disorder. The leaves, in a mixture with castor oil (Ricinus communis), is used in the treatment of incipient leprosy spots[348 ]. A paste of the leaves is applied to filarial worm swellings on a painful groin[348 ]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[7 ]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism and severe headaches[7 ].

Companion  Cosmetic  Insecticide  Oil  Repellent  Soap making  Teeth

Agroforestry Uses: Tomatoes grow well with asparagus, parsley, brassicas and stinging nettles[18 , 54 ]. They are also a good companion for gooseberries, helping to keep them free of insect pests[201 ]. They dislike growing near fennel, kohl-rabi, potatoes[18 , 20 ] and brassicas[20 ] (this is not a typing error, merely a difference of opinion between different books). Other Uses The strong aroma of this plant is said to repel insects from nearby plants[7 , 18 , 20 ]. A semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. It can be used in making soap[46 , 61 , 171 ]. See the notes above regarding utilization. A spray made from tomato leaves is an effective but very poisonous insecticide[201 ]. It is especially effective against ants[7 ] but should be used with great caution because it will also kill beneficial insects and, if ingested, is toxic to humans[K ]. The pulp of the fruit is used cosmetically in face-packs[7 ].

Special Uses

Food Forest