Tomato Terroir

Jarrod King · May 23, 2016

I've been watching a lot of documentaries about vineyards because I like how they are similar to growing tomatoes. I've learned about the French term "terroir", which means the combined effect of the individual microclimate and soil you grow in on the taste of the product.

I see tomatoes as mentioned as being affected by terroir and I was wondering if anyone has any insight into that they'd like to share. Do tomatoes grown in sandy or clay soil have a different taste you can identify? Rocky soil? Hills? What influence do climates have? I've found that they need a lot of sun obviously, but what about more subtle variations? Right now my tomato patch of about 300 heirlooms is on a sandy slope in a clearing surrounded by forest and I sit and wonder how those are going to turn out this year and how each variety is going to taste.

May 23, 2016	#1
Jarrod King Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Norman, OK Posts: 23	Tomato Terroir I've been watching a lot of documentaries about vineyards because I like how they are similar to growing tomatoes. I've learned about the French term "terroir", which means the combined effect of the individual microclimate and soil you grow in on the taste of the product. I see tomatoes as mentioned as being affected by terroir and I was wondering if anyone has any insight into that they'd like to share. Do tomatoes grown in sandy or clay soil have a different taste you can identify? Rocky soil? Hills? What influence do climates have? I've found that they need a lot of sun obviously, but what about more subtle variations? Right now my tomato patch of about 300 heirlooms is on a sandy slope in a clearing surrounded by forest and I sit and wonder how those are going to turn out this year and how each variety is going to taste.