Did the Vikings Grow Tómatar?

Now that I have your attention, let me elaborate. Did Vikings grow tomatoes (which in the Icelandic language are called tómatar).The short answer is probably not. Iceland, known as the Land of Ice and Fire has a climate ranging from temperate to subarctic. Their July summer temperatures in the warmer southern part of the island averages between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. On really warm days it can get to up to 78 degrees. Winters are fairly mild - in the southern lowlands they average around 32 degrees.

Even without studying past Viking culture and diet, we assume correctly they fished. A lot. They also farmed grains for bread and used cattle for dairy products and sheep for wool. Vikings grew many types of vegetables, including onions, leeks, peas, beans, cabbage and turnips. They gathered wild greens, nettles, cress, lambs quarters and berries. Toss in some whaling and at the end of long week or celebration feast they enjoyed their spiced mead, otherwise known as honey-wine!

Photo from Iheartreykjanik.net

But tomatoes they did not grow. Icelanders grow them today in greenhouses heated by geothermal power - it's a year round industry. I read about a restaurant located right in a greenhouse that serves very tasty tomato soup, tomato schnapps and unforgettable tomato ice cream. I'll be dreaming about tomato popsicles tonight.

Why does this it matter whether the Vikings grew tomatoes or not. Well, it doesn't really, I just like the Icelandic name for tomatoes - tómatar pronounced phonetically - TOE-ma-tar. Plus it is on my bucket list to travel there one day and hopefully take a tour of their incredible greenhouses and yes, have some "mouthwatering cheesecake with jam of green-tomato, cinnamon and lime" at Fridheimar Restaurant.   

If you've read this far, then you probably grow and like tomatoes too, so keep a look out for tomato events in late summer into September. One such event is not to be missed - the 2017 Taste of Tomato in Boulder on September 9 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Gateway Park Fun Center, located at 4800 North 28th Street. Presented by Harlequin's Gardens and the Boulder County Extension office, it's loads of fun to enter your own tomatoes or learn more about successfully growing them and saving seeds for next year's delicious crop. Read all the details at this link - 2017 Taste of Tomato.

Gotta run, I have some tomatoes to harvest and time to make a tomato pie.