Tomatoes originated in the tropical and subtropical regions of South America, where early cultures already used their wild nightshade ancestors. Travelling through Central America and early trade routes, they eventually reached Europe, where they were adapted over centuries to a wide range of climates and developed into today’s remarkable diversity. Their colour and shape variation is extraordinary: red, yellow, orange, brown and purple tomatoes, as well as round, oval, elongated, ribbed, small‑fruited or deeply segmented types, all reflect the crop’s original genetic richness.

In subtropical climates, tomatoes thrive thanks to long, warm growing seasons and can be cultivated over an extended period. In temperate regions, many traditional and historic varieties perform reliably when started early, planted out after the last frosts and grown in warm, sheltered conditions. This makes tomatoes one of the most adaptable crops, capable of successful cultivation across many climate zones.