Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

How to grow tomatoes successfully

Published 28 February 2024
– By Editorial Staff
With a little guidance, most of us can succeed at growing tomatoes.
5 minute read

Growing tomatoes successfully does not have to be difficult. With the right environment, replanting, and regular light patting, you can grow tomatoes successfully.

Tomatoes are one of the many foods that have recently gone up in price, causing more people to cut back on the red vegetable. However, it tastes great cooked or raw, is healthy, and can be added to most dishes. Best of all, it is also relatively easy to grow!

Many people don’t want to try growing tomatoes because they think it’s difficult or because they don’t have enough space, but these perceived obstacles can often be overcome. Tomatoes can be grown in pots and in the ground, and you can grow them on a balcony as well as in a greenhouse or garden.

Choose the right seeds

There are many varieties of tomatoes to choose from. Think about things like how much space you have, as plants can vary in size. For example, if you have limited space, bush tomatoes may be a better choice because they do not grow very tall. On the other hand, if you have plenty of space, you can choose taller varieties of tomatoes. Another question to ask yourself is what kind of tomatoes you prefer, perhaps you prefer plum tomatoes or larger tomatoes on the grill. Smaller tomatoes tend to ripen faster, so if you have a balcony with less sunlight, this may be preferable. There are also other colors, such as yellow, black and white, and different shapes.

Sow the seeds

If you have plant lighting, you can start seeds indoors as early as possible by pre-sowing, but without it you will have to wait until April at the earliest (in central Sweden), when the light in the windows may be sufficient. Sow the seeds in a small pot with a hole in the bottom with no more than two seeds in each pot. It is best to mix the seed soil with potting soil, vegetable soil or flower soil. Add two-thirds of the other soil to the bottom and then top it off with one-third of the seed soil.

“This way the seeds get a narrow start and can send roots down to the nutrient-rich soil below when they feel like it”, says Land.se.

Plant the seeds according to the instructions on the bag and water lightly, preferably with a spray bottle. Cover with a plastic bag or plastic wrap, but remember to air it from time to time or make a few holes in it. Place the seedling in a warm place and watch for the first sprouts, then you can move it to a cooler place. Be sure to keep the soil slightly moist.

Photo: Jasmin Schreiber/Unsplash

Replanting

Once the plants have started to produce their first heart-shaped leaves, it’s time to replant. Avoid choosing a very large pot, as the plant will do best in a pot adapted to its size. The plant will therefore need to be re-potted several times; an indication that it is time to re-pot is usually when the roots start to crawl out of the holes in the bottom of the pot. Plants should be re-potted one at a time. Plant with nutrient-rich soil, as tomatoes are nutrient-hungry plants. This means staying away from seed soil, for example.

Tomato plants often grow best in plastic pots because they retain moisture better than clay pots, says Sara Bäckmo.

When planting, especially the last time, whether it’s in a pot, pallet collar or outdoors, consider planting with as much of the stem underground as possible. The plant will then develop new roots along the entire stem. Remember to cut off the lower leaves first. If the plant has become a bit stunted, you can “curl” the stem in the pot and fill it with soil so that only the top sticks out.

May is usually a good month to plant tomato plants, but it is important not to plant too early, and as a rule, there must be no risk of frost as they do not tolerate cold (note that these guidelines are for a Nordic climate).

Proper environment

Tomato plants need plenty of light, but not too much heat once they start growing. Around 18 °C is often optimal, which can be difficult given their need for light. For example, it can get very hot in a window, but you can put a fan nearby or open a window wide.

Don’t grow potatoes and tomatoes in the same soil, some say not even in the same garden. This is because both potato and tomato plants are more likely to suffer from downy mildew, as they are closely related (they are both members of the Nightshade family, Solanaceae).

Caring for the plants

The stem produces leaves, flower clusters, and side shoots. In tomato varieties that grow straight up, the side shoots need to be pinched off because they steal energy. This is not necessary for smaller bush tomato plants, but they may need more general pruning to make them bushier.

Don’t overwater; allow the plant to dry out between waterings. Feed the plant once a week or so, either by buying ready-to-use fertilizer from the store, using natural grass clippings, or mixing stinging nettle into the water.

Photo: Davor Denkovski/Unsplash

Pat the plant

When the wind blows, the stem will sway and become stronger. You can simulate this by running your hands over the plant from time to time to help it. Once the plant has flowered, you can also help it pollinate itself by either taking a swab or your finger and gently tapping each plant.

Harvest and use

When the tomatoes are red, they are ready to be picked and eaten. It is also okay to bring in green tomatoes and let them ripen indoors. A common misconception is that green tomatoes ripen best in the sun. In fact, the plant needs the sun, not the tomatoes. However, they do need heat to ripen, but if you want to keep the tomatoes longer, you can put the green tomatoes in a cooler place. If you want to speed up the ripening process, you can place the green tomatoes next to (or even in a plastic bag together with) an apple. Apples release ethylene, a gas that speeds up ripening.

Tomatoes store best at room temperature. If you have a large harvest, you can dry tomatoes in the oven, but you can also freeze them whole or sliced. However, they become more watery when thawed, so frozen tomatoes are better used in cooking than on a sandwich.

Other tips include making your own ketchup or tomato sauce. Why not make a big batch of roasted tomato soup and freeze it for the winter, or try making syrup or jam?

 

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a member of the nightshade family and is classified as a vegetable in the food industry, but botanically it is a berry. It originates from Peru in South America and was used by the Incas. It was introduced to Scandinavia in the 17th century.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, many in Europe believed that tomatoes were poisonous, while others thought they were an aphrodisiac.

Tomatoes are said to be healthier when cooked because the lycopene, which gives the tomato its color, is more readily available for the body to absorb. Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, has been shown to boost the immune system and protect against cardiovascular disease.

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Study: Diet crucial against obesity – not activity level

Published 6 October 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The problem is not a sedentary lifestyle – but too much and the wrong kind of food, according to the researchers.
2 minute read

Sedentary and physically active people can burn almost the same amount of energy per day, shows a new American study. The researchers therefore argue that the fight against obesity must focus more on diet – and less on exercise.

In the study, published in the scientific journal PNAS, researchers compared data from 4,200 people from different continents with different lifestyles – including herding cultures in Siberia, hunter-gatherers in Tanzania, as well as people from both low-income and high-income countries. In total, they compared 34 different population groups.

The results show that total daily energy expenditure did not differ significantly between the different population groups. This means that, for example, a hunter-gatherer used the same amount of energy as an office worker in Sweden during a day.

Even when people live different lifestyles, once we account for the effects of body size, we do not see meaningful differences in the total number of calories people burn, says Amanda McGrosky at Elon University in the US, who is the lead author of the study, in a press release.

McGrosky points out that obesity is therefore primarily about increased calorie consumption, not decreased activity expenditure.

If you are worried about excess body fat, focus on calories in, not calories out, the researcher suggests.

Westerners eat too much

Obesity and overweight are growing health problems in the Western world, something often linked to the increasingly sedentary culture. However, this study suggests that sedentary behavior is not the biggest problem causing obesity, and McGrosky believes the study offers hope in the fight against obesity. Instead, one should look at diet and especially reduce the intake of ultra-processed foods and increase the proportion of healthy ones.

The researchers therefore suggest that it is not sedentary behavior that is the culprit in Western countries’ obesity epidemic, but rather that people simply eat too much and too unhealthily.

Exercise is still important

However, the researchers point out that this does not mean one should exclude exercise and movement, as it has a range of health-promoting benefits such as reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, premature death, and also improves mental health.

A key takeaway from the study is that increases in body fat that accompany changes in lifestyle are primarily linked to changes in energy intake, or diet. Physical activity is still very important for all-around health and should be considered complementary to diet, says McGrosky.

Fifteen minutes in the park can reduce anxiety

Published 26 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
All types of green spaces in cities improve residents' mental health, but urban forests stand out – particularly when it comes to reducing depression and anxiety.
2 minute read

Just fifteen minutes in urban green spaces is enough to improve mental health, a study shows. The best approach is to sit or rest in the park for a while.

Today, approximately 55 percent of the world’s population lives in cities, according to the UN. This figure is expected to increase to nearly 70 percent by 2050. This means a greater absence of nature and also more health problems linked to city life, such as anxiety, which is more common among urban dwellers.

In a study by researchers at Stanford University in the US and Leiden University in the Netherlands, results from 449 published studies were compiled and 78 field experiments analyzed to examine how different types of urban green spaces affect 12 different aspects of mental health. Nearly 5,900 participants were included in total.

The results, published in Nature, show that all types of urban green spaces improved mental health, but urban forests stood out – particularly when it came to reducing depression and anxiety. And you didn’t need to spend particularly long to get a positive effect; less than fifteen minutes was enough. However, spending more than 45 minutes in nature provided greater benefits.

Our results show that even brief contact with nature can provide significant mental benefits, says Roy Remme from Leiden University, according to Medical Xpress. What’s more, longer nature exposure is linked to even greater reductions in stress and boosts in vitality.

Rest or sit

Young adults see even greater benefits, which is remarkable considering that most mental health problems begin before age 25. However, there was also a significant benefit for other age groups. Primarily, it was beneficial for mental health to sit or rest in the park or natural area, while moving around in nature increased energy and positivity.

Based on the results, the researchers emphasize the importance of protecting forests and parks in cities, but also promoting smaller parks and more street trees to improve residents’ access to nature. Furthermore, they point out that simpler changes, such as placing more windows facing greenery or organizing community programs with guided meditation, for example, can be cost-effective ways to promote public health.

Researchers: More people affected by meat allergy as ticks spread

Published 25 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Meat allergy can be triggered by tick bites – the immune reaction against alpha-gal in mammalian meat causes the symptoms.
2 minute read

Meat allergy is becoming increasingly common in Sweden following tick bites, researchers confirm. For those affected, it means a complete lifestyle change since there is no treatment – only complete abstinence from meat helps.

Karin Ottosson was struck by severe stomach problems after a tick bite. It took time to figure out what problem Karin had been affected by, she felt very ill and nothing seemed to help.

I was bedridden and tried to eat, but it just continued and continued, she tells Swedish media outlet TV4.

After several hospital visits and numerous investigations, the answer came: Karin had been affected by meat allergy. It is caused by an immune reaction to the substance alpha-gal, which is found in tick saliva and in meat from mammals. The symptoms can include, in addition to various stomach problems such as vomiting and diarrhea, rashes and even asthma reactions.

Researchers have seen a marked increase in meat allergy in connection with ticks spreading to new areas, and also becoming more active for larger parts of the year.

No treatment

Karin had to completely change her diet, but it is not entirely simple to avoid meat – even small amounts or hidden additives can trigger the allergy.

It can be anything from starting to itch, getting a rash, to becoming as ill as I was from the beginning. It’s impossible to predict, says Karin.

There is no treatment for meat allergy, and the only thing that works is to completely avoid meat.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment other than having to avoid mammalian meat and making sure not to get bitten by ticks, says Marianne van Hage, professor of clinical immunology.

Broccoli may protect against colorectal cancer

Published 15 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Delicious on the plate and delicious for your health.
2 minute read

People who eat more broccoli and cauliflower have a lower risk of colorectal cancer, according to a Chinese study. However, moderate amounts are sufficient to achieve the protective effect.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer worldwide and is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

In Sweden, colorectal cancer has increased among young people over the past thirty years, and mortality from this form of cancer has increased among patients in all age groups for up to ten years after cancer diagnosis.

In the study, which was published in BMC Gastroenterology, researchers analyzed data from 17 previous studies, with a total of 639,539 participants, including 97,595 cases of colorectal cancer.

The purpose was to investigate whether higher vegetable intake corresponded to greater risk reduction for this form of cancer and, if so, the specific amounts at which this effect became significant.

The results showed that those who ate more cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts, had a 20 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer compared to those who ate less.

Photo: Polina Tankilevitch/Pexels

Glucosinolates

These vegetables contain many beneficial substances such as vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. But what makes them extra special are compounds called glucosinolates. When you chew these vegetables, glucosinolates break down into other compounds called isothiocyanates – particularly one called sulforaphane.

These are the compounds that give the vegetables their strong, sometimes slightly bitter taste and smell. These are also the compounds believed to be cancer-preventive.

The researchers found that the greatest risk reduction was observed between 20 and 40 grams, but no significant improvement was seen above 40 grams per day.

The study was conducted at the Second Clinical Medical School of Inner Mongolia University for the Nationalities in Yakeshi, China.

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