In Bilecik, producer Mesut Kolay, who started tomato cultivation as a hobby using seeds he brought from Bulgaria in a greenhouse he established with his own resources, aims to achieve a 2-kilogram tomato this year.
In Bilecik, producer Mesut Kolay, who began cultivating tomatoes as a hobby with seeds he brought from Bulgaria in a greenhouse he set up using his own resources, aims to produce a 2-kilogram tomato this year.
Kolay, who lives in Gümüşdere village in the Pazaryeri district, started growing tomatoes in 1993 with seeds he brought from Bulgaria. He has become renowned for his large tomatoes, which are so big that their branches can barely support them. While citizens marvel at the large tomatoes he produces, Kolay mentioned that his largest tomato last year weighed 1,738 grams, and his goal for this year is 2 kilograms. Kolay explained, "I do not use any chemical fertilizers or pesticides in the greenhouse. I use organic fertilizers made from sheep manure and nettles. Each year, I save the first fruits I harvest as seeds for the next year. Because the tomatoes I grow are so large, the branches can no longer support them. This year, I aim to grow a tomato weighing 2 kilograms. I hope to see my tomatoes become widespread in Bilecik and its districts, and I can also provide seeds and seedlings to citizens."