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NYT Strands gets garden-fresh with a tomato-themed puzzle for June 2
The spangram TOMATO connects six flavorful varieties in the grid.
Words like BEEFSTEAK, LUNCHBOX, and PLUM offer a tasty twist on your typical word search
June is here. Some of you have already witnessed those lovely salary figures land in your account. Others await the arrival of the sweet nectar of their monthly stimulus check. For all your paycheck procrastinators out there, we’ve got just what you need to keep your mind engaged and your mood lifted.
Tackle today’s New York Times Strands puzzle, ripe, luscious, and brimming with tomato goodness. So, sit back, unwind, and let this vine-ripened word search be your delicious little payday treat!
This grid celebrates one of the kitchen’s most versatile staples, the tomato. From sweet and bite-sized to hefty and hearty, the puzzle’s theme words are all different varieties of this beloved fruit.
If you think you know tomatoes, think again; some surprises are waiting for you in this vine-ripened lineup.
Strands deposit a 6x8 daily letter grid at your feet, replete with interwoven letters. Your task? Identify the theme words, which will be colored blue, and find one special pangram, marked in yellow, that runs across two opposite edges of the grid and shows what unites all the words. Theme words are everyday nouns, but the spangram may be a proper noun, a type, or a name.
Start by identifying any three four-letter words or more. They don’t need to be related to the theme, but identifying them triggers the Hint button, providing a useful prompt to discover your first type of tomato and see the others follow like seeds in a garden patch.
If you’re stuck, just type three valid non-theme words of four or more letters to unlock the Hint button. These words don’t have to relate to tomatoes, so try LOOR, MATE, CHIB, FAME, LOOM, or BOX to get started. Once hints are active, the puzzle begins to bloom.
The heart of today’s puzzle is the spangram TOMATO, the luscious centerpiece that ties together all of the theme words. It’s the vine that unites each variety, and this puzzle is a genuine tribute to one of the world’s most beloved ingredients.
Here is the roster of tomato varieties showcased today:
CHERRY – Little, sweet, and just right for snacking
HEIRLOOM – A classic with deep heritage and taste
JUBILEE – Bright and bold on the vine
BEEFSTEAK – Big and meaty, the sandwich king
LUNCHBOX – A convenient size for a snack or bite
PLUM – Just the right shape for sauces and canning
Even if you assumed that tomatoes were, well, just tomatoes, today’s Strands puzzle demonstrates there’s more flavor and variety than meets the eyeball. So, grab a cup of something fine, get comfortable, and savor this tasty word search.
With TOMATO in charge, every find is a small triumph, just as taking a bite of the perfectly ripe tomato is. Your head gets a treat today, hours ahead of the next meal’s ready time.
