Tomato Garden

[Cassie-Jane]

I have a tomato garden and recently the frost just killed all my plants !!
I had a lot of red ones,can I use these for tomato sauce of do I just leave them??

[KarenB]

Probably if you pick them over. Some people freeze whole tomatoes then make a sauce out of them. Mine are gone too.

[CM]

Usually when you get a first frost it isn't a hard frost and it just kills the vines but doesn't do too much damage to the tomatoes. If they're really soft, then don't use them. Once they're soft it's difficult to peel them anyway. The best way to know if they'll be good for sauce is to taste a few. If they still taste ok, make some sauce to use right away or freeze.

It's not recommended to can tomatoes in a boiling water bath that have been left on the dead vines because they're usually lower in acid/overripe. If there are any green tomatoes, you can pick them and wrap them in newspaper until they ripen (as long as they don't have soft spots). Or you can use them in recipes that call for green tomatoes, like picalilli or green tomato relish or fried green tomatoes.

[Cassie-Jane]

Thanks CM& Karen,
I missed them Last night we got hard frost and killed all of them-they are so soft
I thought I would go pick them this morning but I got outside and it was so cold+it was snowing!!!

[KarenB]

Ahhhhhh...snow, we didn't get any. I got rid of most of my house plants this year. I'm going to use the large pots for growing tomatoes in my south windows. This should be interesting.

[Cassie-Jane]

Good idea Karen!
I think I may try that, I love fresh tomatoes

[brigid]

I never thought about growin tomatoes in pots indoors. I didn't even know you could do that with any success. It would be something I would be willing to try, though. Store bought tomatoes can never compare to the ones you grow yourself. The interior is always tough and not as richly red or flavorful, imo.

[norsen]

I never thought about growin tomatoes in pots indoors. I didn't even know you could do that with any success. It would be something I would be willing to try, though. Store bought tomatoes can never compare to the ones you grow yourself. The interior is always tough and not as richly red or flavorful, imo.

With enough daylight and warmth it should work. Try an indeterminate cherry variety, with a short maturity day.. Get a good start with one in the pot from ouside. Start one from a good size cutting of a branch or a sucker. Lay it horizontally for at least 6 inches 4 inches deep,then about 6 inches above surface staked up. have at least 4 leaves. Hose off with water or a soapy solution before bringing it into the house. Get rid of all the bugs you can, and keep an eye out for more. This should work with determinate varieties also.
Any variety with fruits under 3-4 inches mite work.
Indeterminate = vining, will fruit forever.
Determinate= bush, will stop sooner or later.
I think daylight hours and warmth of soil in pot have a great effect on the plant and its's fruiting.

[brigid]

Thank you for all the details. I think this is a great idea, and should be a lot of fun, too.

[brigid]

One good thing. It may be February, but I saw some green peeking out thru the grass the other day. The temps are warming up a bit here in the south. The ground will start softening, and spring will be coming fast. I can almost see the budding trees!