Extending the tomato season

Today it rained.

It is supposed to rain even more 

over the next few days.

But tomorrow, the temperature 

 is supposed to plummet.

Highs of 45 degrees.

Brrr!

Time to hurry and bring in 

the rest of the garden produce

before the first hard frost

and freezing temps.

 

So today I hurried and picked

all the green tomatoes.

 Picking tomatoes in the rain.  My hands froze!

If stored properly

and taken care of,

they will continue to ripen

for quite a while.

This means, I still won't

have to go to the grocery store

for tomatoes for a while!

Hip, hip!!!

So how do you extend the tomato season?

Method 1:

Pick and lay out in a cool place.

Spread them out in shallow layers.

This is not a shallow layer!  

Shallow layers will prevent them from crushing each other

and will allow you to see which ones are ripening faster

than the others.  Be sure to check on them periodically.

Method 2:

Pull the whole plant

and hang upside down from the rafters

{or however you can get them to hang}.
Pick as they ripen.

Whichever method you choose:

Be sure to store in a cool, dry place

like a root cellar, basement or garage.

Some of my tomatoes in various stages of ripeness in  December 2007.

Using methods like these,

I have had tomatoes last clear

into December before.

It's a brilliant way to extend
your garden produce I tell you!