In other news

[ksmith]

Nighttime temps have fallen into the lo 40s, and have dipped into the hi 30s in places. I have about 6 very green tomatoes to show for the summer's labors, which I may need to pick soon--can I leave them on the vine as long as the temps don't fall below freezing?

Comments

[galeni.livejournal.com]

Tomatoes: cut the stalk at the base, and hang up the stalk, upside down, with the tomatoes still attached. The tomatoes will continue to ripen. I've done this and it works.

We had our first frost last week -- a bit earlier than normal. Must remember to call and make an appointment to get my snow tires installed (and the oil changed, etc.)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I can bring the stalk inside, I assume? We're due for one more 70F degree day this weekend, in theory, but I will likely cut the tomatoes down after that.

I have to remember that I'm growing them in the upside-down planter, so they are already hanging the way they need to hang. *g*

Got Kuro winterized on Monday. Harrison is good for a few months yet.

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

yep. If it gets down around 34 or 35, I might cover them. Being in Montana, I had the same problem. or you can pick them and just put them in a cool place to ripen. I ended up doing that too, since we had a snow storm.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten about your growing them upside down already. But yes, cut off the stalk and bring it all inside (I have a laundry room with a line and I hung them from the line) and hang it. When growing upright, there were "hooks" of the sturdier branches that I used to hang them by. Don't know if yours will so you might need to tie them or such.

Our winter is much milder than yours, but we do get snow and ice and slush most years. And I work on the highest point in town so we get more snow and ice (and snow days!).

Best of luck with your tomatoes.

[(Anonymous)]

I had read somewhere in one of my gardening books that the chemical in tomatoes that gives them their best taste (and I can't remember what it is) breaks down after you reach a certain temperature in the 50s or 60s, so the flavor might not be as good as it could have been, but they will be better than grocery store tomatoes. This is why people tell you not to refrigerate ripe tomatoes, too, by the way.

Jody in PA

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Damn--I wish I had known this last week. I'd have picked them then.

This Grand Tomato Experiment hasn't gone very well.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I just cut down the tomatoes attached to lengths of vine. Some are hanging downstairs on the clothes line. I attached another length of vine to a wire hanger and hung it on my bakers rack. They've been stuck in green phase for a couple of weeks--they may wind up tasting like styrofoam.