My tomatoes are still green

[swamp]

I have a garden, and usually DH and I can tomatoes in August.

This year, the $@%^(#@ tomatoes won't turn red.

I want fresh tomatoes, dammit!

[swasat]

I'd make the fried geen tomatoes and live in heaven the rest of my days

[swamp]

Aug 28, 2014 11:37:56 GMT -5 swasat said:

I'd make the fried geen tomatoes and live in heaven the rest of my days

A few servings of that is fine. We have 8 plants full of green tomatoes!

[The Captain]

It's been a much cooler summer then normal here.  I gave up on my few mater plants last month.

[skubikky]

Swamp....ours are just starting to ripen(yellowish green).
Make sure to water them and be patient.

[chapeau]

I'll put on my master gardener hat...

Tomatoes need "warm" nights to turn red. At or above 60 F is usually good. If you really want tomatoes, you can make a "greenhouse" with some clear plastic to make the air around the tomatoes stay above 60 at night for a week or so.
I wouldn't tent them during the day, depending on how warm your days are. That might give you cooked tomatoes.
We finally started getting right temps in the last week or so, and I'm about to have cherry tomatoes coming out my ears. Don't know when my big plants are going to start turning.
Swamp, not sure what your average night temp is at this time of year or how much lower it is that usual, but you're probably starting on the cool down.

Another trick is to have the kids haul some bricks/big rocks into the garden where they'll get sun during the day and give off some heat overnight.

[Abby Normal]

As long as the weather is still warm, just be patient.  When ours weather starts to change, we pick all the green ones and put them a bright window to ripen.  

[Tennesseer]

Have you tried red mulch?

Growing Tomatoes - Does Red Mulch Help Tomatoes Ripen Faster?

[Wisconsin Beth]

Aug 28, 2014 12:40:07 GMT -5 chapeau said:

I'll put on my master gardener hat...

Tomatoes need "warm" nights to turn red. At or above 60 F is usually good. If you really want tomatoes, you can make a "greenhouse" with some clear plastic to make the air around the tomatoes stay above 60 at night for a week or so.
I wouldn't tent them during the day, depending on how warm your days are. That might give you cooked tomatoes.
We finally started getting right temps in the last week or so, and I'm about to have cherry tomatoes coming out my ears. Don't know when my big plants are going to start turning.
Swamp, not sure what your average night temp is at this time of year or how much lower it is that usual, but you're probably starting on the cool down.

Another trick is to have the kids haul some bricks/big rocks into the garden where they'll get sun during the day and give off some heat overnight.

Interesting.  I always thought it was several days/nights of high humidity that triggered it.  WE had that last week and the tomatoes are ripening nicely. 

[Apple]

Hope they ripen! We had that problem last year (the entire region). They would grow and grow, but not turn red, then they would start to rot. Fortunately, there were so many plants we still got some, but not near as many as we should have.

Before the first frost, we'll pick the green tomatoes and can green salsa. It's normally made with tomatillos, but green tomatoes work too. I use it for enchiladas (make it like lasagna rather than roll each one individually, saves a ton of time).

[chapeau]

Aug 28, 2014 14:06:25 GMT -5 Apple said:

Before the first frost, we'll pick the green tomatoes and can green salsa. It's normally made with tomatillos, but green tomatoes work too. I use it for enchiladas (make it like lasagna rather than roll each one individually, saves a ton of time).

Apple, I love green salsa! Would you be willing to share your recipe or point me to a good one?
Thank you!

[happyhoix]

It's hot as hell here all the time, I have red tomatoes coming out my ears. If I don't water at least every other day I think they might spontaneously combust.

My problem is the dang Mexican Bean Beetles destroying the bean leaves. I hate those stupid fuzzy yellow shits.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I picked 129 tomatoes this morning.  I picked more than that on Monday. (We only planted small tomatoes this year ... grape, pear, roma, 4 varieties of cherry tomatoes.) We started harvesting in late April and they've been going nuts ever since. Then again, we've got nothing but sunshine and hot weather, and that makes tomatoes happy.

[NoNamePerson]

Dare I say on this thread that I finally pulled up tomato plants and on second planting for fall. I could have opened a roadside vegetable stand with the tomatos I picked this year. One heirloom plant grew to almost 8 ft tall. I'm thinking Jack and His BeanStalk didn't have anything on me  

But be patient Swamp and you shall reap a harvest!!!!

[whoisjohngalt]

I had mine doing very nicely but now they all of a sudden stopped.

[achelois]

Bird got mine

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2014 12:40:07 GMT -5 chapeau said:

I'll put on my master gardener hat...

Tomatoes need "warm" nights to turn red. At or above 60 F is usually good. If you really want tomatoes, you can make a "greenhouse" with some clear plastic to make the air around the tomatoes stay above 60 at night for a week or so.
I wouldn't tent them during the day, depending on how warm your days are. That might give you cooked tomatoes.
We finally started getting right temps in the last week or so, and I'm about to have cherry tomatoes coming out my ears. Don't know when my big plants are going to start turning.
Swamp, not sure what your average night temp is at this time of year or how much lower it is that usual, but you're probably starting on the cool down.

Another trick is to have the kids haul some bricks/big rocks into the garden where they'll get sun during the day and give off some heat overnight.

I planted some tomato plants it two different spots this year. Some out in the open garden and more up against the South wall of an out building. The ones on the South wall ripened much sooner. I suspect they will also survive that early Winter frost we always get. I am also able to plant them in that area sooner, as they are less likely to be affected by the late Spring frost.

[raeoflyte]

So are mine.

Sent from my ADR6410LVW using proboards

[yogiii]

It's the first year our cherry tomatoes aren't splitting all over the place.  YAY for not too much rain.
Sorry about your green tomatoes

[Apple]

This is the recipe I use.  The link gives a LOT of tips about safe canning, what you can and cannot substitute, etc.

Direct link to recipe(s): extension.oregonstate.edu/fch/sites/default/files/documents/pnw_395_salsarecipesforcanning.pdf

I make the one on page 9:

Chile Salsa/Hot Tomato-Pepper Sauce
10 cups peeled, cored, chopped tomatoes (I've done several varieties and colors)
6 cups seeded, chopped chile peppers (mixture of mild and hot)
4 cups chopped onions (I've done both red onions and white onions)
1 cup vinegar (5% acid) You can substitute store-bought lemon or lime juice, I do either lime or a 50/50 lemon/lime
1 tablespoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
Then I season with DRY seasonings to taste-- garlic/garlic powder, oregano, smoked paprika (I discovered this while digging through the spice cupboard trying to figure out what the salsa was "missing".  It goes in my salsa every time now.)  Can also do dried cilantro (I don't care for cilantro, but if you like it, add it!).

Yield: 7–9 pints

Combine ingredients in a large saucepan. Heat to a boil and simmer 10 minutes (I start cooking the peppers early, with a little tomato juice. Then add the onions and tomatoes.  Some people can't handle the peppers unless they're cooked longer). Ladle hot salsa into hot pint jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed. Wipe rims. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water canner 15 minutes at 0–1,000 feet altitude; 20 minutes at 1,001–
6,000 feet; or 25 minutes above 6,000 feet.

It makes quite a bit, but you can cut the recipe down if you're not canning. You can also freeze the salsa, it just might be a little more "watery".

For green salsa, just use tomatillos or green tomatoes.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2014 15:52:41 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

I picked 129 tomatoes this morning.  I picked more than that on Monday. (We only planted small tomatoes this year ... grape, pear, roma, 4 varieties of cherry tomatoes.) We started harvesting in late April and they've been going nuts ever since. Then again, we've got nothing but sunshine and hot weather, and that makes tomatoes happy.

I'll trade you some raspberries for some tomatoes. I'm sick of picking them.

[chapeau]

Thank you Apple!

I love extension services, and recipes like that is why!