Hi all!
This is my first time growing tomatoes.. We live in Hardiness Zone 7a. It took our plants all summer to bear fruit. However we had unseasonably cold October so far, lots of storms and cold weather, while normally we would be in 60’s, even 70’s sometimes. Our tomatoes have never ripened. Now nighttime temps drop to as low as 40 and daytime averages mid-50’s to mid-60’s if we’re lucky. Is there a way to save our crop or is it lost? We only harvested 4-5 tomatoes the whole season. Our plants are full of unripe fruit. I tried to cover fruit with plastic bags (while on the vine) and picking some and trying to ripen in bags on the counter. Nothing made a difference. Any advice? It makes me so sad that after all the work and $ there is nothing to show for.
I don’t know what variety it is… we got the plants from Costco.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. As well as any advise on what to do better next year.
Thanks!
by nessjenji
7 Comments
I would leave the fruits on until it’s seriously about to freeze, in my case about a week ago. Then pick them, bring them in, and put them in a paper bag. They will still ripen that way. Not sure if paper bag is absolutely required, but it’s what I’ve always done.
Just wait. Bags don’t make a difference. They will continue to ripen on the vine but if they don’t have at least a blush of color first they will always stay green. Leave them attached
If you do get a hard frost watch you can cut the vine off at the ground and bring it indoors.
https://theorganicitalian.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/tomatoes-hanging1.jpg
You can also look at dishes that use green tomatoes. Fried is great. But also chow chow.
I used to struggle with how to ripen these end-of-season green ones, now I just cook with them green. Many fine dishes to make with them. Tomatoes are much more versatile than people often realize. Here are some ideas: [https://www.acouplecooks.com/best-green-tomato-recipes/](https://www.acouplecooks.com/best-green-tomato-recipes/)
Next year, start earlier. Also plant varieties that have a shorter DTM (days to maturity) rating. Especially true if you live someplace with a short growing season. Take time to get a clear handle on how long your season is if you haven’t already. Look up the date of your last frost in early spring and your first frost in autumn. Nail it down.
I live in NE Texas and I have approximately 220 days of growing season. My last frost of spring is about 30 March and my first frost of autumn is about 10 November. I can get away with growing some varieties that have 90 or 95 days from planting out to maturity.
And next year don’t plant “mystery tomatoes.” Plant known seeds so you will be able to have more clear expectations as to their behavior. Also, since you mentioned being a beginner, I strongly suggest growing some more or less “bulletproof” F1 Hybrids. Don’t choose finicky Heirlooms that cause even the pros to tear their hair out.
Good luck! Don’t be discouraged. We have all had seasons early on where it didn’t work out well.
That’s just how it goes some years. Next year pick some with shorter fruiting times and buy large plants from the nursery to get a head start. Early girls are pretty good or cherry tomatoes but there are others, it depends on what is available. Seeds are generally not a good idea because you just don’t have time.
Some people try to ripen them on the counter but when I’ve done this they turn red but taste bland like the ones you get at the store. I also don’t like fried
or pickled green tomatoes but I’m very picky about tomatoes.
When they start to turn white-ish, they have begun the ripening process.
I made green tomato hot sauce at first frost.
Not sure what month you planted but it could be that you started really late. That plant doesn’t look unhealthy for October in 7A but it also doesnt look very big.
Costco usually sells very mainstream beefsteak and cherry tomatoes like Better Boy and Husky Cherry Red. Those do look small for Better Boys.
It looks like it’s in a pot. Not knowing a lot about your situation, I’d say you could probably improve the situation by planting next year in a much bigger pot, and by making sure they get more sun if that’s possible. Cool fall weather isn’t terrible for tomatoes but the shorter days really stunt growth. Tomatoes need sun. For beefsteak tomatoes, a 15 gallon pot (or grow bag) is not too big.
The big challenges of growing tomatoes in pots are 1) having enough room for the roots to grow, 2) maintaining consistent moisture levels without overwatering or underwatering (it’s so much easier in a garden bed), and 3) more exposure of roots to evening temperature swings. Bigger pots or bags calm that stress.