Greenhouse tomatoes

[OverWyreGrower]

We've got an unheated greenhouse and our cherry tomatoes are still going strong. We've snipped them at the top a while ago to stop them growing and the toms are still ripening.

How long should I leave them for, since most of the ripe ones we get are being put into sauces etc.

Should I stop now and join the green tomato chutney brigade? As long as they are ripening OK, should I just leave them?

Cheers

Shelley

[nick the grief]

I'd leave them OWG,

My Gardeners delight I outed in November last year & they were still going strong I was just sick of ruddy tomatoes!!

[OverWyreGrower]

Hence why I've got a freezer full of homemade pasta sauce! Ours are Gardeners delight too.

When we moved in the old geezer who was there previously had generously planted 25 plants for us, at various times, so the first plants to fruit were taken out about a week ago, and the younger ones are still in flower!

I think next year, I'm going to put in cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets (in the g/house) and larger (plum?) tomatoes in the ground...

[beefy]

Hello all ,first post so go easy on me. Got the same problem as above only my excuse is that the toms were not sown untill the start of June.First toms are just starting to colour. I suppose I just stick with it till a heavy frost?

[OverWyreGrower]

Are they inside or outside?

Lots of people use fleece to cover them up if it looks like its going to be cold!

We've bene keeping the vents almost closed all the time to keep the greenhouse as warm as possible... bloody tomatoes!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi Beefy! welcome to the Vine! actually, I had the exact same question as you. Have just downloaded a recipe for green tomato chutney, but now am not so sure! any advice gratefully received chaps! thanks! dexterdog

[nick the grief]

Hi Beefy, welcome to the vine.

Iwould stick with them for a while yet as you never know we may get some good weather for a month or so.

If they are outside can you rig a bit of shelter for them (clear plastic over them would be fine just to help trap the sun & ripen them a bit quicker.

Bit like this

[Sunbeam]

I'm in the same boat - most of my toms are still green , om another note I planted a side shoot from one of my plants and it has taken quite nicely - but obviously the tom season is coming to an end... what are the chances of keeing this going til next year?

[Earthbabe]

Like the idea for plastic shelter ntg - thanks. Will be on the lottie tomorrow so will work out whether it is needed. The toms were ripening fairly well last visit but would like a few more to ripen even though I like my green tomato chutney.

Welcome to the Vine Beefy. It is a great resource, very friendly, helpful and down to earth.

[Alice]

[When we moved in the old geezer who was there previously had generously planted 25 plants for us,

What's an old geezer.??? I've never been sure what a geezer was but thought it was a disparaging term. But if it's somebody who generously plants 25 plants for you - then it can't be. Can anybody shed any light on what constitutes an old geezer.

I

[beefy]

Sorry for not replying sooner been away since Friday night and just home.Drive a HGV at weekends so get to see a bit of England (mostly the M 6 and A75) and Scotland. My toms are in a greenhouse , should I close up the doors and windows? Would this not encourage a damp greenhuose and disease on the toms?

[valmarg]

I know this is the wrong site to post this, and I have posted it on the site before, but the following is a recipe for using up green cherry tomatoes:-

PICKLED GREEN TOMATOES

Too many pickle recipes read – and taste – as though they are the last desperate solution to the problem of gluts. Green tomatoes are the classic example. This German recipe calls for green tomatoes ‘small enough to eat whole’, which means growing them deliberately and picking the clusters of small fruit while they are still green, firm and fresh. One of the best varieties to grow is the cherry tomato called Gardener’s Delight. This has the great advantage that the skins of the fruit are unlikely to split.

This is an extraordinary pickle. Once you have tasted it you will never again forget that the tomato really is a fruit. It goes well with cheese, even better with pâtés and terrines.

Makes about 5lb (2.2kg)

5lb (2.25kg) green tomatoes, 1 inch (2.5cm) diameter maximum, stems removed
2 pints (1.2 litres) malt vinegar
6 cloves
1 x 1 inch (2.5cm) cinnamon stick
˝ small nutmeg or 2 blades mace)
pinch salt
1 lb sugar
1 pint (600ml) white wine vinegar

Place the tomatoes in a large pan with the malt vinegar. Stir very gently and bring to the boil, then strain immediately. (The malt vinegar can be thrown away or saved for making chutney.) Tip the tomatoes very carefully into a bowl, taking care not to split the skins.

Boil the cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg or mace, salt and sugar with the wine vinegar in a separate pan, then pour hot over the tomatoes. Cover and leave for 24 hours.

On the third day, heat the tomatoes and the liquid together, but do not boil. Lift out the tomatoes with a slotted spoon and pack them carefully into warmed jars. Throw out any that have accidentally split their skins because they will ruin the effect of the pickle.

Reduce the liquid until it turns slightly syrupy, then strain off the spices and pour the cooling pickle over the tomatoes, making sure they are completely covered. Cover and store for 3 months before opening.


We have kept them for more than 12 months.

[dexterdoglancashire]

thanks for that Valmarg - I'm trying the recipe from earthbabe tomorrow, oops, later today!!! but still have plenty of green toms. have ordered some jars from lakeland plastics, so when they arrive will give your recipe a go! dexterdog

[Shortie]

What's an old geezer.???

Maybe it has different inflections in other places but a geezer round by us is just a term used to talk about a man. Not a bad phrase by us at all

[OverWyreGrower]

Just an old man....

Bless him, he was about 80 and still maintained the 200ft+ garden and paddock (and greenhouse and orchard) by himself and mowed them with a petrol-hand mower. Must have given himself a heart attack practically!

We've a ride on mower, which is much quicker and collects the cuttings! Ah, modern technology!