A tomato tip for the autumn

[pigletwillie]

Our tunnels hold about 60 plants so we always end up with loads of green tomatoes, well we did until this year.

Come the begining of October, stop watering your tomato, peppers and chillies that are in tunnels or greenhouses. The plants slowly die off due to drought but the tomatoes ripen slowly on the vine (as do the peppers and chillies) and can be picked well into the new year. The omly thing that stopped ours was the very cold spell with snow that we had which ruined the last fruits that were still ripening.

A brucey bonus was they tasted great, were a boon in the kitchen and this year I didnt have to make loads of gren tomato chutney, just the few jars that I wanted.

Give it a go.

[markwcel]

thanks for that....never thought they would carry on ripening

[Wren]

Do you not find that the skins get a bit tough with no watering?

Wren

[sewer rat]

A brucey bonus was they tasted great, were a boon in the kitchen and this year I didnt have to make loads of gren tomato chutney, just the few jars that I wanted.

I love green tomato chutney - I didn't grow any toms last year and actually bought 20kg of green toms just to make enough chutney for me and for the Farmers Markets and Christmas boxes.

[Wren]

Green tomato chutney is my favorite too . I have enough here to last me a few years though , so i think some red would be nice this year .

Wren

[Comfreyfan]

Do you not find that the skins get a bit tough with no watering?

Wren

I do this most years (to be honest I get fed up with going to water the greenhouse every day!), they don't seem to get tough skins, initially I suppose they would be drawing the last of the moisture from the plant and then the air probably has more moisture in. They don't shrivel up so must be getting some moisture from somewhere!

[rana]

With the cold dank atmosphere of late autumn I don't understand how the plants avoid going mouldy.

[zazen999]

Because they are in a polytunnel

[HayleyB]

would this help against blight as well do you think?

[Herbie]

Great tip. Going to collect some green tomatoes as well as trying this as just viewed all those lovely receipies and want to try the green tomatoe chutney. Have been saving jars for a few weeks now and looking forward trying some out.