Mrs Reber.....tomat question

[Vanessa]

I was the one suggesting the use of those dryer for sundried tomatoes. Today in the garden I saw I will have an abundance of those pear shaped yellow tomatoes (the small ones). Do you think I could dry them? I presume I should leave them whole? And...what can I use them in? (should thy be used dried or reconstituted?) My apologies for the ? but I can see I will end up with lots of those gourmet pear tomatoes ...Thanks! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[MrsReber]

You are very lucky. We've had so much rain here that I have an abundance of green tomatoes! I don't see why you couldn't dry them. I don't know about leaving them whole, though, since I've never dried any food before. Since they are small, I'd give it a try. You don't want them to shrink away to nothing! I would think you'd be able to use them just as you would use regular sundried plum tomatoes, but I think I would reconstitute them first. I bet they'll be really sweet, too. If I were to put them in something, I'd probably use them in a light garlic and oil sauce with some peppers and tossed with pasta. Or on top of a pizza!

I am still harvesting my plum tomatoes. Each time we get a break with some sunshine, I go out and pick about 5 or 6.

[Vanessa]

Thanks MRSREBER! We also need sunshine desperately. Tomatoes are not ripening. I have some Roma in my kitchen which were almost ripe but not quite but we brought them in anyway I know some are having droughts but wow we had a very wet summer and I hope this won't go on for winter or we will have a lot of snow!

[lindrusso]

Mrs Reber (and anyone else)

May I call on your experiences again???

My tomatoes are also not ripening - we have had some good rain, but I don't know if I'd call in an abundance. I think mine may not be ripening due to fluctuating temps in the early summer and even now it gets pretty cool at night. I've picked a few ripe tomatoes, but they've been a bit "mealy". Any ideas as to why? Did I pick to soon? It's a bit disappointing, I can get mealy tomatoes at the store!!!!

FYI - I live in Indiana - the northeast corner - and I planted Early Girl (they are the mealy ones) and Better Boy - the Better Boy are not ripe yet and I'm not going to get much yield from them. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

Still waiting patiently for that perfect (or not so patiently), homegrown, juicy, ripe, tomato....

[Vanessa]

Lindrusso
Yes we are experiencing so few sunny days that tomatoes are taking forever. Our nights are not cold yet though. I did pick some tomatoes (yellow ones and some Roma) they were not ready so I put them in a big plastic colander (so its airy) and they are ripening. A friend puts them in her window ledge.
About the mealiness that could be related to soil conditions or lack of some nutrients.
We usually spread granular fertilizer (10-30-10) we also put in lime and waited a few days to plant. Also when planting tomatoes we did put composted manure, mix in with the soil around the hole, planted tomato.
Weather fluctuations (drought, wet) does affect tomatoes. Erly girl does not like much water Better boys are ok with water.
What to do? Well use the mealy ones when ripen for stws or sauces, you can add tomato paste to thicken. The good ones enjoy in fresh salsa, etc

[MrsReber]

I haven't gotten too many large tomatoes- only 2 so far. My plums are ripening very slowly, but they are so big due to all the water that they are falling off the plants while still green. I put mine on the windowsill and they ripen very nicely. However, I am almost buried in smaller tomatoes! I can't remember the name of the variety, but they are a little smaller than cherry tomatoes and so very sweet! I just made a creamy sauce with a pound of them last night, but I still have some left over. And I know when I get home today there will be even more since it is finally sunny out! None of my vegetables are growing too fast, but the plants themselves are healthy. I do have one rogue pumpkin plant out front. My husband always tosses our Halloween pumpkins somewhere in the yard when they start to go bad. Inevitably, we wind up with a pumpkin plant is some weird place. Two pumpkins so far! I won't let him pull it out, even though it is strangling our flowers and bushes!