Harvesting Unripened Tomatoes

Reposted from Burien.News (September 22, 2024).

Green tomatoes laden my vines in the garden. As the vigorous plants charge ahead, continuing to bear heavy clusters of fruit, they seem oblivious to the autumn equinox upon us. The season is shifting to shorter, cooler days and longer nights, and local nighttime temperatures will drop below 50 degrees in the next several weeks. Tomatoes usually stop ripening completely when evening temperatures cool to this range.

Since I do not want to lose any of these treasured tomatoes to the impending frost next month, I called my seasoned gardener friends, Zeak and Nancy, to inquire about how they preserve these green gems.

Zeak immediately handed the phone to Nancy, deferring to the tomato expert in their household. Nancy explained that she harvests the green tomatoes and lays them into a shallow, 4″ tall box lined with newspapers or paper towels. The green tomatoes are separated, without touching, in one layer and stored in their garage. She carefully monitors the tomatoes every few days and inspects them for any signs of rot or fungus, especially around the stem area.

Zeak did get a word in here, as he added, “Place the tomato stem up so any rot near the stem area is visible.” He added that when harvesting tomatoes, “many types have a small bump just up the stem from the tomato. It breaks off more easily there. If not, just ‘snip’ the stem off. This method helps prevent any problems.”

Nancy then shared that some of her friends leave them attached to the vine and hang them upside down in the basement. Amazingly, they have enjoyed the ripening tomatoes until December! “But,” she added, “they may not be as tasty and juicy as fresh tomatoes, but they are homegrown tomatoes!”

Nancy added that you might also use all those green tomatoes to make your favorite green tomato ketchup, salsa, or relish. It’s a beautiful way to maximize your harvest and get creative in the kitchen.

Meanwhile, during these waning sunny days, I will closely inspect the vines and harvest soon. Additional garden sites suggested sorting tomatoes into three boxes according to color. If they are red but not quite ripe, bring them into the warmth of the house and place them on the counter. Separate any orange tomatoes that are just starting to get their color and ripen them similarly. The remaining green tomatoes are spread into a shallow box and stored in a cold garage for continual harvest.