At summer ’s terminal , we ’re often left with a surplus of produce from the veggie darn that want to be plunk and stored before inclement conditions sets in – like tomatoes .
We delight their ripe red yield from June 21 on , but they do n’t do well when there ’s a chill in the airwave . Toward the end of the raise time of year , vine mature slows and then stop over .
And while the vines can look spindly at this point , there ’s often still lots of fruit in shoes – unripe ones , orangey half - ripe 1 , and ripe red ones , all at the same metre .
Photo by Lorna Kring.
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as luck would have it , there are plenty of means to keep and preserve their delicious flavor for month to amount .
Box storage is a good option to tardily mature green ones , and nicely extends the season for fresh yield .
Photo by Lorna Kring.
Other options – like canning , dehydrating , and immobilise – make voguish option when your crop ’s just too large to utilise it all fresh .
Here ’s what you need to learn about on how to store your homegrown tomatoes !
What You’ll Learn
Ripening Basics
Being able to mature tomatoes that you ’ve picked reckon a good deal on the temperature .
And that intend how you choose to stow them will be determined in bombastic part on their story of ripeness at harvest home metre .
Typically , green fruit ripen in about two workweek at temperatures of 65 to 70 ° fluorine .
But they ’ll take up to four workweek at temperatures of 55 to 60 ° farad .
And at 55 ° F and below , fruits go into stasis with no further ripening .
Very ripe fruits can go into the electric refrigerator to halt the process , but they should be brought back to room temperature before have for the good flavor .
If you only have a handful of green tomato , they can mature in a bowling ball on the kitchen counter .
Keep them out of direct sun and they ’ll gradually exchange color in a couple of week .
If desired , adding a ripe apple or banana tree to your box or bowl of fruit will also quicken ripening , since these will relinquish ethene gas . Replace the apple or banana tree weekly .
For more ripening details , read this clause onhow to make homegrown tomatoes turn crimson .
Boxed Storage
An open bin or box is a commodious and effective computer storage receptacle in which to keep green yield as they ripen and turn ruddy .
Here ’s what you need to do :
The cooler the temperature is in your storage area , the longer the yield will take to mature .
Suitable locations include cool or unheated basements , cellar , garages , larder , and shaded porches .
give the good conditions , box green yield can be kept for up to six calendar month .
Dehydrating the Harvest
Dehydrating your cropis another delicious and easy way to hive away both green and red yield .
dry contract the smack to an vivid depth , retains most nutrients , and develop a satisfying , chewy grain .
Tomatoes can be sun - dried , or dry in an electric countertop dehydrator using the following basic process :
If you do n’t have a food dehydrator , yield can be dry in the oven as well .
To do this , go under your oven to 150 ° F or the lowest mount and put the washed , sliced , take up - out fruit on a baking tray lined with parchment paper .
observe closely during the last hour of cookery . Check for doneness every 15 minutes to ensure they do n’t become crispy .
Store dry up pieces in an airtight glass jar or resealable container .
Dried pieces have a deep flavor and texture as is . But they can also be fatten up and softened by rehydrating in hot water or love apple succus for 20 minutes .
Keep in airtight containers in a cool , dark cabinet or closet for up to six calendar month , or store in the deep freezer for up to one class .
Learn more about how to desiccate love apple here .
Fresh Sauces and Canning Preserves
Canning preserves or making fresh sauces for the deep freezer are great ways to store your surplus harvest home that provide many options .
apply mature violent fruit to make chutney , jam , succus , ketchup , paste , sauce , or stewed whole fruit .
Green one add a tangy bite to chutney , pickle , or relish , and make a lively salsa verde ! Try this zesty formula for salsa verde using your green yield instead of tomatillosfrom our babe site , Foodal .
Or please the tike with this formula for the tastiest ketchup you may make at home , also from Foodal .
Fresh sauces can be stored in the deep-freeze for three to four months .
Canned tomato preserves retain their best quality for up to 18 calendar month when stored in a cool , dry , and dark closet .
Be certain to always can tomatoes using appropriate canning techniques for a water bathroom or pressure canner . Sterilize jolt and assure the sour of give the axe products contain tomatoes according to the manufacturer ’s directions .
If you wish the theme of canning , you ’ll desire to check out this clause on15 of the good canning tomatoes to grow . Plan ahead for a big crop next year !
Freezing
Freezing is another effective style to bear on your harvesting .
And although the texture vary with freeze ( you wo n’t want to swear out them sliced on a salad or sandwich ! ) , they make an fantabulous summation to cooked dishes such as sauces , soup , and swither .
You may freeze down your supernumerary harvesting one of four ways :
For moredetailed freezing instructions , see our guide .
Hanging Plants
Another option is to uproot the intact plant at the goal of the growing season , rather than picking the fruit .
plainly perpetrate up the flora and brush off excess territory from the roots .
Hang them upside down in a coolheaded , sheltered positioning out of unmediated ignitor to mature . plant can also be laid on shelf or in shallow bin .
moderate each week and piece fruit as it ripens .
Just so you know , this method acting is immobile and leisurely but it can be quite mussy – you could expect there will be plenty of dead flora debris to clean up after !
Stretch Out the Goodness
Tomatoes have exceeding tang andoutstanding nutrient that we all love . And even though ripe yield has a light ledge living , we can still elongate out the good of a homegrown harvesting .
mature greenish fruit in boxed storage or test one of the conservation method described for long - condition store – and long - condition enjoyment !
And why not visitour babe site , Foodalfor more formula divine guidance ?
And formore love apple noesis , check up on out these articles next :
Photos by Lorna Kring © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more particular . Originally bring out on October 2nd , 2020 . Last updated July 22nd , 2023 . Uncredited photo : Shutterstock .
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