In August I planted eight tomato plants. They just sat there, not growing, not dying. Two were in a bit of shade so they started growing first. I checked this morning and there are 18 tomatoes of varying sizes. I've been covering them at night and we did have a couple of nights with temps in the 30's. Hopefully some of them will get ripe soon. My tomato plants ( photo / image / picture from dooley's Garden ) dooley Tomato plant # 2 ( photo / image / picture from dooley's Garden )
Dooley, I think you will be waiting a long time, if you have the same amount of sun as what we have up here. I tried "winter growing" them last year and they hung on the plants green as could be until I gave up on keeping the greenhouse warm...all the way to mid December. I think the day light length just wasn't enough to get them to grow. Only vegetated.
I've started bringing my remaining tomatoes indoors to ripen in the back room. I know I won't get anymore "new" tomatoes. This hasn't been a great tomato season for me. I think I just want it to be over. But, I wish you lots more yummy tomatoes. They sure look nice.
You guys that still have plants are very lucky. Mine have been gone for a long time. I count my blessings, for I got so many beautiful tomatoes to eat and preserve for the future years. I am very happy but still love hearing about your Winter tomato ventures. :-D
Hang on Dooley, and show us again when they are all ripe. Mine are completely finished now, and I get jealous all over again when I see yours.
27 degrees last night got all of mine but one big plant. Only got the outside leaves and tomatoes are in the middle. Don`t have much hope for those. But will have turnips,greens and winter stuff.
I covered things last night and they all survived the 26 degree weather but some have a few dark leaves. Tonight will be cold so I added a little more covering. Hopefully they will survive this cold spell. I didn't deliberately plant fall tomatoes. They just didn't grow all summer then when it got cooler they started to grow. I'll keep them growing as long as I can. dooley
Oh, bummer Dooley. I hope you can salvage the last plant. I finally cleaned out the greenhouse yesterday and picked all the tomatoes that were in there. I got about 3/4 of a bushel and tomorrow I will try a new recipe for green tomato salsa. I hope the grocery store has jalapeños.