Tomato Dirt Newsletter
Volume 9, Number 18

Dear Tomato Dirt reader,

Welcome back to Tomato Dirt! A couple times a month, we’ll send you this newsletter packed with tips about growing tomatoes and using them.

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FEATURE: Be Picky About Picking Green Tomatoes at Season End

Photo: Tomato Dirt

Regardless of when your growing season comes to a close, gardeners the world over face this burning question: when should I pick my green tomatoes?

Be picky about how you answer this question.

The natural temptation at the end of the season is to pull your plants. But think before you start yanking. If you have a considerable number of green tomatoes still on the vine and the forecast does not include a heavy frost, resist the temptation. Instead, take steps to move along the ripening process for those fruits.

On the other hand, there are certain conditions in which you should definitely harvest green tomatoes on the vine.

When to harvest green tomatoes

• Weather. A heavy frost is in the forecast. Once tomatoes are exposed to frost, their taste withers and texture is mushy … and you will not want to eat them anyway.
• Disease. The plant is dying.
• Variety. The plant is determinate – and done producing.
• Convenience. There are just a few tomatoes left on the vine and you’re ready to begin fall garden clean up.

Special for Tomato Dirt-ers: Gardener’s Supply End-of-Summer Clearance

Tomato Growing Tip: How to Ripen Green Tomatoes

Image: Tomato Dirt

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Pick In Style

Maine Garden Hod and other baskets for picking tomatoes	Eco-Smart and Other Garden Gloves, Pruners	Garden colanders for keeping your tomatoes fresh and your kitchen neat

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