I live in the high desert in California. I have several tomato plants that have tons of green tomatoes on them. I am trying to save them from the horrible frost temperatures, now down to 18-28 degrees. I have done okay for now and have gotten a few to ripen but I am concerned with the other 60 or so tomatoes. What can I do to save them besides double frost blankets? How about a visqueen enclosure or what? Need an emergency solution. Also, how long before they finally come to fruition? Cutting off dead black branches as needed. Plants under are still looking good and green.
You can likely extend the growing season for a few days or longer by covering in the cold temps, but tomatoes need warm weather to grow and will began to die back in the cold.
I would harvest the tomatoes and continue to ripen them indoors.
Here are some links to help you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/growing-indoor-tomatoes.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/how-to-turn-green-tomatoes-red-how-to-store-tomatoes-in-the-fall.htm
How do I grow tomatoes during winter indoors?
This article will answer your questions:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/growing-indoor-tomatoes.htm
Can I reuse my tomato plants from season to season?
It is possible to start new tomato plants from cuttings.
Here is a link that explains the process.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/starting-tomato-cuttings.htm
Here is a great article that is full of growing information for tomatoes.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/growing-tomatoes-guide.htm
I have a huge tomato plant growing in my garden. It's about the size of 3 to 4 regular tomato plants. Could it be a beefsteak tomato?
You most likely have an indeterminate tomato variety in your garden. These are plants that keep growing larger and larger throughout the season, as opposed to determinate plants, which grow to a certain size and then stop.
Beefsteak tomato plants are indeed indeterminate, but there are many other types of indeterminate tomato plants. Please see these articles for varieties and more information:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/determinate-vs-indeterminate.htm
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/indeterminate-tomato-plant-list-58174.html
I see this brown patch on tomatoes (attaching pics) in my organic garden. Not sure if it's a deficiency or disease. Need your kind suggestions. Thanks in advance. PS: I didn't apply any calcium or epsom salt or aspirin. Regards, Suresh.
It looks like the brown patches are right at the bottoms of the tomatoes where the blossom end was, which means this is a case of blossom end rot. It's a physiological disease caused by lack of calcium in the tomato (but not necessarily in the soil). Here is more information about how to treat it:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-blossom-rot.htm
http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/factsheets/Tomato_BlossRt.htm
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/environmental/blossom-end-rot/blossom-end-rot-of-tomato-and-pepper.aspx
Give me the possible treatment of borer worms in tomatoes.
Here are some links to help you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-pinworm-control.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/using-bacillus-thuringiensis.htm
Every year I have problems with my tomatoes. Many of them look perfect from the outside, but have a hard green layer under the surface. I have read your article on why red tomatoes can be green inside, and I do all the things it says I should do. But I'm still left with the feeling it doesn't provide the real answer. I've appended some photos which I hope will help you pinpoint the problem. I might add that this year I thought I might have avoided the problem, but as time went by it came back again. I live in Golden Bay, at the top of the South Island of New Zealand. Kind regards, Hagen Jurke
I think you are experiencing damage from a Stink Bug or a leaf-footed bug.
Leaf-footed bugs have a needle-like sucking mouthpart that they insert into the fruit and suck the plant juices.
The puncture causes the soft area that you have on your fruit, a toxin is injected into the fruit. When you peel back the skin you see that the discoloration goes beyond the skin.
The tissue can feel spongy or corky.
You can cut away this damage and eat the tomatoes.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/stink-bug-control.htm