Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Florence KY
Posts: 234
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I will be visiting my sister in a neighbouring state, and her yard is too small to grow her own tomatoes. We are planning to bring her an embarrassment of riches from my own tomatoes. This will be a car trip of approximately 6 hours.
As some are getting ripe tomatoes in warmer locales, I thought now would be a good time to start this discussion even though my trip will not be until early August. Any suggestions to get ripe tomatoes delivered safely via ground transport: particularly thin-skinned heirloom varieties such as Brandywine? |
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
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Use your ripe ones or process or freeze. Travel with firm pinks picked early. They will ripen while visiting on the counter and in a cool location like garage or basement. I've taken 3-4 crates of toms in blush state for 3 days car travel for a neighbor. (commercial fisherman and get a 20lb case of king crab in trade).
I give them a newspaper crumbled base, then stack three high. Once at my destination, we/he lay them out not touching and keep them cool away from direct sun and bring them up to the kitchen 6-8 at a time to ripen on the counter out of direct sun. That gives a few weeks of perfect toms. |
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 903
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Like Oakley said, pick them at first blush when they are firm. I use any kind of padding underneath and between them, paper+bubble wrap combo works well for me.
>>> ... and get a 20lb case of king crab in trade. Seems like a win-win. |
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#4 |
Riding The Crazy Train Again
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Marcos, California
Posts: 2,562
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I thought you can't take produce across state lines? Or is that just California?
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"The righteous one cares for the needs of his animal". Proverbs 12:10 Last edited by Deborah; May 16, 2016 at 03:46 PM. Reason: Typo. |
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
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Produce is not a problem in most NEast states or even up and down the coast. I just crossed into Canada and back and best to understand 'why' certain things are a concern.
Produce being consumed that does not hold soil is fine. Root crops like garlic, onions with roots attached, potatoes...crops that could possible be planted are a big no-no. |
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 2,984
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Visit an orchard, or go to your grocer, and ask for salvaged cardboard inserts that cradle apples when they're packed for shipping.
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#7 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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![]() Quote:
When I was selling fruits at a local nursery I used those common trays about 22 inches by whatever,and never piled more on top.The trunk was full of those trays and so was the back seat. Carolyn
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Carolyn |
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#8 |
Riding The Crazy Train Again
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Marcos, California
Posts: 2,562
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Oh, I thought that law applied everywhere. Thanks.
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"The righteous one cares for the needs of his animal". Proverbs 12:10 |
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#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 3,148
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When my grandfather brought tomatoes from Florida up to Illinois to share with us. He packed them in newspaper and put them in liquor boxes that had the cardboard dividers in them. He put the firmest fruit on the bottom and the ripest on top. The tomatoes held up perfectly and fit into their compartments just fine. You do indeed have to remove the tomatoes and spread them out once you have reached you final destination.
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~ Patti ~ |
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
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The heavy duty Costco produce cardboard crates work well if you have access to them.
My mother still uses the ones i packed garden toms and other crops in a few years ago. That is just a 5 hr trip to the parents. My 3-4 day trip to Newfoundland when i visit in August does not mind protected and stacked if firm blush. Unpacked and layed out once landed. Space limited when traveling so i use every inch ![]() A few weeks ago i brought up 10lbs of fresh sugar snaps...(should have found room for more)...six nice lobsters at my door the next day. Moose steaks, moose sausage.... ![]() |
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#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
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Beer flats work well, the ones for regular sized cans are usually tall enough to put 1 layer and stack another crate on top w/o it touching the other maters.
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Tags |
heirloom tomatoes , ripe , transportation |
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