strong storms

hedwarr · August 2, 2006

My plants are doing great!. I really went all out this year. I have AGG, Bloody Butcher, Carbon, Kelloggs Breakfast, Brandywine pink, Mortgage lifter, Jagodka, Manitoba, Patio, and Supersweet 100. Problem is, we are expecting severe storms with large, damaging hail tomorrow!! I have no way of protecting my toms!! They are producing beautiffuly and i'm worried that i will come home from work tomorrow to find nothing left. By the way, I have two of each plant now. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have'nt posted in a long while due to massive demand at work. P.S. Why is everyone so angry over at "The other site"?

ED

landarc · August 2, 2006

any time for you to place stakes and tarps up temporarily? how big is the hail expected?

barkeater · August 2, 2006

Ed, if you are that worried, pick everything showing any color at all and let them ripen inside. You will lose virtually nothing flavorwise. If you are REALLY worried, wear sunglasses, especially polarized, when you pick. That way, you will see mature green tomatoes as if they are blushing that you cannot see with the naked eye. With the sunglasses they will look like they're turning.

Another tip, right after a heavy rain, pick any tomato that has the size and shows any beginnings of cracking. It will ripen off the vine and the crack will expand very little. If the tomato cracked a lot and is green, DON'T PICK IT. It could seal back up and then ripen in a week or so.

It is the same principle as when you get hail. If hail cuts your tomatoes, they can heal if it is green enough. Believe me, you'll know in a couple days. Just use your nose.

barkeater · August 2, 2006

I've found that you have nothing to lose if your GREEN tomatoes get sliced by hail or split by rain to wait and see if they rot.

Of course if they start to, pick them off and dispose of them. You see any blackness ( which is mold forming ) near the split, just get rid of them.

August 2, 2006	#1
hedwarr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wurtsboro, NY Posts: 165	strong storms My plants are doing great!. I really went all out this year. I have AGG, Bloody Butcher, Carbon, Kelloggs Breakfast, Brandywine pink, Mortgage lifter, Jagodka, Manitoba, Patio, and Supersweet 100. Problem is, we are expecting severe storms with large, damaging hail tomorrow!! I have no way of protecting my toms!! They are producing beautiffuly and i'm worried that i will come home from work tomorrow to find nothing left. By the way, I have two of each plant now. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have'nt posted in a long while due to massive demand at work. P.S. Why is everyone so angry over at "The other site"? ED

August 2, 2006	#2
landarc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Left Coasty Posts: 964	any time for you to place stakes and tarps up temporarily? how big is the hail expected? __________________ Lets see...$10 for Worth and $5 for Fusion, man. Tomatoes are expensive! Bob

August 2, 2006	#3
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	Ed, if you are that worried, pick everything showing any color at all and let them ripen inside. You will lose virtually nothing flavorwise. If you are REALLY worried, wear sunglasses, especially polarized, when you pick. That way, you will see mature green tomatoes as if they are blushing that you cannot see with the naked eye. With the sunglasses they will look like they're turning. Another tip, right after a heavy rain, pick any tomato that has the size and shows any beginnings of cracking. It will ripen off the vine and the crack will expand very little. If the tomato cracked a lot and is green, DON'T PICK IT. It could seal back up and then ripen in a week or so. It is the same principle as when you get hail. If hail cuts your tomatoes, they can heal if it is green enough. Believe me, you'll know in a couple days. Just use your nose.