Tomatoes in Minnesota

Michelle Powers
by Michelle Powers
Last night was our first frost. I had covered my tomatoes, so they are okay. BUT I don't want to cover them every night. I have a lot of tomatoes but many of them are still pretty small. What do I do? I know I if pick them all now they will turn red eventually, but they won't get bigger. Will they get bigger in the cold though? Please help the garden newbie!
  5 answers
  • Dee W Dee W on Sep 23, 2012
    I don't know if they will continue to grow, but you can pick them all and have them ripen indoors if you'd like. There are quite a few different ways-check out this post: http://hometipster.com/how-to-ripen-green-tomatoes/ ; Hope it helps, I'll be doing this myself later in the week.
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Sep 23, 2012
    check your weather forecast for the next week or so... if to warm up it will be worth covering them to get them to increase in size, if not you may as well pick. You can wrap the green ones in newspaper and store in the basement - this will preserve them longer and you can remove from newspaper to redden in the kitchen. There is always green fried tomatoes and green tomato relish.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Sep 24, 2012
    If you've had a frost, Michelle, I suspect your tomatoes are pretty much going to stop growing. Time to stock up on green tomato recipes like chutneys and pickles.
  • Michelle Powers Michelle Powers on Sep 27, 2012
    Thanks everyone. My kitchen table is covered in tomatoes that I'm hoping will ripen so I can try out my new canning kit! :)
  • Dee W Dee W on Sep 27, 2012
    How exciting! Good Luck...