Anyone have a reliable way to predict a frost in your microregion? Any good websites? (Bottom line -- should I run out and gather up the numerous green tomatoes today or wait?)
I live in Zone 6, northern New Jersey (Montclair).
I would just wait until a hard frost is forecast (28 degrees for 3 hours or more) and then go out and pick them. Covering them at night will be good enough til then. But they will ripen very slowly with cooler temps. You can pick them now, layer in a box with newspaper and they will ripen nicely. You must be careful to pick the "perfect" ones. Any bruise or imperfection will rot the tomato and the ones around it. Ripening can be hastened by adding an apple or two in the box. They give off ethelyne gas which makes tomatoes turn red.
The only predictions I rely on are the daily forecasts, but even those are inaccurate at times!
---------------------------------------- Everything that blooms and grows, the garden angel scatters and sows...in the land of corn and pigs...gardensandquiltsatyahoodotcom
Posts: 2942 | Location: Zone 4-5, North Central Iowa | Registered: April 12, 2002
If there is any hint of low temps I usually cover things up. Not sure about ripening those green tomatoes on the vine... I usually pick them and do what Mumsey does.Don't know how long your frost free season usually is. BTW, my DH went to Montclair StateU.(long time ago) Happy fall gardening!! Check out the election post I put up for New Jersey people,pleeeeze. It is on the Club OG forum...
"Maybe one of the secrets of survival is to learn where to dance." Stanley Kunitz
Posts: 892 | Location: New Hampshire Z4 | Registered: February 11, 2002
I check weather.com for my zip code. They are usually pretty accurate, and they give you a whole week ahead at the bottom of the page so you can kindove plan ahead.
Posts: 1 | Location: Southeast PA | Registered: July 27, 2002
