Tomatoes

Question: tomatoes?? I was wandering if anyone had any ideas on how to make a tomatoe chutney please..I have home grown tomatoes coming out of my ears and i need ideas on what to do with them all...Thanks...Any good ideas on tomatoes would be teriffic....

Answer: On your supermarket shelf you will find a product called Ezi Sauce.It contains all the spices etc you need to make different sauces & chutney etc. It also has the recipes on the label. I used it for years. Believe me, it's the only way to go. My late husband loved tomato relish, so I gave that recipe a good work out! Best of luck.

Question: Is there a difference between store-bought tomato seeds, and seeds left over from eating grocery tomatoes? I've managed to grow some fairly large tomato plants (3-4 ft. tall) from seeds left over from the chopping board, but they have yet to produce any tomatoes (though they did flower briefly). However, some of my colleagues have already gotten tomatoes despiet their tomato plants being much smaller (they used tomato seeds bought in packets). One of my friends told me this is because grocery tomatoes have been bred to make commercially viable tomatoes, but are not necessarily good for growing tomato plants from. Is this true?

Answer: there is no difference except the ones at the store are tested for a germination success rate if it is not a good rate they arent good. tomato seeds from your tomatoes will grow, but not as many will germinate, unless you are lucky

Question: How do tomatoes stored in industrial processing plants? Tomatoes are harvested for 3-4 months in a year. If it is wanted to process tomatoes after the harvesting season how should tomatoes be stored for industrial purposes?(for paste or sauce production) Can they be freezed?

Answer: They are frozen.

Question: My tomato plant has lots of green tomatoes and now has one red, is this normal? I have several tomato plants. Cherry, grape tomato, early girl and some others. Two of my plants have tons of green tomatoes and one red? Is this normal? Will the others start changing soon? Why is only one tomato red? This is on both my cherry and grape tomato plants.

Answer: yes that is very normal

Question: 1 can of crushed Tomatoes verses how many fresh grown Tomatoes? I have a wonder Tomato Basil recipe that calls for 1 can of crushed tomatoes. Well, I have grown tomatoes in my backyard. How many would I need to use instead of the can and how would I prepare them before making the soup.

Answer: use about 6-7 big tomatoes drop them in boiling water for 2 minutes to help remove skin then let cool pell them and crush up with your hands keeping all juice. strain out all the seeds

Question: Tomato Puffiness. Can these tomatoes be eaten or should they go into the trash? Yesterday, I picked a roma tomato that appeared normal on the outside, but when I sliced it open, the wall of the tomato and the pulp were completely seperated from one another. The tomato cell wall looked disgusting to say the least. I threw it in the trash. Are "puffy" tomatoes edible or did I do the right thing?

Answer: eh i throw them away...they are just a few days from a mulch pile..but other people eat them..as long as it doesnt have that sickening tomato rot smell you can eat them

Question: What causes home-grown tomatoes to remain small? I am growing tomatoes for the first time. Thanks to help from the internet and Yahoo Answers, my tomatoes are delicious and very sweet. Some are medium in seize but the majority are rather small. I am growing the tomatoes in 12 inch pots on my porch and get 4-5 hours of afternoon sun. What can I do to ensure larger tomatoes the next time around? I am having so much fun and definitely are planning to do this again, and better. Thanks for all your help.

Answer: maybe the variety you have are small ones,next time you plant get big boy variety, i have lots of luck with them,and don't forget to plant early as possible,hope that helps.

Question: Looking for spaghetti sauce recipe with fresh tomatoes? I've never made spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes (I've always used canned tomatoes). I've found a couple of recipes on the net, but they all call for tomato 'paste' as well as fresh tomatoes. I'm not driving to the store today! I do have tomato 'sauce', though. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Answer: For the sauce 1 tbsp olive oil ½ onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 200g/7oz fresh chopped tomatoes handful fresh basil, chopped salt and freshly ground black pepper . To make the sauce, heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, but not browned. Add the tomatoes and cook until broken down. Cook the pasta in a large pan of salted boiling water for 30 seconds, before draining well. Stir the basil through the tomato sauce and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve the pasta in a serving bowl with the sauce spooned over.

Question: What stole green tomatoes from my plants? I have four tomato plants growing awesomely. Two of them had tomatoes the size of my fist, still green. Today I come home from work and there is only one green tomato left. Humans? Critters? Whatever it was left no residue. Upon closer examination, I found a half eaten tomato under some strawberry plants...guess I'm going to have to get some chicken coop wire or something. Thanks for the thoughtful answers.

Answer: It was probably a bird!

Question: Why are my tomatoes plants wilting every day? I water my tomatoes plants every day. The very next day they are wilted. After I water the tomatoes plants, they are just fine, but the next they are wilted again. What do you think is causing my tomatoes plants to wilt every day?

Answer: If you're watering deeply enough, then it's apparently getting very, very, very hot where you are. They shouldn't wilt at temperatures up to 100 degrees F if soil moisture is sufficient. It sounds more like you're not watering deeply enough. They need at least an inch, preferably more, of water weekly in clay or loamy soil, and every 4-5 days if the soil is very sandy. This will penetrate the soil to a depth of about a foot, and encourages roots to grow deep. More frequent, lighter watering encourages shallow rooting. To measure, place a straight-sided container beside them, and water until there's an inch or more of water in it. Mulching will also help hold moisture in the soil. You can use layers of newspaper, straw, plastic, etc. Hope this helps...

Question: Does tomato wilt affect other plants? Can you eat the fruit off the tomatoes plants? We have huge plants, in a small garden space. My tomatoes are showing signs of wilt, but perk up after rain. I noticed my cucumbers and some of my yellow squash and zucchini are not growing after they form and begin to rot. Can I save my plants? My herbs in the same small bed are doing great. What can I do to prevent this from returning next year. (already know about purchasing resistant tomatoe plants, but what else??)

Answer: Your tomatoes could have blight or wiIt. I would buy Dragoon dust with copper and sprinkle by package directions. My tomatoes has had leaves dyeing on the bottom of plants this year, and the tomatoes have been smaller then usual, but the fruit is delicious.

Question: When are tomato plants supposed to have tomatoes in South Florida? Planted the plants at the end of september. they are tall about 3.5 feet, blooms but no tomatoes.

Answer: All tomato cultivars have a number associated with them (78 days, 85 days, 90 days etc.) The number refers to the time between when the plant was set out and when to expect the first ripe tomatoes. If you don't know that number, check the seed packet, the seed catalog, or the greenhouse where you bought them. Yours haven't even been out 60 days yet, and even the earliest tomatoes require 70 days or more.

Question: Can you substitute tomatoes for diced canned tomatoes? I have a recipe that calls for a can of diced tomatoes but I don't have any canned tomatoes. I do have tomatoes. Can I chop up a tomato or two and use them in the recipe instead of diced canned tomatoes? Ok. Thanks very much

Answer: yes of course! your food would taste even better as you r using fresh ingredients. do it!

Question: How do you make tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes? I have tomatoes and i want to make tomato sauce. Not spegghetti sauce but tomatoe sauce.

Answer: TOMATO SAUCE This sauce, called caldillo de jitomate ("tomato broth"), has a consistency closer to a light tomato soup than an Italian marinara. 1 1/2 lb tomatoes, coarsely chopped, or 1 (14- to 15-oz) can whole tomatoes in juice, including juice 1/3 cup water (3/4 cup if using canned tomatoes) 2 teaspoons chopped garlic 3 tablespoons chopped white onion 1 large fresh green serrano chile, coarsely chopped (including seeds) 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste Blend all ingredients in a blender until very smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour through a medium-mesh sieve into a 1 1/2- to 2-quart heavy saucepan, pressing hard on and then discarding solids. Gently simmer sauce, uncovered, stirring occasionally and skimming froth, until sauce is slightly thickened and reduced to about 2 cups, 10 to 15 minutes. Cooks' note: Sauce can be made 1 day ahead and cooled, uncovered, then chilled, covered. Makes about 2 cups.

Question: How many tomatoes grow per plant? And can I sell them straight to a store? How much do they sell for? I have 24 ordinary, red tomato plants. How many tomatoes will I get per plant? And also, can I sell them straight to a store? And for how much? Thanks! barb, how many tomatoes? that's kind of vague.

Answer: You can sell them to a farmers market or to a "Mom and Pop" type business like a local diner. And don't forget that if you have any left over you can donate them to your local food pantry or homeless shelter.

Question: Why are strawberries and tomatoes bad companion plants? I have been researching alternative ways to eliminate the white flies from my tomatoes. I have found out which companion plants are good! for tomatoes, (basil, marigold, etc) but on all the lists i found it lists strawberries on the bad side among others. Why are strawberries bad for tomatoes? When i say alternative ways, it means i AM NOT asking about poisons that will kill the flies. I know about soap and water, oil, tabaco and several other sprays that can kill bugs. My questions is simply about the relation of strawberries and tomatoes.

Answer: Two reasons I can think of, I'm sure there is more. 1.They have common enemy pests,Therefore they both attract pests that are destructive to each other.2. the tomato plant roots carry a fungus that is harmful to strawberries