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csross_gw

Fall Tomatoes

csross
10 years ago

This is my first year with a vegetable garden, a raised bed in Riverside, CA. I have a hybrid (Celebrity) that stopped setting fruit in August, but then restarted and is now loaded with small green tomatoes (marble to tennis ball size.) Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the most ripe tomatoes?

Based on a quick internet search, I'll get a first frost in mid-December. We're currently getting lows between 45-55F, and highs 65-80F. Do I start pinching off flowers, so they don't set fruit that won't ripen? Or try to cover the plants on nights with a frost warning? I read something in the tomato forum about partially cutting some roots, so it stresses the plant and forces it to ripen faster. When would I try that?

I also planted a Cherokee Purple in early Sept, and it's 2 ft tall and healthy, but none of the blossoms have set fruit. Is there anything I can do to encourage it, or is it too late for that plant?

Thanks for all your help!

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