green tomatoes

**lll** · 09-20-2011, 09:21 PM

Well I'm trying something this year that I wanted to tell you guys about. I was ready to get rid of my tomato plants, it's getting colder and I just don't think they would do well. A friend said if I take all the green ones and put them in a flat box in the basement out of the light I could keep the green ones without them spoiling. When I want them red just put in a bag with a banana for a few days and they will ripen. So I pulled up my plants and put them in the basement. I took a few green ones and put them in the bag 4 days ago. I checked inside and I have one red one, one partially red and one getting ready to turn. I put the red one out on the counter to finish it up. I can't wait to eat it to see if it's mushy or not.

Has anyone tried this? Could I be so lucky to have tomatoes later in the season? She was saying she had them right up to December last year.

**HappyMama** · 09-20-2011, 09:27 PM

Yes I love picking my heirlooms when they are green, and wrapping them in the root cellar. They always ripen over the winter. I also bring plants in and overwinter them, they grow for me in a sunny window. It is wonderful to have tomatoes in the snowy winter.

I am so glad it worked for you. Enjoy them all winter.

**Debbie-cat** · 09-20-2011, 09:32 PM

Yes, I do this all the time. It's wonderful eating ripe tomatoes when it is snowing outside.

. Enjoy!

**Ramona** · 09-20-2011, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by lll

Well I'm trying something this year that I wanted to tell you guys about. I was ready to get rid of my tomato plants, it's getting colder and I just don't think they would do well. A friend said if I take all the green ones and put them in a flat box in the basement out of the light I could keep the green ones without them spoiling. When I want them red just put in a bag with a banana for a few days and they will ripen. So I pulled up my plants and put them in the basement. I took a few green ones and put them in the bag 4 days ago. I checked inside and I have one red one, one partially red and one getting ready to turn. I put the red one out on the counter to finish it up. I can't wait to eat it to see if it's mushy or not.

Has anyone tried this? Could I be so lucky to have tomatoes later in the season? She was saying she had them right up to December last year.

Interesting. I'm buying bananas tomorrow and will try this. I'm assuming you mean a paper bag?

**mndtrp** · 09-20-2011, 10:25 PM

Is the banana necessary? My wife said to simply put the tomatoes in a paper bag, nothing else.

**HappyMama** · 09-20-2011, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by mndtrp

Is the banana necessary? My wife said to simply put the tomatoes in a paper bag, nothing else.

That is what we do , just wrap them up in brown paper, or newspaper.

**lll** · 09-21-2011, 06:41 AM

She didn't tell me to use a banana, I read about that online. She just said to put it in a brown paper bag. It sounds like that will work. I just added the banana after I read that. I'm so happy about this. Tomatoes are my favorite!!

**Libby** · 09-21-2011, 11:28 AM

The banana gives off a gas as it ripens in which the tomatoes absorb which help them ripen.

I have a basket of very firm green tomatoes and the banana worked for a few. Some of the tomatoes were picked WELL before their prime and before my dad tosses them, I'm thinking of trying my hand at Fried Green Tomatoes - anyone got a quick, simple & recipe?

**frugalfranny** · 09-21-2011, 02:16 PM

I keep my green tomatoes but haven't tried the banana thing. And don't mess with bringing in the plants......might try one to see how it goes.

I just keep them in a dry cool place with good air circulation, sitting on newspaper with a cooling rack under that. If I have
enough tomatoes to hold me, I am always eating my own tomatoes in December.

Originally Posted by Libby

I'm thinking of trying my hand at Fried Green Tomatoes - anyone got a quick, simple & recipe?

Libby, fried green tomatoes are just easy........dip in stirred egg, then crackers or bread crumbs........they are bland without some seasoning, so use lots in the bread crumbs. (try whatever you like for a seasoning ---be creative!) I have even added Tabasco to the egg mixture........they don't keep well when cool but are heavenly when hot..............YUM!