Tomatoes

bella1999

17 years ago

I have been gardening for years, but I am new to this forum. It is SO great to have a forum for Oklahoma where gardening is certainly a challenge. Like the rest of you I have been struggling in this heat (Comanche County) to keep my garden productive. My romas have produced a lot, however they have not gotten completely ripe. The tops will still be yellow-green with the ripe bottoms starting to cook in the heat. So I have been picking them when there is just a tinge of color and riping them in the house. I have hit upon a very easy way to preserve them; some of you may already do this: I roast them, peel the skins off and then pop them in the freezer. No canning! I garden because I am mesmerized by the miracle of it all and also want to grow my own food as much as possible.

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Comments (6)

shekanahh
17 years ago
Bella...
Yes, this is a great place to learn more about gardening, and as you said, gardening in Oklahoma can certainly be a challange to say the least.
I like your take on roasting tomatoes. I'd forgotten about it until you mentioned it, but I've read that roasting them brings out the richness of the flavor. It sounds like something I'll have to try this summer...even though I hate to heat up the kitchen. Actually, we do that anyway when we can, so what's the dif, right? At what temperature do you roast your tomatos?
Thanks,
Barbara
elkwc
17 years ago
Bella,
Glad to see you join the family. You will find lots of great advice and friendly people. Dawn has the answers and I ask the questions. Yes the last two years has been especially challenging here. I'm on the OK/KS border NW of Guymon, OK. So a ways from most on this forum.
I roast peppers, onions, corn, eggplant, garlic but for some reason have never roasted tomatoes but will have to try it. Jay
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Okiedawn OK Zone 7
17 years ago
Bella,

Jay is very modest. He also has the answers, so don't let his modesty fool you. He is a very accomplished gardener and my die-hard tomato-growing pal.

We do have another serious tomato grower somewhat close to you.....Tomatomanbilly in Anadarko. His conditions (and Jay's in SW KS) are probably most like yours there in Comanche County although mine is fairly similar in terms of weather although most of the time y'all may get slightly hotter there since you're farther west.

Dawn
bella1999
Original Author
17 years ago
Indeed, I feel at home here and among friends already! I put the tomatoes on a metal tray in the oven at 350 for 20 to 30 mintues. Let them cool and then easily slip off the skins, and then put them in the freezer. This is one of those times that you wonder why you never thought of this before, especially after years of canning tomatoes. It all started when I bought a can of "Fire Roasted Tomatoes" from Glen Muir. Hey, I can do this!!!
Bella
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
17 years ago
Bella,

I suspect a lot of folks will be oven-roasting some tomatoes today, or at least the next time they harvest a bunch.

I've got oodles of tomatoes so I know I'll be roasting some.

Dawn
laura_lea60
17 years ago
Hi Bella,

Welcome to the forum and thanks very much for the recipe! I've tried the canned and they are tasty in a pinch. Hope I have a big batch soon to roast! Might even try a nice roasted tomato salsa....

Stay cool!
Laura Lea