There's no point in rescuing those, IMO.

I'm not really sure there's a point to planting a "fall crop" in 6a NJ. While frost has been late in recent years, the declining quality of the sunlight + cool temps makes it a strange time to be trying to raise new plants. What's your reasoning behind it, out of curiosity? Are you succession planting determinates or something?

Agree. They are beyond rescuing and even if you could save a couple the damage to the stems and the circulatory system it contains is substantial and can only have a negative effect on future development.

Dave

Thanks all. That's kinda what I figured. Boo. And yes, I just wanted to see if I could get something ripening late. We usually don't get frost til end of October. And yes, they would've all been short-season determinates. And it's more fun to can things in the fall than the heat of summer... Oh well. Maybe next year.

there is still time in the northeast, it's not even mid summer here yet (July 15-30). you can definitely get a fall crop if you manage time a bit better ;)
maybe try some small compact 60-70 day tomatoes, or better yet, see if you can get a few cuttings from someone else's plant.

Thanks Stevie. I thought you couldn't take cuttings from a determinate though. ?? Can you?

At this point, it's probably going to be unsuccessful. Previous thread on this.

Early bush varieties are common at garden centers, etc. If you can still find one, that's probably what you want.

You can take a cutting from a determinate if the plant is still young enough that you can find a small growth tip near the top that isn't already showing bloom development. In early spring it's possible.

Generally I find it to be a waste of time by now in the season. Older cuttings will root but then they tend to develop a terminate blossom set and nothing else. But it can be a good learning experiment for you.

Dave

A suggestion for next year seed starting. All of those plants could easily have been started in only 1 or 2 of those pots. A 3-4" pot will easily germinate 20-25 seedlings or more. You can read more about this over on the Growing from Seed forum.

That size pot if for a 6" tall plant and too big for a baby seedling. They drown or develop damp-off in that much soil if it is kept properly watered and they develop very shallow roots if it isn't.

Then set the 2 pots under a light or even on the kitchen counter by a window. That way even if you forgot about them they wouldn't bolt like those did.

Saves room, saves potting mix and care, and produces much healthier plants.

Dave