Tomato Protection... Or Not - Page 2

GoDawgs · July 6, 2019

Sometimes I just like to play with weird ideas that pop into my head, like this coffee filter thing. I just have to see if ideas will work. "Inquiring minds want to know!" Right after playing with filters I just went ahead and picked all the blushers and they're in a tray on the kitchen table.

I've never noticed a difference in the taste between ripe and "almost ripe" tomatoes and I'm sure as heck not going to get into THAT controversy!

But I do think that there's some point at which they taste like store bought winter tomatoes if picked too early. That whole evaluation will vary according to a gazillion factors (individual taste, variety, etc). As Gilda Radnor would have said, "Tawk amongst ya'selves".

The big tomato in the first photo is Warrior and the clusters are Early Girl.

Nan_PA_6b · July 6, 2019

I'd need oodles of tulle bags to protect all my tomatoes. One year, something was eating only the low-hanging ones (bunny?). I put two low-hangers in tulle bags. One morning, the tomatoes-still in tulle bags- were on the ground and well-chewed. Sigh.

We have a small pond and I have not seen many pecks in my toms. I'd be in the "Pick them at first blush" crowd.

GoDawgs · July 6, 2019

The munchers/peckers seem to like the 3/4 ripe ones so I'm going to pick them at half ripe.

ewm12 · July 6, 2019

I think I’d rather deal with birds than hail.

Guavatone · July 6, 2019

I got these for a quick insurance policy angainst pests. I’m not sure how effective yet, but to me worth the price

ANCIRS 25 Pack 8x12 inch Fruit Protection Bags, Net Barrier Bag with Drawstring, Reusable Nylon Mesh Garden Netting Protection Bag for Plant/Fruit/Flower https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S5ZJJ7N..._ViriDbQFQ9CS0

ramapojoe · July 16, 2019

wow
I could not imagine wrapping every tomatoe in one of those 'protection bags'.
how do you spell gimmick?

GoDawgs · July 17, 2019

Would those bags even fit over large clusters of tomatoes?

BTW, after I set out a big plastic dish (the kind you put under big pots) next to the plant that was hit the hardest and filled it with water, the pecking on the tomatoes ceased. Coincidence? Possibly. Or not.

Guavatone · July 17, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoDawgs

Would those bags even fit over large clusters of tomatoes?

BTW, after I set out a big plastic dish (the kind you put under big pots) next to the plant that was hit the hardest and filled it with water, the pecking on the tomatoes ceased. Coincidence? Possibly. Or not.

That’s what I did. I would never use it for one tomato, but clusters and starting bush beans

SQWIBB · July 17, 2019

I do not vine ripen anymore.
I have been averaging 1 loss for every 8 picked, but I have so many coming off that I don't mind.
I have been leaving the nibbled fruit still on the vine. I will remove the fruit if it's close to any other maters and place right in the bed.
I sometimes put the eaten fruit on the fence, this seems to be working as the critter comes back daily to eat more of the same fruit. I'll even put over ripe fruit on the fence.

My thought process is that if they are interested in easy pickings, the half eaten fruit is their best choice, If I remove that fruit, there is a greater chance of them going after another "intact" tomato.

And as far as eating the ones that the critters nibbled on is OK if you are ready to eat the tomatoes right then and there.

What I was doing last year with the nibbled fruit was, cut off the eaten end, slice, season and dehydrate into Sun Dried tomatoes. Also cut off the nibbled end, freeze and make into canned sauce in the fall.

I don't let them get any riper than the ones pictured below, but sometimes you just miss a few.

July 6, 2019	#16
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	Sometimes I just like to play with weird ideas that pop into my head, like this coffee filter thing. I just have to see if ideas will work. "Inquiring minds want to know!" Right after playing with filters I just went ahead and picked all the blushers and they're in a tray on the kitchen table. I've never noticed a difference in the taste between ripe and "almost ripe" tomatoes and I'm sure as heck not going to get into THAT controversy! But I do think that there's some point at which they taste like store bought winter tomatoes if picked too early. That whole evaluation will vary according to a gazillion factors (individual taste, variety, etc). As Gilda Radnor would have said, "Tawk amongst ya'selves". The big tomato in the first photo is Warrior and the clusters are Early Girl.

July 6, 2019	#17
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	I'd need oodles of tulle bags to protect all my tomatoes. One year, something was eating only the low-hanging ones (bunny?). I put two low-hangers in tulle bags. One morning, the tomatoes-still in tulle bags- were on the ground and well-chewed. Sigh. We have a small pond and I have not seen many pecks in my toms. I'd be in the "Pick them at first blush" crowd.

July 6, 2019	#19
ewm12 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 7	I think I’d rather deal with birds than hail.

July 6, 2019	#20
Guavatone Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Clifton, NJ Posts: 50	I got these for a quick insurance policy angainst pests. I’m not sure how effective yet, but to me worth the price ANCIRS 25 Pack 8x12 inch Fruit Protection Bags, Net Barrier Bag with Drawstring, Reusable Nylon Mesh Garden Netting Protection Bag for Plant/Fruit/Flower https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S5ZJJ7N..._ViriDbQFQ9CS0

July 16, 2019	#21
ramapojoe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: new jersey Posts: 95	wow I could not imagine wrapping every tomatoe in one of those 'protection bags'. how do you spell gimmick?

July 17, 2019	#22
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	Would those bags even fit over large clusters of tomatoes? BTW, after I set out a big plastic dish (the kind you put under big pots) next to the plant that was hit the hardest and filled it with water, the pecking on the tomatoes ceased. Coincidence? Possibly. Or not.

July 17, 2019	#24
SQWIBB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Philly 7A Posts: 739	I do not vine ripen anymore. I have been averaging 1 loss for every 8 picked, but I have so many coming off that I don't mind. I have been leaving the nibbled fruit still on the vine. I will remove the fruit if it's close to any other maters and place right in the bed. I sometimes put the eaten fruit on the fence, this seems to be working as the critter comes back daily to eat more of the same fruit. I'll even put over ripe fruit on the fence. My thought process is that if they are interested in easy pickings, the half eaten fruit is their best choice, If I remove that fruit, there is a greater chance of them going after another "intact" tomato. And as far as eating the ones that the critters nibbled on is OK if you are ready to eat the tomatoes right then and there. What I was doing last year with the nibbled fruit was, cut off the eaten end, slice, season and dehydrate into Sun Dried tomatoes. Also cut off the nibbled end, freeze and make into canned sauce in the fall. I don't let them get any riper than the ones pictured below, but sometimes you just miss a few.