Drying the tomatoes on the vine

Tomatoes on the vine

Instead of using an oven or dehydrator, let the sun do the work There may also be tomatoes that have been dried in the sun as long there are tomatoes. This ancient method of drying tomatoes in the sun takes longer than using an oven or vegetable dehydrator, but it is worth it.

Instead of fast-drying methods of boiling the fruit, drying in the sun slows down the tomatoes. This method helps to retain all the nutritional value of the tomatoes and the taste of the tomatoes.

Select the appropriate category

Since tomatoes lose their water content when dried, it makes sense to choose tomatoes with low water content, such as plum or paste varieties.

For my vine-drying experience on my vine, I chose a pole type of tomato called ‘Principe Borges’. This variety is very popular with gardeners and growers in Italy because of the high yield of small, plum-shaped tomatoes that can be dried on the plant. According to the Seed Pack, the genus derives its name from the origin of the island (Princip) and the Portuguese, which means "middle class" in Portuguese.

I started the seeds indoors in the spring and transplanted a hardwood plant into the patio container garden in early June. The plant grew into a good size shrub and the pods grew in clusters. I resisted picking any of the tomatoes to see how well they would dry on the vine during the hot, dry summer months of summer.

Let the fruit ripen, then pull the whole plant upwards

Some fruits began to dry on the vine, but many tomatoes took longer than in hot weather. I pulled the whole plant up by the roots and hung it in a warm, dry place to finish drying.

Tomatoes are constantly drying, but it takes a little patience. Completely dry ones are especially tasty. To speed up the drying process, I had to pluck the rest from the vine and fry it gently in the oven. Then the taste-test comparison will be correct.

Dried tomatoes can be stored in a jar of olive oil in the refrigerator and placed in the freezer or grinded into powder or flakes to taste. To use in cooking tips, soak sun-dried tomatoes in water or broth for several hours and re-hydrate. Do not forget to store and use the soaking liquid as well.

Fusarium Wilt

Fusarium wilt and fusarium crown rot are two fungal diseases caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. Fusarium crown rot leaves turn brown and they wither. Fusarium wilt causes yellowish, deciduous leaves. The disease affects only a part of the tomato plant. One way to determine if the plant has Fusarium infection and is not only affected by very low water effects is to cut into the stem. The affected stems have brown spots. Some varieties of tomatoes are grown to resist the fungus. Choosing one of those types is the best way to avoid disease.

Blight

Two different types of blight, another fungal infection, impact tomatoes, causing them to look dry. The first is the early blight caused by the fungus Alternaria solani. Dry, brown rings appear on the leaves of the plant in early blight. The stems of the plant also form superior spots of dark brown color. The fungus thrives in warm, humid conditions. Late blight is caused by Phytophthora infestation, which causes brittle, brown patches on the leaves and stems of the plant. Blight can be avoided by planting seedlings that appear to be disease-free, selecting varieties that are resistant to the disease, and by rotating the area where the plants are in the garden year after year.

High temperature

Although tomato vines like warmer climates, they do not necessarily have to be fans of higher temperatures. The "Augusta Chronicle" reports that if the daytime temperature is above 85 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the flowers of most varieties of tomatoes wither and fall off. Temperatures above 70 degrees at night will cause the flowers to wither.

Irrigation practices

Watering too little or too much on a tomato plant will cause the leaves and stems to dry out. According to the Colorado State University extension, the symptoms are similar to those of Fusarium wilt. Leaf itching, which causes the leaves of the plant to turn brown and dry out, is often caused by too much or too little water, which causes the roots to rot. According to the National Horticultural Association, tomato plants need at least 1 inch of water or 60 gallons per 100 square feet each week.