I completely emphathize with the plethora of green tomatoes! In case you haven’t heard this before, “The Montana Gardener’s Companion” recommends root pruning to encourage ripening. They say: “cut the soil 6 to 12 inches away from the plant in several spots to a depth of about 6 to 8 inches, partly encircling the plant. Don’t remove the soil; just slice it. In many instances, you will see those green tomatoes start to color within a few days.” I haven’t been brave enough to try this yet…but this may be the weekend it happens. That first frost will be here sooner than I want to admit! Good luck!

I was just talking to my husband last night, also an electrician apprentice by the way, about how desperately I need to get out of the house and how difficult it is for me to do just that. How do we figure it out? Schedule the time, or just try to remember to run out and not feel bad? It’s so necessary for keeping us sane, functioning mamas and partners. I love visiting your blog! We used to live in Missoula, it’s where we grew into awkward young adults, fell in love and got married. I appreciate the tender and loving way you include it in your words.

Great insights (and reminder), Nici 🙂

I almost went to the movies by myself yesterday…should’ve!

Absolutely! I have a 2.5 yr old and a partner that is just finishing a PhD program & dissertation writing. I feel like I haven’t taken any time for myself in ages. I just told my partner what I need more than anything was to run. Run by myself. In my own head. Without the dog, without pushing a stroller and without having conversation. Just me, my running shoes and my thoughts. And it felt FANTASTIC!

And, in Seattle….we too will be making green tomato relish/sauce. Sigh.

In our house we call it “Lonies” and we each faithfully take a night of Lonies every week (almost) without fail. I’ve jokingly called it the secret to the success of our marriage, and I’m not so sure that’s wrong! And I’ve worried about having children and how that would affect the Lonies, because they have become so important to us. Good to know that you’re getting your Lonies when you can, how you can!

it’s nice to hear that it’s not the year of tomatoes in other places too. Every day I go out and STARE at my plants, looking for any tiny hint of color on so much as one, single tomato. Nothing. Ok, not nothing. Yesterday, I picked one, single golf-ball sized tomato, my first of the season, and it wasn’t even quite fully ripe, but I couldn’t stand it. But that was it. I have billions of green tomatoes on my 12 plants and not a hint of color on a single one. However, we have had temps around 100 here since Friday. Today the high is supposed to be 96, and then back down to 70s by wednesday. I keep hoping these few days of heat will kick start my greenies, but so far nothing. I had so much hope!

On the bright side, these mild temps have been fantastic for sleeping, haven’t they? Always a silver lining, I suppose. I love your late summer pics of the girls with the low-slung sun. They really capture the feeling of the season. Beautiful, as always. Looking forward to my dig clothing order!

so true, it’s a fruit year here in CO.

I have to agree. The tomatoes did not do very well this year! Ours were burned to death before they even had a chance at life! LOL. It’s very true. I don’t know why we women don’t find the time to give to ourselves. We feel guilty when we do take the time.

Oh, Nici – I have been waiting forever to have something worthwhile to comment here. I am a longtime blog follower, and fellow Missoulian, and so I share your tomato plight. But, I have a solution! Every year we have some that don’t ripen, and this year it looks like most of ours won’t, just like yours.

So – leave them out till right before our first night where it gets down in the lowish 30’s. Then, you pull the plants out of the ground, roots and all, and hang them upside down (by the roots, or any way you can tie them up) somewhere inside.

We do it in our garage – it doesn’t have to be warm, it just needs not to frost/snow! The basement would work, too. The sugars all rush from the roots down to the tomatoes, and they will slowly ripen. We usually have fresh tomatoes through November this way. Think of it as an alternative to canning for some of your tomatoes this year, and you’ll luck out by getting them red instead of green.

Good luck!

rough going in portland as well

Oh shoot so you’re telling me they aren’t going to ripen? Aw hell that breaks me right down. I’ve really been holding out for the tomatoes, they are my favorite! Nuts!

I’m allergic to tomatoes, so this year Hubs got one plant and put it in a Topsy-Turvy. Last year we had grape tomatoes in it and they did great. This year the tomatoes are terrible! Just a few tiny green ones and the leaves are turning brown and curling.

My, summer is going away fast! Son and DIL aren’t done camping for the year, but their boy started football practice Friday so they’re done whether they want to be or not. Sad to see fall come.

Same tomato story here in Idaho Falls. Many green tomatoes. Fried greens here. 🙂 My beets are excellent though! Nici, I need some advice. I have never grown beets before…when should I harvest them to make pickled beets?

There must be a green tomato epidemic goin around this summer, because my heirlooms are still green, despite the Pennsylvania heat.

I think summer went by incredibly fast this year, as I’m finding myself with just one hike under my belt, very little swimming, and not enough time sitting on the lawn.

Here’s yet to camping & river jumping & then there are fried green tomatoes!
AMEN……………

i cannot believe how short your summers are! wish i could share my red ones with you.

here’s to enjoying more time to yourself!

,,,i like the view from your summit, i spy with my little eye a football stadium,,,reminds me of the view from “A” Mountain in Tucson AZ, my home!!!,,,oh the mountains in AZ beckons me to hike their steep narrow trails, sharp switch backs and reach the top as though I haven’t been away from them at all,,,Oh happy day on Sept 1st when the destination reads “Phoenix Arizona”,,,no doubt i will be wearing my favorite t-shirt!!!,,,fried green tomatoes, yes, yes, yes!!!

I think the beauty of all the chaos of motherhood is that a short hike alone can be so incredibly rejuvenating you feel like 5 quarts of new blood has been pumped into your exhausted body!

This isn’t about tomato season…but does have to do with red! I’ve been meaning to ask, what color lipstick do you wear? I love it!
You wrote that sweet post about always wearing lipstick, but you didn’t mention what color/brand and I’d love to know.

Oh shoot so you’re telling me they aren’t going to ripen? Aw hell that breaks me right down. I’ve really been holding out for the tomatoes, they are my favorite! Nuts!

I know. ug.

Oh glad to know I am not the only tomato disaster happening. Not in the ‘misery loves company way’ but in the ‘well, at least it isn’t me way!

Melinda, I haven’t heard of that! It sounds terrifying!

Christina, Steve, Clara and Elena, I have always wanted to try that but never have the space/energy to make a space. This year, if I want red tomatoes I don’t think I have a choice!

Anna, Dying to know: why “lonies”?

Cake, You are very kind!

Anon: Ha I think I should add this to my FAQ page! I seriously get asked all the time. It’s Aveda and the color is Cherrybud. Definitely the BEST lipstick I’ve ever found. I don’t use anything else!

Okay…is it crazy that I’m not ready to give up hope? I mean, there are soo many hopeful green tomatoes out on the vine right now.

first off, i miss you. i feel like i have been behind on the blog reading, but i am catching up on your posts from the time i was in mi.

second, my mom grows amazing toms every summer in the garden spot that use to be our swimming pool when i was growing up. this year, however, nada. nothin’. no toasted bread with extra butter, sliced toms, and garlic salted sammy’s for me.

…shoot. becks up, i’ll be back

okay, back…
LOVE that first pic, it’s beautiful. becks up again, i’ll come back. lol

Me again…about the beets. When do you harvest yours? 🙂 M.

Oh yeah, I’m definitely feeling that end of summer pinch – where I freak out knowing that the time for all the fun things I’ve been setting aside “for summer” is getting short.

In our panic, we booked an impromptu backpacking weekend (MUST CAMP. MUST HIKE. MUST USE NEW BIVVIES.), a beach outing, a concert under the stars outing and a blackberry picking outing.

But, and I’m sad to say this, I doubt I will get to swim in the ocean this summer. Unless I want to brave the 40 degree temps of our beaches just for the satisfaction. Which I don’t. TOO COLD.

*sigh* I really do hope you guys go river swimming because that is one of those things I most envy you for up there in MT. Your river swims always look so fun.

My neighbor has a decent sized garden with lots of tomatoes and here in Chicago we did have a very hot summer…but his are all still green now too and are turning kind of yucky brownish colors. Weird!
So no, not year of the tomato!

WE – who live in Caifornia and NOrth of the Golden Gate Bridge where it is way sunnier than in San Francisco – have almost no tomatoes to speak of. We had BUSHELS last year. Enough for everyone in my office and more. This year. I think we’ve had five. and they are small. I guess summer is just not coming this year. And I know I shouldn’t complain, because our growing season is longer and we can grow citrus and blueberries and all kinds of crazy things… but not having tomatoes for a whole summer – well, it sucks.
xo – Lindsay Anne-Marie

Malissa,

I am sorry I missed your question! Beets can be harvested from now until the end of summer. They are totally fine with a light frost. They’ll just keep getting bigger and bigger. Ooooh, pickled beets! yum.

How I love your stories and voice Nici Holt Cline. I love all the voices of mamalode and it makes me long for the west with my heart in my sleeve, pumping and thumping over western filled earth, beating against sky. We Wyomigians (we’re like cousins to Montanians) know better than to wear our heart on our sleeve – because it’s just too windy in Wyoming. So we wear it in our sleeve.:)

You Missoulians have something very special in that mountain town – wish I could pop over from my North Carolina perch and watch all you lovely ladies at sunset. Instead I perch on my computer and breath that Western air via Mamalode voices in stories that weave some beautiful Montana mosaics. Thank you for the western comfort. I miss it so.

oh I just found your blog and I am loving it. the charmed “simple” life calls to my heart and i would love to live and raise the little one as you do. alas it is not meant to be though. i would love to know where you found the adorable pjs n Ruby in these pics though i love them!