Canning Tomatoes

[baymule]

I grew San Marzano tomatoes for the first time this year. I can only have a few of each plant because of room restrictions. So I have been chunking them in 1 gallon bags in the freezer. I am cooking down 2 bags now, have strained them through my antique cone shaped strainer. I'm cooking down the juice now.

I also grew Homestead tomatoes and likewise, have been chunking them in the freezer. I am cooking down 3 one gallon bags of them now. They are still half frozen, so haven't got to the straining part yet.

The German Johnson and Cherokee Purple we have been eating fresh. I would like to grow enough of these next year to can. The Cherokee Purple makes some awesome home made chili!

So what kind of tomatoes are you canning? Do you separate them by variety or just throw them all in the pot together?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm not canning any yet this year, but I am freezing some. When I can them I just mix what I have. No separation at all. This year that will be 4th of July, Eva Purple Ball, Hillbilly, Jubilee, and Chocolate Stripes.

 

[baymule]

@Ridgerunner are these heirloom and will you post pics and reviews on the heirloom tomato thread?

 

[Ridgerunner]

4th of July is a hybrid I get form Burpee. The others are open pollinated. I don't know if I'll review them or not when the season is over. I like to wait until I get results before I review, though the Jubilee is one I've planted for a few years. It's the only one I saved seeds from last year so obviously I like it.

 

[Jared77]

I always put them all together when Im canning. I figure it makes the most robust flavor. Green, yellow, red, black, doesn't matter. If I have enough to can then Ill fire off a batch.

One of these says I'm going to make a specific sauce like all Cherokee purple, or Japanese Trifle or Costoluso Genovese but I've never planted with those in mind.

Hope this helps

 

[baymule]

This year I am making more of an effort to determine my favorite varieties. That's why I am keeping them separate. Then when I use the finished product, if it knocks my socks off, I'll at least know what to plant again. I won't be thinking.....now let's see.....how many Orange Icicle and how many Cherokee Purples did I mix in this jar? Um.....now did I (scratches head) put any Arkansas Travelers in there too? I used to toss everything together, but I want to identify what I like best and keep planting those varieties plus a new one or two each year.

Last year I froze some Cherokee Purple, just a bag was all I had. I used them making chili and that was the best chili I ever made. They were awesome!

 

[Jared77]

I hear ya I really like the black tomatoes too. The flavor can be VERY good.

We follow a simple rule here.....if it doesn't knock your socks off raw fresh out of the garden then don't bother. Sure we will use it for canning but if they don't pass the raw taste test they don't get planted again the following year. Doesn't matter if it's a paste, slicer, oxheart etc. It needs to wow from the moment go or it's just not worth it. Too many other varieties to try than waste space on something subpar.

 

[journey11]

I toss them all in together for the most part in salsas, quartered, juice, except when I'm making sauce or paste then I'll use paste types specifically because they cook down quicker. I've got 4 paste types growing this year and mostly Romas (Ava grew) so I'll be making lots of pasta sauce and ketchup. You would not believe how much ketchup we go through in a year!

 

[baymule]

I got 3 pints of thick sauce from the San Marzanos. It was very tasty. I think I'll use it for lasagna. I cooked off 2/3 of the juice. I only have 4 plants. I will plant these again.

I got 7 pints from the Homestead tomatoes. I boiled off a little over 1/3 of the juice. I have 8 plants, we eat some fresh, been freezing the ones we don't eat. These plants grew over the top of the cow panel, fell over and I drove in 7' posts, tied them up with hay twine and they over grew that too. Wind blew them over the hay twine, they hit the ground and are now curling back up. I bet if I could straighten up a stalk, it would be 12' to 15' tall! The tomatoes are good, but smallish. I'm not in love with them, so probably won't grow them next year.

 

[britesea]

I'm still searching for a variety that will grow with something approaching reliability, but has good taste. I was underwhelmed by Early Girl, and most of the Arctic types. This year I'm trying Black From Tula which was recommended by a long-time gardener in this area.