Glut of tomatoes

I've done the oven-drying thing. I slice the tomatoes onto a baking tray, and sprinkle them with salt, a little olive oil and a some crushed bay leaves. I put them in a very low oven (you can do it when you've had the oven on for something else) until they dry and shrivel, but get them out before they burn or go crisp. Then I freeze them in little cartons - they are very shrunken and concentrated, so they don't take up much space. I like them in dishes like risotto, but you can use them wherever you might use sun-dried tomatoes.

All these things sound delicious!
Thank you: I would never think of them if left to my own devices.

I bottle my tomatoes as we’ve so many the freezer would be full. Skin and chop, then pack into jars (any old jars with good screw cap- mayonnaise, sauce, jam). Then put in pressure cooker with lids loose, bring to pressure for about 5 min, Screw tight as soon as taken out. Will keep for at least a year. If no pressure cooker, can put jars in pot of water and boil for about 15 min.

I grew four different types this year and lots of chillies, but we have been eating them all (and now and then gave a bowlful to family) I can eat tomatoes with anything.

offer them to neighbours and friends or perhaps the local hospice

I invested in a passata machine, freeze the results and they last me all year.

What other Family and neighbours can you give them some.
I suppose you could leave some outside your house with a note asking people if they want some.

Do you grow tomatoes outside? I didn't think it was possible in the UK.

Wish some of you lived near me! I would willingly buy homegrown tomatoes.
Since OH has been diagnosed with Vascular Dementia there are some things I just can’t pull in. I love my garden and keep up with that but things like tomatoes, runner beans are just beyond me now.
Keep enjoying the fruits of your labours!

There are some lovely recipes here, but Chilli Jam, Mitch Tonks recipe is delicious. It accompanies all savoury things,perfect for all the small tomatoes, not good for the large ; you can increase or decrease the chilli as to your preference. Plus give away the tomatoes or the made jam as posh pots in little jars.

Pass them on and put a smile on someone's face!

A few years ago I had a glut of produce and was bringing home an abundance of fruit. An elderly man, who I had never seen before nor since, appeared beside me at the crossing and commented on the lovely fruit. I asked if he would like some and after a bit of persuasion I put a mix up in a tub for him. He was absolutely delighted.

Likewise, anyone who generally spoke to me en route received a little taster of something. The delight it brings them is worth every bit of the hard work put in to grow them.

You could even take some to your local charity shop for the volunteer staff, or other deserving peeps.

Fennel - yes you can. There are many varieties you can grow outside and also in pots or hanging baskets...enjoy!

Fennel, yes. One of our best tomato crops was grown outdoors on our allotment. We now have some at home both in the greenhouse and outdoors. The outdoor ones have ripened a bit later but are fine.

Thank you for your ideas everyone. I also didn't know that tomatoes can be frozen. I'll do that today.

Tomato jam, who knew? I love tomatoes and used to eat loads of them when I was pregnant with my first son. We only have a small garden but grew a tomato plant in a pot as an experiment. We haven’t really looked after it very well but we have had a lot of tomatoes from just that one plant so we will grow more next year. Enjoy your tomatoes everybody.

Fantastic year for tomatoes. I bought a hanging basket, and we have had over dozens from it, with plenty of flowers still to produce.
Back to OP, tomato chutney is easy and very yummy, especially green tomato chutney.

If frozen they can be used for cooking - I used to skin them before freezing but now I don't bother as the skins come off easily afterwards I've found the large ones are better for freezing.

Tomato chilli jam is fab with cold meats and cheese - I make some to give as presents as well

I've given my surplus away now
There may be more

When the sunny weather stops ripening them you could make green tomato chutney. I remember making it at school many years ago and it was delicious.

We also have lots of tomatoes ripening in the greenhouse. We use some lovely cherry tomatoes for salads, and the bigger varieties my husband makes a great tasting tomato soup.

He adds various items, onions, carrots, celery salt, herbs etc. but can never remember exactly what. It always tastes delicious though.

I used to make tomato chutney with any surplus but that was before we had a freezer so I can't remember the recipe sorry

I am always inundated with them! I freeze large ones, they separate as they defrost and you can easily slip the skins off, chop them up and use in cooking. I also make many jats of verypopular tomato ketchup. Red pepper and tomato relish is good. I do three different kinds of spicy sauce and batch freeze them for curries. Also herby sauce for Bolognese etc.

Oven dried with garlic and then stored in the fridge in olive oil are really yummy.

I'll have a go at tomato jam this afternoon - sounds yummy.
I'll bottle some too.
Thank you for all the recipes.

I only have one red Tomato and another slightly orange the rest are still green!!!

I expect they will all turn at the same time eventually and i will then have the same problem as OP!!!!

And there I am getting excited because I have just picked my very first home-grown tomato!