Glut of tomatoes

Molly and Liz - thanks. I didn't know that I thought they had to be grown under glass. Global warming?
I might try a plant or 2. But husband refuses to eat tomatoes. I usually sneak a squeeze of tomato puree into stock, sauces etc and he doesn't notice.

I thought that it should keep Carolpaint - I've made tomato chutney before now and used it after a couple of years in the cupboard in Kilner jars.
I think it could be too hot for me but I think that DS may like it if I make some! He's growing chillies.

Hi Jalima, I find it keeps very well, there is wine vinegar and sugar to preserve it. Granddaughter takes it off to uni, once you have made it a few times, you can go off piste and put in possibly an apple, or mango or capsicum. The coriander and lemon is just the addition for the table. I think he advises 7 chillies but it depends on how hot are the chillies, even used scotch bonnet. Have fun it is addictive. ?

Re the chilli jam - does it keep? The recipe shows a jar but he mentions serving it, I presume straight away

Depending on where you live you may be able to bag up, put stickers with weight and price and stick them on a table of sorts for folk to buy. Happens all the time where I am.

Aepgirl your pleasure reminds me of DS2 a few years ago. His dad had given him a tomato plant that he had nurtured with love. One day, he came to visit us with a plastic box full of tissues/kitchen roll. He opened it with great ceremony, and presented me with his very first tomato. His joy was palpable, and I was touched to tears, naturally!

You don't have to remove the seeds for anything that's a bit chunky, like a chutney. If I make a smooth soup or a pot of passata to freeze in cartons, I cook the tomatoes until pulpy, then give them a whiz with a stick blender, then sieve them to get out the pips and any scraps of skin.

Tomato and squash combine well in a soup, with a bit of onion and garlic if you like.

I'd like to know if you remove the seeds for soups,chutney jams etc.?

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

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!!!!

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!