I was hoping there would be a Looking for Alibrandi reference and you didn’t disappoint. 😂 Also well done on problem solving the llama apron situation. Thanks for sharing all your tips.
A few comments from my experience. Tomato variety is important. A good passata tomato has high solids, and fewer seeds. Determinates or semi- determinates crop over short periods, perfect for batch harvesting and processing. Big slicing tomatoes are too juicy, and require too much cooking to thicken, and often the bottles end up half full of clear tomato water. A good processing tomato has an 'outie' abcission scar or stem attachment, rather than an 'innie'. you can easily take the thick scar off with a single knife stroke, with very little loss of flesh. And some varieties disarticulate with no stem or calyx attached, easy processing!
our household of two finds an empty beer stubby is the perfect size for passata. Drink the beer, rinse the bottles, store in the carton, come passata time, easy to fill and cap with home brew gear. And easy to waterbath with a big stockpot. I bought a $70 hand cranked tomato machine, plastic and nylon, its a blessing! And easy to clean.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and wisdom with us all. There are some wonderful tips you've provided and I love the description of the 'outie' abscission scar
I was hoping there would be a Looking for Alibrandi reference and you didn’t disappoint. 😂 Also well done on problem solving the llama apron situation. Thanks for sharing all your tips.
Glad I hit the mark with the Looking for Alibrandi ref, it just had to be included!
Hi Duncan,
A few comments from my experience. Tomato variety is important. A good passata tomato has high solids, and fewer seeds. Determinates or semi- determinates crop over short periods, perfect for batch harvesting and processing. Big slicing tomatoes are too juicy, and require too much cooking to thicken, and often the bottles end up half full of clear tomato water. A good processing tomato has an 'outie' abcission scar or stem attachment, rather than an 'innie'. you can easily take the thick scar off with a single knife stroke, with very little loss of flesh. And some varieties disarticulate with no stem or calyx attached, easy processing!
our household of two finds an empty beer stubby is the perfect size for passata. Drink the beer, rinse the bottles, store in the carton, come passata time, easy to fill and cap with home brew gear. And easy to waterbath with a big stockpot. I bought a $70 hand cranked tomato machine, plastic and nylon, its a blessing! And easy to clean.
HI Gregg,
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and wisdom with us all. There are some wonderful tips you've provided and I love the description of the 'outie' abscission scar
Thanks for your support and happy gardening
Duncan
Sadly my tomatoes did not do well this year:( Not enough rain, they just don't grow well enough with tap water.
That's no good. Best wishes for a bountiful tomato crop next year.