Tomato season continues: time to think about winter preserves

Harvest still going strong

Although summer is gradually winding down, garden tomatoes are still being harvested, leaving many households with the question of what to do with all this produce. The simplest option is to eat the tomatoes fresh or use them in soups, but some gardeners and home cooks prefer a longer-term solution — canning.

Preserving the taste of summer

For those who enjoy putting up preserves for winter, tomatoes are one of the most popular ingredients to jar. However, there is no need to limit the process to tomatoes alone — they can be combined with other vegetables currently available in the garden, making use of everything the season has to offer rather than letting any produce go to waste.

Popular jarred dishes

Among the favored ways to use tomatoes in preserves are lecho and adjika, as well as various vegetable mixes in which tomatoes are combined with other garden produce. Preserves made this way allow the flavors of summer to be enjoyed during the winter months, while also serving as a sensible way to make full use of the harvest without letting anything go unused.

Overall, the continuing tomato season is a reminder that there is still time for canning — those who want to prepare homemade preserves can still do so, using both tomatoes and other vegetables currently available from the garden.