Tomatoes In January: Neener, Neener!

Look at the picture, taken January 23, 2010. Those are tomatoes I picked from my garden in the middle of  winter.

The fine print:

• They were picked when they were barely beginning to ripen and ripened indoors.
• They taste better than most store-bought tomatoes, but nowhere near as good as they do in warmer weather.
• Cold nights gives tomatoes the same mealy texture that they get in the refrigerator.
  
• This tomato growing area is elevated, and under the light shelter of a large mesquite, giving it more frost protection than the rest of the garden.

However, in a mild winter area like Phoenix, a small amount of frost protection can prolong your tomato harvest, perhaps until your new plants start producing.