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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> > I have wintered both tomatoes and sweet potatoes here. The tomatoes
> > don't do much ripening after it gets cool, like now, highs in
> > seventies, lows in forties. I think of tomatoes as perennials.
>
> Could a plastic covering structure be used to get the heat up to
> encourage ripening?

Not sure about that. Air temp around blossoms might allow hand  
pollination. Air temp around maters might not be enough to cause  
ripening. Of course, some whole plants pulled and hung result in more  
ripening according to some people.

I have mental plans for year-round maters using below-ground piping  
with hot water flowing through.