Leaving for 2 weeks around harvest time - help!!!

[MidnightCommando]

Our family will be leaving the country for 2 weeks during the end of September. Poor planning on our part, I didn't realize that we would be gone during peak harvest season!!!

How do I plan for this? It's mostly my tomato plants I am worried about. They are still green and show no signs of turning yet. (We have had pretty much a non-summer so things are really really behind this year). We leave on September 22nd and last year we got our first frost on September 18th.

I have someone coming over daily to water if needed and look after the cat and chickens. I feel like it would be too much to ask this person to watch the weather and cover up the plants if a frost is predicted. Should I pick the ones that look closest to done before I leave to let them ripen in the garage and have my friend pick others as they ripen? Should she throw them in the fridge or straight into the freezer? Should I pick them all before we leave? I have 30 tomato plants, 2/3's are paste tomatoes for canning.

What about the rest? Should I have her take whatever ripened squashes/peppers/cucumbers she wants and throw the remainder in the refrigerator?

I am really freaking about this. I want to make this as painless as possible for her as she is doing us a HUGE favor by watching our place and she is busy with job/kids/life. I also don't want all this time and effort I put into these plants to be wasted.

Thanks

[Hibou]

In our cold climate we often pick tomatoes while they are still green, then let them ripen indoors. If you put them in your basement, it will slow the process a little. You could ask your friend to check on them every few days, and throw any ripe ones into a bag in the freezer, skin and all. Then when you get home, just blanch the frozen tomatoes quickly and the skins will slip right off.

If you're worried about frosts, I would pick the winter squash too. It will keep fine at room temperature indoors. I often have to pick hot peppers green, then I string them and hang them in the kitchen to ripen and dry. They can just be used as needed.

Not sure what to suggest for the cucs. You may just have to take a loss there. Definately offer your friend whatever produce she wants from the garden.

[MidnightCommando]

thanks

Might not have to worry about everything when I'm gone. It was 35 when I woke up this morning so I think our first frost might not be too far off