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Will tomatoes ripen if they set fruit now in late July?

EustaceEustace Posts: 2,290
in Plants
I have a few tomato plants outside in my garden, as I do not have a greenhouse. The flowers are appearing now and a few tiny tomatoes have formed. How long do the tomatoes need to grow to full size and ripen? Will they ripen before autumn brings in the cold weather? I'm in Oxfordshire - hardiness Zone 9a.
Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth :)

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    There are still 5 or 6 weeks of summer left and you may get an Indian summer in September so yes, plenty of time if you keep them fed and watered.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    If the plants start to wither before the fruit is ripe, gather it all and bring it indoors.  It will still ripen. An old custom was to wrap the fruits individually in newspaper and put them in a drawer.  It works, but it means you have to unwrap them all to check if any are ripe, and re-wrap them if not, which is time-consuming.  I line mine up along a sunny windowsill.  A few go mouldy, but most are OK.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    by the time mine stop ripening I rejoice as I'm normally sick of the sight of tomatoes by then.  :D
    Devon.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    We’re lucky to be able to grow them in GH’s and poly tunnels @Hostafan1, I can’t be bothered this year, this the first time in 33 years Tomatoes haven’t been grown in one of the GH’s 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Mine are only just fruiting now [greenhouse]which is pretty normal here,  and most will ripen.
     Once they start to ripen - ie they turn paler green, so you can bring them inside to finish if needed.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    What kind of toms are they? Beefsteak? Cherries?
  • EustaceEustace Posts: 2,290
    Thanks for your replies everyone. I don't remember the variety as they were saved seed from last year. Some plants have fruits that are bigger than cherry tomatoes, some elongated, some round. 
    Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
    And then my heart with pleasure fills,
    And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth :)

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