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Unripe tomatoes

rlewrlew Posts: 73
in Problem solving

I happened across this and wondered if its a load of twaddle or if anyone has had any success by trying it? Ive got quite a lot of large tomatoes but are all green. 

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Yes it works. However you get the best flavour if you leave them on the plant until they ripen. If they are outside and frost is threatened, pick them and bring them in and put them on a windowsill. Most of them will ripen up.  I've got a lot of green tomatoes, I  know most of them will ripen before  the end of September.  When I strip the greenhouse out for the end of season, I put all the green ones on a tray in the window.   In normal weather conditions, they will ripen faster on the plant than by picking them green and artificially ripening them.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes , but as @fidgetbones says, they're best left to ripen in situ.
    Towards the end of the season- and that depends on your location and where you're growing them, you can just bring them inside to ripen without any extra help. As long as they're already changing colour, that'll happen.  :)
    Bananas are the most common fruit used for the artificial ripening.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • rlewrlew Posts: 73
    I've only had about 5 ripe tomatoes,  I've got lots and lots of big tomatoes that are just staying green. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Your large green tomatoes will ripen on the plant … the only time you need to pick and ripen tomatoes indoors is in autumn when the last fruits are still on the plants and the weather is turning cold. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    A few of mine are just starting to ripen. Perfectly normal timing for here - and they're undercover. It's only the start of August.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    rlew said:
    I've only had about 5 ripe tomatoes,  I've got lots and lots of big tomatoes that are just staying green. 
    Patience! Patience!
    It is still very early for the bulk of home grown tomatoes to be ripe. Give them time. They do not like the fluctuating temperatures we have been having. I have only had 2 small tomatoes ripen, the rest are green, green, green.
    We have around 8/10 weeks or ripening time before you need begin thinking of picking and ripening indoors in some way.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Yes true and it works even faster if you put a banana in as well.  I agree with others though best ripened on the plant. My red ones have only just started too, tho I've been picking the little yellow orange ones for a couple of weeks now.
    It seems certain varieties take a particular length of time from planting to cropping. This makes sense if you think it's the same for potatoes and they are in the same family. There is a feature on Beechgrove garden that mentions this. 
    AB Still learning

  • rlewrlew Posts: 73
    Thanks for all of your input. And I was going to have a go at doing a Vanilla Orchid too for that precious Vanilla. I'll hang fire on that idea. Haha  :D
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I have been picking little ripe orange and red ones for a couple of weeks. The big boy marmande type are huge, but the first one is starting to change colour.  Plenty of time yet.
  • arneilarneil Posts: 313
    In Autumn I cut the vines of tomatoes and hang them up in the house , they taste good ripened that way
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