Green tomatoes.

[pussnboots]

I have 4 tomato plants which I have fed and watered to their hearts content, I have at least 60 tomatoes now of varying sizes but they are still green and hard, they are outside in tubs. Will they ripen on their own or do I pick the big ones and bring them inside.

[Hopkirk]

They need time and lots of direct sunhine.

[welshlibranr]

puss, if they get lots of sun in the next few weeks they'll mostly ripen, I sometimes pick them and ripen them by putting them on a windowsill in the sun, failing that, I make green tomato chutney with them, it's great kept till Christmas and eaten with cold turkey or cheese!......sorry to mention the C word so early in the year!.......lol.......

[pussnboots]

I have them in the suniest place possible. so I should just leave them then and hope for the best?

[Hopkirk]

Fraid so.

Mind you, it's only just August so we might yet get a summer.

[Barmaid]

Leave em, they will either ripen or they won't. I have some ready and some almost ready and loads green. Keep feeding them. If they don't ripen, use them for chutney.

[pussnboots]

I did think of making green tomato chutney, that's a definate option.

[welshlibranr]

yes puss, you can leave them, water and feed them, and after another month, then pick them, if still green, either ripen on a windowsill, or make green tomato chutney, or you can put them in a bowl with bananas, the bananas will make them ripen!|..........don't ask me why!..........

[Jemisa]

I put mine that won't ripen in the airing cupboard, they like the dark and the warmth. After a couple of weeks you'll find they're red and juicy.

jem

[slinkycat]

Ripening bananas give off a gas which causes other fruit to ripen, or over ripen, which is why bananas should not be stored in fruit bowls with other fruit.
The advantage of this is that if you do as Welsh says, or put banana skins at the base of the tomato plants, then they will go red

[welshlibranr]

puss, greentomato chutney is lovely!......your tomatoes will not be wasted if you make it!........it's so tasty!.....with cold meat, cheese......

[slinkycat]

Having said that, its early days yet for toms, I've had a few red ones, but really you need to be patient, yours should ripen naturally in the next few weeks, you should only need to try the bananas if you still have green ones by the middle of september

[welshlibranr]

slinky is right!...you have 6 weeks yet for them to ripen!.......if not!........you have options puss...............

[pussnboots]

Thanks for all your answers. I am now happy that my first attempt at growing tomatoes is not in vain. I do hope that I might get some lovely ripe juicy red ones, but failing that I can look forward to home grown green chutney to accompany my left over turkey this coming Christmas (excuse the swear word beginning with C).

[welshlibranr]

puss, sure you'll get some red and some green ones too!......and so you'll have the best of both!...............enjoy!............the green tomato chutney is really worth making!.........

[tamborine]

When they reach the size you want, pick them & place with a ripe banana....they'll soon redden, ripen & soften.

[pussnboots]

Seems bananas have this quality to ripen other fruits. I've heard that you shoudn't put them near citrus fruits, but I'll try this with my toms.

[welshlibranr]

yes, puss do!..........but give your tomatoes a few more weeks to ripen themselves before you do that!.............

[welshlibranr]

not sure about pineapples housemouse, but bananas do help to ripen tomatoes!.my mother would put them in a drawer too, that seemed to make them ripen too!...........

[slinkycat]

I love that film Mouse:-) You're right I think, its an enzyme, not a gas as I said! Chemistry not my strong point!