Ripening tomatoes

noonesperfect

Do you need to have a lot of sun for tomatoes to ripen is it warmth they need?

There's no shortage of tomatoes on my plants (that's if they don't drop off!!) but I've never grown them before so am unsure of ripening requirements. I water them everyday and feed them with a propriety brand of tomato feed once a fortnight.

Don't know if I like green tomato chutney

Zazen999

Hi.

Nobody has good tomatoes this year from what i can see - you just have to be patient. It is only July of one of the coldest summers on record.

Yes, they do need the sun but they do turn eventually; i plucked my first cherry tom today and it wasn't 100% ripe, but i just had to have it.

When they start to turn in a few weeks, you'll love it!

I would increase the feed to once a week; and take off as many lower leaves as possible - on mine i leave the leaves next to flowers and toms, and the top 3 which are growing, but everything else comes off. They need air and sun to ripen and to concentrate energy on the fruit; the more non-essential leaves then less energy goes to the toms themselves. I am possibly a bit more drastic than others, but it works for me.

we all just have to be patient, and wait until they start to turn.

Whilst they are growing, have you thought about your winter veg???

youngie

to help them ripen put a ripening banana in with them

Jayar

Yeah, it's very frustrating to see the toms grow to a perfect size and yet remain green!
Still, lots of lovely green tomato chutney this year I think. There's a silver lining in every cloud
Edited to add - You don't like green tomato chutney!!!!!!!!??????

rosieben

I pick mine as soon as they start to change colour, wash them and keep them in a dish on the diniing toom dresser (spread out a little if you can). they ripen up within a day or two, dont need to be in the sun. I usually have 2 dishes in various stage of ripeness sitting around but I eat tomatoes like apples so I get through a lot!

Edited to say - I love green tomato chutney!!

belfast_child

anyone got a recipe for green tomato chutney then :beer: :beer:

noonesperfect

Jayar wrote: »

Yeah, it's very frustrating to see the toms grow to a perfect size and yet remain green!
Still, lots of lovely green tomato chutney this year I think. There's a silver lining in every cloud
Edited to add - You don't like green tomato chutney!!!!!!!!??????

I don't know if I like it, don't think I've ever had any! I'm not a big lover of pickles though generally (one exception is a recipe of my late Mother's for Shropshire apple chutney - now that is delish...with cheese or cold meat, mmmmmm!)

Farway

noonesperfect wrote: »

Do you need to have a lot of sun for tomatoes to ripen is it warmth they need?

There's no shortage of tomatoes on my plants (that's if they don't drop off!!) but I've never grown them before so am unsure of ripening requirements. I water them everyday and feed them with a propriety brand of tomato feed once a fortnight.

Don't know if I like green tomato chutney

Warmth is the main ripener, which is why they grow well under glass in winter and which is shaded in summer to prevent the sun scorching them

the_optimist

belfast_child wrote: »

anyone got a recipe for green tomato chutney then :beer: :beer:

I did my first attempt on making chutney last year after finding the following recipe on the OS forum. It was delicious!!!

1 tsp ground cinnamon
3lb skinned green tomatoes (preferably small ones)

Place vinegar, sugar and cinnamon in large saucepan with 1/4 pt water, heat gently till sugar dissolved then bring to boil,
add tomatoes, cook for 5 min.
Pour into a bowl, cover and leave for a week (yes a week!)

Strain vinegar into saucepan boil for 10 mins to reduce,
add tomatoes boil further 5 mins,

pack into preheated jars cover and seal

Jayar

I use roughly the same recipe as above, but a couple of chopped apples makes it a bit mellower.

karren

hi does anyone have an easy receipie for green tom chutney? as not all of it on here, or can i add them to curries etc?