Ripening tomatoes

[Lazy Daisy]

Had a plastic greenhouse bought for me this year so instead of it standing idle all summer I put in a chilli pepper, a tomato and a sweet pepper (in one grow bag). The tomatoes have done really well but are still not ripening so I have put a banana in with them (worth a try !!). The peppers however are weedy and still very small. The chilli  has two peppers on and the sweet one only one. I have watered everyday, feed once a week and generally done everthing I thought I should. What have I done wrong or should I put it down to the weather the same as everything else. I shall try again next year. Would anyone suggest I put them in pots this time and when should I put them in the greenhouse, maybe I was too late.

[Lazy Daisy]

[Jitterbug]

Hello Lazy Daisy

I too have not had much success with my chilli's or greenpeppers this year - It must be the weather.  My tomatoes are doing well thought and last night I was reading Bob Flowerdew's companion book and believe it or not he says that stinging nettles grown as a companion plant to tomatoes helps them ripen.  Sure wish I had read this before I pulled the one sprouting in the greenhouse ;D

Also borage near tomatoes helps prevent some kind of worm - can't remember its name - but I quickly popped a boarage plant into the greenhouse and replaced the marigolds which the slugs had chomped to bits.

Good luck ! 

.

[Merry Tiller]

The best thing to use to help ripen tomatoes is patience

[Mrs Ava]

That is a lot in one grow bag.  To be honest, I really think a grow bag laying flat can only stand one tom plant.  Next year, I would either go for the biggest pots/buckets you can, or get the growbags and upend them and plant in the top.  My chillis are covered in lovely peppers but they are in biiiig pots.  My sweet peppers, well, I never do very well with them, but I am the only one that likes them so I don't want many.  Toms, I grow the majority on the plot where they can get huge!  ;D