This might be a bit in the wrong place but i was wondering, what methods do you use to ripen your last tomatoes?
I have recently discovered and am trying out now a method wherebyyou cut down the whole plant and hang it upside down ina warm place (in my case the grenhouse). The idea of this is that all the sap and nutrients run down into the fruits encouraging ripening rather than being stuck in the leaves and stems.
Early signs look promising.
I put mine in paper bags in the top drawer of the sideboard, works for most of them. Lottie ;D
An over ripe Banana. It gives of etheline which promotes a fruit to ripen.
The_Snail
Can they be green, or do they have to have some colour? I'm amazed at the difference of the taste in autumn tomatoes, no where near as juicy and quite tough skins. ( same plants, just later ripening)
Mine are still ripening, altho much slower now, on the allotment! Picked another bag full on Monday, but I am picking them as soon as they show signs of colour, bring them home, then onto a tray, under a tea towel. Some ripen literally overnight! With the last few warm days, and the rain that is forecast for tomorrow, then a warm spell again, I am hoping to have another decent picking by the end of the week!
The method i am using seems to be working well. Picked a nice dessert bowl full this morning, with more coming on.
That said I still have some as plants, which are doing OK too. The greenhouse has made the world of difference this autumn. I am hoping there will be very few greens left over (which is good since we have plenty of jars of chutney etc of various descriptions already! )
My last 4 toms at home are still outside against the south-facing wall of the house, and will stay there till Mr Frosty gets them. Toms still seem to be ripening okay ;D
i've stripped a;; the leaves off tied all the vines together and hung them in the unheated east facing conservatory...not only does banans help but if you leave a few ripe-ish ones on while picking the others off,that helps.....
I saw a program on telly the other day and he dug up the whole plant roots and all and hung them upside down in the shed. I think it was something to do with the root of the plant still being attached made the tomatoes ripen sweeter. :)
Quote from: chuff on October 15, 2005, 16:41:12
I saw a program on telly the other day and he dug up the whole plant roots and all and hung them upside down in the shed. I think it was something to do with the root of the plant still being attached made the tomatoes ripen sweeter. :)
Wasnt an old gardeners world (circa 2003?) on satelite tv was it? thats where I got my idea from!
It seems to work so try it (if you have space). Doesnt have to be the shed either. The greenhouse will do just as well.
Quote from: Garden Cadet on October 16, 2005, 17:03:37
Quote from: chuff on October 15, 2005, 16:41:12
I saw a program on telly the other day and he dug up the whole plant roots and all and hung them upside down in the shed. I think it was something to do with the root of the plant still being attached made the tomatoes ripen sweeter. :)
Wasn't an old gardeners world (circa 2003?) on satelite TV was it? thats where I got my idea from!
It seems to work so try it (if you have space). Doesn't have to be the shed either. The greenhouse will do just as well.
yes it was, saw it again today. don't mind repeats when its something interesting :)
I just put mine in a box seems to do the job.
Down to the last few green ones now. Will probably strip the last fruits off the vine and put them in a drawer indoors to finish off. That way i can sort the greenhouse out for winter.
It needs it too. Somehow managed to import a bit of blight in on one of the plants (funny there was no sign beforehand). ::) ::) ::)
i stripped all the leaves off a couple of weeks ago and pick the tomatoes as soon as they start to change colour, then put them in a paper bag in a dark cupboard for a few days.
No need to rush? Let them do their own thing in a covered Tesco 'tray' ('boxes' can be too deep to check upon) & take them as they come.