[mikepartridge]

hi all

this summer has been the first go for us at growing toms and veg... and we've loved it.  we've got a few tomato plants outside with lots of toms on them but most are still green and someone said to me that they're unlikely to ripen on the vine this late in the summer. 

is that right?  and if so, should i pick them now?  and how do you ripen them once picked?

thanks for your help

Mike

[Charlie's Chickens]

I read somewhere, may have even been on here, to put old banana skins near them.  I have chucked a few at the bottom of my plants and my green toms are now starting to turn red 

Worth a try 

[farmersue]

We could have weeks of warm sunshine ahead, so my advice would be to leave them for now and give them a chance to ripen on the plant. Having lost all mine to blight last year, i'm thrilled that this year i've actually got some to eat. Once they start, they seem to ripen quite quickly.

[mikepartridge]

wonderful.  thanks very much for the tips.  i'll leave them for now and see if the sun in south wales can bring them round.

we've been using the topsy turvy planters - http://www.allotment-garden.org/garden-diary/24/topsy-turvey-tomatoes-planter/ - and they've worked really well.

[johnfh]

I have been watering mine twice a day for the past three weeks and they are now ripening better than usual (and using tomorite once a week).  They are in a greenhosue though but weather here has been rather cloudy most days recently.  Not sure whether this is a factor but they do seem to like to be kept very well watered - worth a try.

[wighty]

We've had the best results for he last three years for the  'outdoor toms' which are the ones that  do'nt look as if they are going to do anything.   The 'prime' tomatos planted indoors in the green house have  done  nothing

[Babstreefern]

We're always successful with our toms - the first to ripen on the allotment.  When the flowers appear, feed once a week, when the toms come along, feed twice a week.  Water every day, and yes, banana skins do work

[richyrich7]

Like every one else has said pleny of time yet, any green ones at the end of the season harvest bring indoors keep cool they will ripen slowly over the next month extending your season a little longer.
I strip all mine and put them into those flat cardboard boxes you get from the supermarket & leave them to ripen every year.

[viettaclark]

Having had really bad blight last year I stripped mine (outdoor) too at the first sign this year. 20 kilos ripening nicely on the window sills for eating now or freezing and any still green will be chutney

[barbarella]

Mine have started ripening in the last few days - most are in the greenhouse but they all started off outdoors as we only got the greenhouse at the end of July.  The cherry toms started first (Gardener's Delight) followed by the beefsteak (Costaluto Florentino), then the plum tomatoes outside (San marzano).  The plum ones inside are still green, but like people have said, once they start you are inundated with ripe ones within days - I guess it's all that ethylene gas floating around.  Stand by your preserving pans and freezer bags everyone 

[mikepartridge]

Gosh - thanks very much for all the tips and news of your experiences.  I like this website - v friendly folks.  thanks.

Toms will stay out for a while yet and, if you're driving past, you may see a few bananas hanging nearby!