[lauren]

My tomatoes are taking forever to ripen.  I am growing outside sweet millions and money maker, both have had green tomatoes on for about a month now but no signs of anything ripening!..................Is this normal?

Some of tyhe plants have 3 or 4 trusses fruting/flowering so I think I will be overloaded with tomatoes all in one go!  Do you have to wait for the whole truss to have fruit on it before they start ripening?

Thanks xx

[Gardeningguru]

You will probably find this weeks warmer and sunnier weather will set them on the way.  I find it takes them longer (probably obviously) to ripen in early summer, than later when (if) we have some decent hot spells.  They will be fine!

Don't forget to feed!

[Mitsy]

Mine are just starting to flower! 

I'm sure they will ripen when the sun decides to come back 

[aelf]

yes, mine are also just flowering! I was a bit late getting them started tho.

[Plottered]

Mine are just starting to flower! 

I'm sure they will ripen when the sun decides to come back 

snap mine too...late as per usual

[Bozwell]

Would one of the brighter folk here tell me if sulphate of potash around the tom's speeds up ripening. Something I read last year but never got round to trying myself.

[Yorkie]

No pretensions to brightness  :blink:

I thought that potash stimulated flowering, so is unlikely to be directly relevant to hastening ripening.  I think it's warmth which is more responsible for those toms turning red (or whatever they should turn  )

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, yes potash in any form is good for fruiting and will assist in ripening.

[bonfire]

June is very very early for outdoor tomatoes. You are very lucky and clever to get as far on as this so soon but they need weeks of heat and sun to ripen. Be patient and don't over water - most of all don't make sudden changes to your watering regime as that could split the ripening fruit.

[lauren]

Not clever ....... Just lucky.  Started everything off really early in conservatory and been outside since mid April.  Think our last frost was very early this year - sweetcorn also been outside since April and still going strong.   

[rivkele]

patience is the thing. mine are still stubbornly green and we get way more sun here than where you are (i think).
last year they started ripening in july and continued through august and even the beginning of september. i can't remember when i planted them, i'm hopeless at recording things, but like yours, they've had fruit on for nearly a month. i think it's normal, or at least for me here it's normal.

P.S. i've just looked at my neighbour's (he is the champion gardener from perfect-land who always has amazing crops) and his are still green too. and he planted his out before i did, i do remember that.

[hamstergbert]

You might like to try hanging banana skins alongside the trusses for a few days.

(I used to be able to explain why it works but the ol' cerebral cortex is pretty well burned out)

[aelf]

You might like to try hanging banana skins alongside the trusses for a few days.

(I used to be able to explain why it works but the ol' cerebral cortex is pretty well burned out)

something to do with a gas the skins give off. My cereb.. cer.... noggin is also a bit burnt out!  :blink:

[Kristen]

My Tomatoes were sown in February, brought on in conservatory, and planted out in greenhouse in May.  They are 5' tall and I've only had a handful of ripe fruit so far.  Plenty more coming ...

... so I'd say that it is still a bit early outside

[azubah]

My Tomatoes were sown in February, brought on in conservatory, and planted out in greenhouse in May.  They are 5' tall and I've only had a handful of ripe fruit so far.  Plenty more coming ...

... so I'd say that it is still a bit early outside

I agree. I had my first small handful last week from my greenhouse.