[Dora5]

Just a quick question... I am not sure if it was posted recently and don't have much time to browse the forum to find out.
What would be an appropriate (latest?) time to harvest all the tomatoes before autumn? I am asking as my greenhouse is so overgrown and some support has collapsed . I do not want to spend hours sorting it all out if I am then to remove it all  .
Thank you for your help...

[mumofstig]

if the weather is kind they can go on ripening fruit til the end of October, so I would think a tidy up would be a good idea.

At least it will allow some air to circulate to help keep all the mould/funghi at bay

[JayG]

First choice - when they are fully ripe.

Second choice - when they are large and mature enough for the dark green to have at least started to change to yellow. There seem to be many variations on how to ripen indoors off the vine but I just chuck a mixture of part-ripe and unripe toms into an old supermarket meat container (no more than 3 deep, but not in a single layer either) and leave them on a warm sunny windowsill. Keep a close eye on them, especially if you suspect any of them might have been exposed to blight.

Bad choice - trying to ripen undersized and very green tomatoes (they won't!)