[Sal1610]

I've got about ten tomato plants which were hit by blight, so I cut off all the affected leaves but left most of the tomatoes; some are ripening nicely and don't seem to be affected, plus there are lots of green ones. I'm wondering whether I should leave the green ones in the hope that they ripen, or pick them now in case they go bad later, and turn them into chutney so I at least get something from the crop. What would the experienced tomato growers out there do?

Any advice most welcome

Thanks
sal

[devondave]

I'd say strip the plants and make some yummmmmy tomato chutney, at least you can do that now, if you leave them any longer you might loose the lot

[Trillium]

I agree with Dave. You're dealing with the unknown regarding blight so better to use up what you have or risk the chance of losing all.

[GrannieAnnie]

or use some for chutney, and put some of the best ones on the windowsill and see if they ripen nicely!!??

[madcat]

We had to strip a patch of mixed Gardeners Delight and Roma tomatoes about a fortnight ago.  Kitchen paper on a couple of trays and laid out in a sunny window - had to pick a few (<10) out in the first couple of days that were showing signs of blight but past that stage and they are ripening nicely.    

[JayG]

In my experience tomatoes which are very green tend to shrivel before they ripen if taken off the plant, and are better made into chutney whilst still fresh.

If they are showing signs of turning yellow you will have a much better chance of ripening them successfully.

[Elcie]

Would the advice be the same without the blight?  I have lots of green tomatoes in the greenhouse and just wondering if they are likely to ripen now or whether to use them up in recipes?

[Yorkie]

If the weather stays fine I might give mine another week or so, then bring them indoors to try to ripen them up or to use them, as described earlier on the thread 

[peapod]

Most of mine are now yellow with only a couple green - so not enough for chutney.  Ill do the banana skin trick with those

[madcat]

Would the advice be the same without the blight?  I have lots of green tomatoes in the greenhouse and just wondering if they are likely to ripen now or whether to use them up in recipes?

While it stays warm and sunny, I would leave them on the vine.  When this lovely weather breaks - then would be the time to bring them in.

[Debz]

Last year my plants got frosted so I took the tomatoes off and put them on the window sill.  I was still eating my tomatoes into November and they turned red beautifully.  I don't like chutney so that wasn't an option for me!

[Sal1610]

Thanks for the comments and advice; I've picked 10lb of mostly green ones so will be making chutney with most of them, and leaving the ones that look as though they might ripen on the window sill.

Sal