[newseed]

I have loads of green moneymaker tomatoes, they are showing no signs of turning orange never mind red.  Would it help if I took off alot of the green leaves to let the light in? (I won't say sunshine!) they are not in a greenhouse I planted them straight into compost bags/pots in the garden.

[tommyboy]

Hi Newseed,I think it has been a very bad year for a lot of people getting there toms red.  This is only my second year of growing tom`s, so i am still green when it comes to giving advice but i will tell you what i did and its up to you if you do the same.I cut all the leaves off except for four leaves from the stem and then very carefully bent the remaining under the toms to give the toms as much light as possible so the leaves were still drawing energy from the sun as well as the toms getting as much light as possible working for me. Hope this helps, good luck. Tom

[gobs]

I have loads of green moneymaker tomatoes, they are showing no signs of turning orange never mind red.  Would it help if I took off alot of the green leaves to let the light in? (I won't say sunshine!) they are not in a greenhouse I planted them straight into compost bags/pots in the garden.

No. they don't need light to ripen they need heat, about 25C shall be ideal. Could try blowing on them, other than that, an earlier variety or gh growing.

[Bombers]

I have loads of green moneymaker tomatoes, they are showing no signs of turning orange never mind red.  Would it help if I took off alot of the green leaves to let the light in? (I won't say sunshine!) they are not in a greenhouse I planted them straight into compost bags/pots in the garden.

No. they don't need light to ripen they need heat, about 25C shall be ideal. Could try blowing on them, other than that, an earlier variety or gh growing.

:?  :idea: That's given me an idea!

[Debz]

I picked some large green moneymaker last week and put them on kitchen roll on the kitchen window.  They are now red enough for me to eat.

[newseed]

Thanks to all who replied.  I think i'll try cutting off a few green leaves but as they need warmth not light I might take a few off and bring them inside, is the airing cupboard a good idea or is that to dark? Not getting much sunshine at the moment but at least I don't need to worry to much about watering!!
Would love to know your idea scregob

[pumpkin-queen]

Chemical reaction gets them ripening. I put ours in a paper bag with one ripe tomato and that sets the green ones off ripening too. It really does work but I found not so well if you keep bag in fridge.

[Eatyourgreens]

As Pumpkin Queen mentions, if you get to the point they aren't going to make it outdoors, pick them and put them in a container with a ripe one, it should turn some of them and the rest, it's chutney time.


Bob