[Kathie]

Hi all,    I have F1 toms growing in pots in a polytunnel that is on concrete. 

They all have huge fruit and lots of little ones growing as well as lots of flowers. 

All has looked good for a few weeks now, but none of the large fruit show any signs of ripening, can anyone tell me how long I should wait before trying to encourage them, even though I don't know what I would do?
 
Thanks in advance

[JayG]

The ethylene gas given off by banana skins can help to speed up ripening but really needs to be done in a more confined space than even inside a polytunnel to have much effect.

I'm afraid the answer is to keep them fed and watered but they will only ripen when they are ready to (the warm weather forecast for at least the next few days will help.) 

[prakash_mib]

patience..... (apart from ethylene gas)
if you are too impatient why not try green tom chutney or green tom dhaal which tastes fantastico 

[Plottered]

Your lucky to have large fruits, mine are only just beginning to show signs of forming fruit. I sewed the seeds earlier than ever this year as well hoping to have toms a bit early but oh no they're even later than usual.

I did sew some tomatillo's this year though and they're going great so lots of lovely salsa planned for those.

[Kathie]

Patience  hmmph!
Thanks for all your replies folks,will try the patience bit and keep them fed and watered. If it doesn't work I will try the chutney or dhaal as it sounds yummy. 

You have made me feel a lot better knowing I'm lucky to have fruit.  Just like I feel when I pass homes that have runner bean plants that are smaller than mine.  I've had a very poor show with most of the stuff I have in the garden this year, except flowers which is mad as this is my first year growing them.

[Plottered]

I think its all down to the craziness of the British weather. Ive had a poor season but im not beaten yet and ive managed to grow beetroot which is a 1st for me 

[savbo]

patience..... (apart from ethylene gas)
if you are too impatient why not try green tom chutney or green tom dhaal which tastes fantastico 

is the dhaal recipe in the cooking forum? sounds yummy!

[Lardman]

is the dhaal recipe in the cooking forum? sounds yummy!

I was about to say prakash_mib you know where the recipe section resides !! Most of the time I try a dhaal recipe it comes out tasting of nothing at all or worse.

[mumofstig]

It is now 
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=81364.msg910064#msg910064