[willnbirdie]

Hi

Been away on holidays - a friend watered the lottie and greenhouse for us we were hoping to come back to a greenhouse full of red or turning-red tomatoes.  No such luck.

We have had fruit on the plants now for weeks and many of them apppear to have reached full size ie no sign of further growth and are still very firm.  The Gardeners delight are still flowering and producing fruit - however still no red ones.

How long do we wait before giving it up as a bad job?  The greenhouse has been very lightly painted to prevent leaf-burn experienced earlier in the year but there is still loads of sunlight getting in.  Is there anything we can do to encourage them to go red or is it just down to the sun.  

cheers

willnbirdie

[DD.]

You NEVER give up on tomatoes.

My greenhouse toms only started turning red a week ago, you are further north so allow a bit more time. Once they start - they won't stop!

If they are big & healthy, there's no reason for them not to ripen. It seems slow for everyone this year.

[willnbirdie]

Cheers DD

The toms have been my pride and joy having never grown them before I was really pleased to get such healthy plants from seeds.

So we'll hold on tight eh and see what happens and promise not to give up.

willnbirdie

[richyrich7]

You can kick start them ripening by putting a ripe banana in the greenhouse with them.
I'm about 14 miles further south than DD. and we have had ripe Tom's for 2 or so weeks now. Strange how things differ.

[iwantanallotment]

Quick (silly!) Q re the ripe banana - would it affect toms in the greenhouse that weren't fully grown yet, ie ripen them before ready, or only those ready to be ripened?  :?

[richyrich7]

Good question I'm not sure, last time we did it the fully grown ones started to ripen quite quickly after that I took it out.

[DD.]

You can kick start them ripening by putting a ripe banana in the greenhouse with them.
I'm about 14 miles further south than DD. and we have had ripe Tom's for 2 or so weeks now. Strange how things differ.

As I wsn't too well at the beginning of the year, I was a month late in getting the seeds in.

That's my excuse & I'm sticking to it!

[iwantanallotment]

Thanks, Richy...have just pinched the last banana from fruit bowl & hung it up over the toms, so fingers crossed  

[NoodleSoup]

you are further north so allow a bit more time. Once they start - they won't stop!

Doh! I'm in Essex so mine should be way ahead of all of yours, but they aren't!! Mine are still green, but are still growing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will start to ripen soon although I have no idea what varities they are as I was gifted them

[jannie]

picking yellow toms, same with the cherries but italian toms still green jan

[SalJ1980]

I spotted the first signs of ripening yesterday...don't give up!

[mrs bouquet]

I have grown a variety outside called "Tigerella", I've had 12 or so ripen which taste lovely and they're pretty to watch grow with their stripes. There is still lots more on the plant.  None of the other varieties have ripen yet though.  I thought I might thin the biggest out of the trusses and put them in a brown paper bag with a banana.  Do you think this will be ok.  Mrs Bouquet

[GrannieAnnie]

Mine were late going in too, and I've also gots loads of fruit, but nothing ripe yet!  I keep hoping it won't be long.  Seems too long since I tasted a nice fresh 'proper' tomato!!!!      

[lincspoacher]

No red tomatoes her ein Lincolnshire. Even the hanging basket ones, which went in the seed compost in April, are still green.

[kezlou]

Same here, tons of fruit all green, and toms still producing.