Why aren't my tomatoes going red?

[liahgen]

I have moneymakers and also some small ones and lots of fruit onbig bushes but I'm wondering if my plants are so bushy the sun isn't getting to the fruit to ripen it.

They're in a sunny spot but how long do they take to go red

Sorry not very interesting question.

tia

[ApplesinmyPocket]

Not enough sun this year I think Mine aren't ripe yet either. I haven't given up hope yet though - they will carry on ripening until the plant dies down and even a bit afterwards.

If the plant dies completely and the 'matoes are still green, laying them on a garden table in the sun may encourage some red in those resolutely green cheeks.

I once read that one could wrap unwripe ones in newspaper and leave them in a closed drawer. I can't remember if that worked or not - I suspect not and that we had an awful lot of chutney that year!

[liahgen]

I don't really ike chutney so shall wish for some sun then.

Thank you, suspect may be a sun issue then. That's good, this is the first year they've actually grown well.

[flashharriet]

I've had a few red ones off my Tumbler but nothing off Moneymaker and Gardener's Delight yet. I've got everything crossed as last year I lost the whole lot to blight .

[frostyfingers]

Mine too are not happy - a few red ones coming through, but the plants themselves look pretty rough. Not sure how many I'm going to have which is really disappointing. Damn weather! On the other hand I've had some lovely cucumbers so it's not all bad.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Mine are not red either.

There was however a lovely recipe for fried green sliced tomatoes in the paper last weekend which I'm going to resort to in a couple of weeks if they don't ripen.

[MissisBoot]

have you been pinching out regularly? they shouldn't be bushy more tall and thin.

[GentleOtter]

Try putting them in a paper bag with a banana. The ethylene gas from the banana should help to ripen them up.

[MitchyInge]

wow

I came here to start this very thread! Fried green tomatoes all round then, glad it's not just me

[gardeningmum05]

just got my 1st couple of red ones, loads of green though, come on you reds

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Some of ours are ripening. We have a bumper crop this year. Its very exciting as I've never got through blight before.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Thats odd! No sign of flowers on them?

[JammyQueenOfTheSewers]

No red tomatos here either (yet - hopeful!)

[WriggleJiggle]

Mine are just starting to go red.

[lucykate]

all ours are still green. i like my toms under ripe though. isn't there a trick with picking them, and putting them in a bag with a banana skin to make them go ripe?

[lucykate]

ah, just spotted go's post about the banana!

[deepdarkwood]

We've had a few red ones - but ours are against a sunny wall to minimise chutney making

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Don't give up hope then , they just sound late. Might be challenging to get them ripe but green tomato chutney is yum and easy!

[lucykate]

i spoke too soon, i have one tomato just starting to turn red!

[DidEinsteinsMum]

mine arent going red but forgot to feed the plants and suspect they might need a bit to pick up. Just transfered to mini greenhouse as dad reckons a bit of extra heat (and sun due to location) will help. Not sure i hold out faith this year. Eggs on the potatoes then. At least the runner beans have been yummy - if late

[GrimmaTheNome]

Mine have started that thing where they go brown at the stalk end and drop off . Is that due to them having got dry while I was on hols? Can I prevent the rest going the same way?

Pity, because this year looked like my first decent crop. I don't expect red before september up here, but I like chutney anyway so don't much care what colour they turn out - so long as not brown!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

At the stalk end? [puzzled] I only know blossom end rot which is brown at the bottom.

I'd water them little and often if they have got dry so they don't burst.

[jumpyjan]

I dont know the answer but this happened to us one year and I made some yummy green tomato chutney.