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So ... will my tomatoes ripen?

38 replies

NotQuiteCockney · 08/09/2008 12:49

We have approx 7 bazillion tomatoes in the front garden. The yellow cherry tomatoes are doing really well, ripening beautifully, and I'm struggling to keep up.

The red ones are starting to ripen, but not very quickly. Are they going to ripen at all? (We're in London.) Is there anything I can do to make them ripen?

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shinyshoes · 08/09/2008 12:55

Sorry can't be of much help but I too have a gazzilion green tomatoes that will not ripen.

Will be watching this thread

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thequietone · 08/09/2008 12:56

Watching too. Same thing - the vines are creaking with the weight of green tomatoes. I just don't want them to rot before they ripen. What a waste...

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palaver · 08/09/2008 13:02

we also have a big crop of very green tomatoes

not holding out much hope...

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potoroo · 08/09/2008 13:06

Us too...

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ingles2 · 08/09/2008 13:06

us too.....
A bumper crop of green tomato chutney this autumn I think!

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PosyFossil · 08/09/2008 13:13

Me too! Can anyone tell me how you make green tomato chutney? Is it complicated?
Thanks!

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filthymindedvixen · 08/09/2008 13:17

snap...

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Lowfat · 08/09/2008 13:18

Fried Green Tomatoes anyone????

My yellow bell shaped toms are lovely, my hanging basket baby toms are lovely.

My normal toms are only ripening after 2 at a time!! I have about a million

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smugmumofboys · 08/09/2008 13:20

On the advice of a friend I have put some ripe bananas around my vines. Only did it yesterday so no idea if it'll work.

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ClareVoiant · 08/09/2008 13:21

if they're starting to ripen, you'll be fine. mine started to ripen a couple of weeks ago, and now they're really taking off, cant eat them fast enough. I left the first 2 on the plant until the others started to go pale orange, i think they give off something when they ripen that causes the others to ripen too. I think you can use banana skin to get them going, as it gives of the same stuff, though not sure if you can just stick a banana skin on your plant or whether you have to pick them first.

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smugmumofboys · 08/09/2008 13:21

x posts CV!

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moonmother · 08/09/2008 13:23

snap here ...we got very ambitious this year and grew 2 lots,large and cherry tomatoes.

We now have a glut of green large and cherry tomatoes.

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titchy · 08/09/2008 13:25

Oh me too!!!!1 Loads of lovely orange cherry toms - no sign of larger green ones ripening though. Will have to try banana skins..

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ClareVoiant · 08/09/2008 13:25

I guess you can put the banana on the plant then

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NotQuiteCockney · 08/09/2008 16:56

Ah, well, at least it's not just me with a great collection of green unripe tomatoes. It's a wonder the plants can stay upright, tbh.

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sinkingfast · 08/09/2008 16:59

I lost my tomato plants to blight but picked the tomatoes that weren't affected and put them on a sunny windowsill. They're all ripening nicely - some have succumbed to blight as well but most look fine.

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palaver · 08/09/2008 18:18

Mine had blight last year this year they haven't ripened

I think I might give up on them and not bother next year

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fishie · 08/09/2008 18:22

i had blight as well on the ones i grew lovingly from seed. the ones which self-seeded have done fine. there is a lesson here....

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dooneygirl · 08/09/2008 18:23

I'm in Oregon, and having the exact same problem. Last year we had so many different veggies and an abundance of tomatoes. This year, I've had 4 courgettes (sp? I know them as zucchini) and several cherry tomatoes. I have tons and tons of regular tomatoes and cucumbers and other things, but they just have not ripened. Everything is starting to die on the vine, and am really bummed at the waste in the garden.

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mehgalegs · 08/09/2008 18:25

We have had a good year with an abundant crop of cherry toms (the chickens spent the winter in the green house so I have them to thank).

Sadly though they have all succumbed to blight this last week. Last year I lost the lot really early on.

These grey wet summers are no good for toms.

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Beetroot · 08/09/2008 18:25

same here

I have some yellow ones - whihc are not ripe and are not going red - does that mean they are orange tomatoes?

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forevercleaning · 08/09/2008 18:29

Last week I gathered all my tomatoe plants up - they were already in pots and have brought them inside and stuck them on window sills and they are ripening nicely.

I didnt want to leave them out to rot in this crap weather so thought i would give them a sporting chance indoors.

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NotQuiteCockney · 08/09/2008 19:22

Dunno, my yellow ones go strongly yellow, although some still have streaks of green. They're thoroughly edible and very nice, though. I've been eating loads, and there are always more to eat.

I guess I'm being unreasonable to hope for some more ok weather? The tomatoes don't seem to be rotting, anyway, and I did get a nice reddish one today.

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DevilsAdvocaat · 08/09/2008 19:26

put themin a bowl with bananas.

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Beetroot · 09/09/2008 09:39

you need fucking sun for tomotoes though dont you

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