Any tomato experts around?

[justasoul]

Please and thank you?
I have 2 tomato plants outside, they are full of fruit but not ripe, some still very green, but I am scared it is getting too cold for them now. How cold is too cold? Is it best to harvest them while green?
I'm in South Wales, temperatures overnight starting to dip to single figures.

Thank you

You can ripen them inside, or there's always green tomato chutney.

If they've started to blush, they'll still ripen on the vine, indoors. If they're still very green you can risk leaving them on the plant or make green tomato chutney.

X post!

take all the leaves off.
if outside temps go below 10 at night remove all toms as well.
most will ripen, some won't.
we make a lot of tomato sauce this time of year with the ones not quite nice enough to eat like this.

Green tomato chutney sounds awesome, thanks! I was hoping to make a roast tomato soup with them, or maybe passata to freeze - my SIL gave me these plants and I have no idea what I am doing, I feel lucky I got any tomatoes at all. Off outside to take the leaves off...

Take your cue from the plants themselves. They’ll start to look miserable when it’s too cold. Although bring in tomatoes before a frost - keep an eye on the weather forecast

When it gets too cold, cut whole plants and hang them upside down in a window indoors. All the sugars in the stems will go into the tomatoes and get them a bit 'further along' than picking fruit and laying them out to ripen. Although that is surprisingly effective too... any that have started to turn will probably ripen indoors. If they're still green as green... chutney!

Oh I've more or less repeated you, sorry! Although the upside down plants tip was new to me last year and worked brilliantly!

Thanks everyone - great tips! Will let you know how I get on - I have added the chutney ingredients to my online shop this week already

Mine are still in the unheated greenhouse - I've draped some fleece over the tops (they reach the roof) which seems to be helping to protect them from cold.

Just to update, I waited a little bit and managed to get 4 ripe ones - but the weather has turned really grey and windy so I thought I’d bring the fruits in. I had about 1kg of green tomatoes so made chutney yesterday, and that’s probably my book club Christmas gifts sorted 😂

Thanks everyone for your help