Hey everyone, I'm a bit confused about my tomato plants. I have two Better Boy varieties growing in my garden in zone 8, and they look amazing—healthy green leaves with no pests in sight. There are tons of tomatoes on the vines, but they've been sitting there, fully grown and green, for weeks. The weather hasn't been excessively hot, and we've had enough rain to keep everything well-watered. What might be causing this delay in ripening? Should I try picking a few to ripen inside, be patient, or is there something I could add to the soil? I've never faced this issue before except during extreme heat waves. Just as a side note, I also have pickling cucumbers growing alongside them, which are thriving and producing a lot of fruit.
3 Answers
Totally normal! Just give it some time, and they'll eventually ripen on their own. One tip: try watering with a bit of molasses in the mix. It can help sweeten them up!
I've seen the same thing happen! Sometimes tomatoes just take a while to ripen depending on the weather. If everything else is looking good, it might just be a waiting game. You can pick them and let them ripen on the counter, but keep in mind they might not have the same full flavor as if they ripened on the vine.
It could be a nutrient issue, especially if you've got too much nitrogen in the soil. And be mindful of sunlight; if your garden only gets a few hours of direct light, that might slow down their growth too. Just make sure they're well cared for, and they'll come around eventually.