It's the time of year when my tomato plants still have loads of beautiful green tomatoes hanging on them, but with colder weather approaching, I'm worried they won't all ripen in time. I'm planning to harvest them this weekend and would love to learn some effective tricks from the community. Have you tried the banana-in-a-paper-bag method? Maybe you go for a sunny windowsill? Or do you have a go-to recipe for when they refuse to turn red? What's your secret for getting those last tomatoes to ripen?
3 Answers
I've had success by adding some fertilizers and compost tea to speed up ripening. I even jokingly considered sacrificing some grasshoppers and aphids to the tomato gods for a good harvest! But seriously, does feeding them late really help with ripening, or does it just push them to grow more leaves?
I usually ripen mine after they start to show a little blushing on the vine. Pull them and place them on the counter or in a box in a single layer. I've had fresh ripe tomatoes well into November doing this! Just gotta keep an eye out for any rot.
I’ve heard about wrapping them in newspaper to help draw moisture and prevent rot. Do you think that works?
I always do this too! And they end up being perfect for Thanksgiving salads.
For me, tomato pickles and kimchi made from green tomatoes are a game changer! Honestly, I like them more than ripe ones anyway. Have you tried those recipes yet?
That's a clever alternative! I've done fried green tomatoes but never thought of kimchi. How do they taste—super tart or more mellow due to fermentation?
Haha, I feel you! So I'm curious—does the compost tea actually help them ripen faster?