By September, any flowers that form on outdoor tomato plants are unlikely to turn into ripe fruits, so it’s best to remove them. However, some will have already developed into fruits. These may not ripen fully before temperatures start to fall, so it’s worth employing a few tricks to encourage their colour develops.
Find out how to ripen late tomatoes, below.
You Will Need
- Tomato plants
- Secateurs
Total time:
Step 1
Well into September, outdoor tomato plants will continue to produce new flowers, even though there is no real chance of them ripening naturally. Remove these to channel the plant’s energy into ripening existing fruit.
Step 2
Your tomato plants should have formed three or four trusses of fruits by early autumn, so to ensure these all ripen, remove the top of each plant. Simply cut through the main stem a couple of leaves above the uppermost truss of green fruits. Removing leaves from the plant can also ensure the maximum amount of light possible can reach the fruits, helping them to ripen.
Step 3
After temperatures have started to dip, remove all the tomatoes from your plant and keep them in a drawer or paper bag with a banana. The banana will release ethylene, a hormone associated with the ripening of fruit. Check the drawer or bag regularly and remove ripened tomatoes as and when you find them.
