Any way to speed up ripening?

[tam91]

Or even just blushing?

I do see we have at least 10 days with no frost forecast. But I have a bunch of green tomatoes on the vine, just sitting there.

I've read about cutting roots, but mine are in containers (18 gallon rubbermaid type) so I'm not sure if that would help in my situation.

Water lots? Water less? Fertilize? ....?

Any ideas?

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by tam91

Or even just blushing?

I do see we have at least 10 days with no frost forecast. But I have a bunch of green tomatoes on the vine, just sitting there.

I've read about cutting roots, but mine are in containers (18 gallon rubbermaid type) so I'm not sure if that would help in my situation.

Water lots? Water less? Fertilize? ....?

Any ideas?

Try pulling up on the plants in the containers and twisting as you do. That usually severs the feeder roots and can often hasten ripening.

Edited to add that the main feeder roots are near the surface and that's what's severed. No fertilizer at this point b'c it will delay ripening of what's already there by causing more growth, and just enough water to keep the plants alive, no more. However, we all knoe that water falls from the sky without us having any control, so just ignore it. LOL

[tam91]

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by tam91

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

Tam, please note that I just edited my post above to give more info.

[tam91]

Got it, thank you. Not much water has fallen from the sky in a while, but I think it's planning to soon.

[tam91]

OK, that's a little creepy even. I pulled a bit on all of them - you can hear those little roots breaking. Rip... rip.. riiiiiiiiip. Poor little guys. All in a good cause though. Hurry up tomatoes.

[cornbreadlouie]

Originally Posted by tam91

OK, that's a little creepy even. I pulled a bit on all of them - you can hear those little roots breaking. Rip... rip.. riiiiiiiiip. Poor little guys. All in a good cause though. Hurry up tomatoes.

Its like pulling out an extension of yourself. MY ROOTS!! AHHHH!!!!

[tam91]

Looks like it'll probably freeze in a couple days. My garden is a bit sheltered, so it might not freeze, but I wouldn't bet on it. The silly tomatoes are particularly inspired, even trying to bloom. So are the peppers. I'm still getting some tomatoes.

Just a couple plants are really loaded with fruit. I remember once with a pepper plant - I pulled it out and hung it upside down in the basement, and the peppers ripened. Anyone think that might work with a tomato plant? Or anything to get those couple plants to blush?

They are in containers, I guess I could move them... maybe. Bit heavy for me though.