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Garden Gate:  Tomatoes not ripening??  |
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Yogifarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
297 Posts
Jenn
Swiftwater
PA
USA
297 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 31 2008 : 09:21:59 AM
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My tomatoes are big and green and are just not ripening...should I pull them off the vine and let them ripen on the windowsill or cut back some of the plants leaves??
www.sundariyoga.com
"Breathe in the Sunshine"
Farmgirl Sister # 285 |
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eskimobirdlady
True Blue Farmgirl
700 Posts
connie
fairbanks
ak
USA
700 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2008 : 09:56:08 AM
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| if you pull them now you will get the samae type of tomato that you buy in the store which are pretty much flavorless. we have heard that if you cut a few inches off the top and pull off all the blossoms it will make them ripen faster but that this is only done when you are running out of growing time as it will make all of them ripen and not make more tomatoes. we are gonna try this if we have any tomatoes on our plants because of our extremely short growing season. let me know if you try this how it works. peace connie in alaska |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2008 : 10:10:07 AM
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I have had this problem too - from asking questions of people who seem like they should know, mother-in-laws, nursery owners, organic gardeners - I have narrowed it down to a couple of possibilities. It could be that it is getting too chilly at night or your tomatoes might be getting too much water. Of course I am no expert and there might be something completely different going on :)
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2008 : 10:45:40 AM
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Jenn- I am all for giving them some time. They will ripen and soon enough you will be swimming in tomatoes! If you are concerned that they are getting too chilled at night, you could always fill buckets or 2 liter bottles with water. Line them up behind the plant during the day and make a circle (as close to the plant as you can get without damaging stalk or leaves) around the plant at night. The water will solar heat during the day and keep the chill at bay at night.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2008 : 11:22:33 AM
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I'm with Alee on that one. If you are having a particularly wet or cloudy summer or your nights are too cool, it will slow tomatoes way down. Mine still have not even set fruit this year :( Lots of flowers, but our nights have been in the low 40's and several nights in the upper 30's. The wall-o-waters and gallon jugs apparently just aren't enough to keep them warm enough at those temps. I'm putting up tunnel covers this weekend to try to help them along and get at least SOME tomatoes.
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My Website:
http://www.freewebs.com/lisamariesbasketry/index.htm |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2008 : 11:57:14 AM
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My tomatoes are doing the very same thing....along with the plant dying and turning brown. Tis a puzzlement..... I have several in a huge clump that should be all perky, juicy, and really, really, red, but alas....as green as grass.
--I am grateful. I have enough.-- |
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Yogifarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
297 Posts
Jenn
Swiftwater
PA
USA
297 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2008 : 12:35:03 PM
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We haven't had much rain and it has not been chilly, the only thing I can fathom is that they don't get enough sun because they are planted alongside the garage. It is really sunny there from 2-6 and that is it...
The bottom of the plant is heavy with fruit and the tops are soaring upwards, they are probably about 5 feet tall at this point.
www.sundariyoga.com
"Breathe in the Sunshine"
Farmgirl Sister # 285 |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4811 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4811 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2008 : 2:29:22 PM
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Patience Jenn, my tomatoes had been green for so long that I didn't think they'd be ripe until Thanksgiving. A week ago they began turning red! They are slowly ripening and I get a big handful of tomatoes every day. It works our perfect for us & nothing is being wasted. My cucumbers are doing great too & we've been eating those for nearly a month now. Hang in there, they'll turn red before you know it!
Dawn in IL |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2008 : 07:49:50 AM
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Oh, Jenn, I'm sorry to tell you that 4 hours of sun really isn't enough. Tomatoes need at least 8. I hate to suggest spending more money on energy, but maybe you could rig up a grow light or two just above the plants to try to give them the sunlight they are lacking. Otherwise, you'll probably end up with a lot of green tomatoes, which there are lots of recipes for those, too. But spaghetti sauce and ketchup won't be possible :( If you pick them to ripen on your windowsill, you'll get some red ones, but they won't be quite as good as vine-ripened. Don't try digging them out to move them to more sun or you'll most likely kill the plants entirely (experience talking here). They are probably too big and too well established to try that now.
I have recipes for green tomato salsa, green tomato bread and fried green tomatoes (my favorite) if you want to try those.
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My Website:
http://www.freewebs.com/lisamariesbasketry/index.htm |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2008 : 08:06:50 AM
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OK...lack of sun may explain why Jenn's tomatoes won't ripen but mine are in the sun ALL day! So, maybe you should post those green tomato recipes after all...
--I am grateful. I have enough.-- |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
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LisaLu
True Blue Farmgirl
126 Posts
Lisa
Wildomar
Ca
USA
126 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2008 : 4:53:42 PM
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Jenn:
I belong to a website called Dave's Garden. There are alot of people complaining of the same thing, and the answer is....just wait....they will ripen. I have apx 100 plants, it's' so much fun. Sometimes it seems like they ripen over night! Be patient....they will come......
Happiness is homemade... |
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2969 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2969 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2008 : 4:57:31 PM
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| Just wait!! It will happen & then BOOM!! Tomatoes everywhere!!! |
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juliet79
True Blue Farmgirl
112 Posts
Heather
Worland
Wyoming
USA
112 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2008 : 08:56:44 AM
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My father in law told me that when you have the tomato crop you want, size and numbers, then stop watering so much and the fruit will ripen faster than if you keep watering. It sends a signal to the roots to put the energy up instead of OUT...not sure this year is our first garden and I have HUNDREDS of green tomatoes..hmm fried green tomatoes...
What an amazing life! |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2008 : 10:17:12 AM
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I have gorgeous tomato plants this year - but except for my cherry tomatoes, all I have is gorgeous plants! The cherries have a lot of green tomatoes on them, but the romas and others are just beautiful plants - some blooms, no tomatoes. I have heard something about pulling leaves off, but I want to make sure what it is before I do it. Anyone heard about pulling leaves off of plants to encourage the tomatoes?
Farmgirl Sister #98
Check out my new online store
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Yogifarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
297 Posts
Jenn
Swiftwater
PA
USA
297 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2008 : 10:26:41 AM
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Woohooo my tomatoes are finally ripening!!!!!
Would still love those green tomato recipes...gonna go check the kitchen section
www.sundariyoga.com
"Breathe in the Sunshine"
Farmgirl Sister # 285 |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2008 : 11:42:45 AM
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Sherri-
Strip off the smaller "sucker" leaves. They are using too much energy from the plant. Leave the big ones up top.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2969 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2969 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2008 : 6:17:07 PM
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| No Sherri you are not weird!! It reminds me of my maternal grannies house who always had tomato plants. Love the smell too.. Pure nostalgia |
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Garden Gate: Tomatoes not ripening?? |
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Tomatoes not ripening??
