tomatoes

[puheen]

i have tomatoes growing in a polytunnel and there are alot of large green toms and alot of smaller ones,i was wondering should i pick the large ones and ripen in the hot press so as the smaller ones will develope more or should i just leave them all to ripen on the vine.

regards puheen

[the.fee.fairy]

I pick mine when they're large an green and then put them in my teatowel drawer for a day or two til they ripen. I've noticed that this year there are a couple more little tomatoes growing because i picked the big ones early.

Hope that helps you!

[hedgewizard]

I don't think that toms stop producing if you don't pick in the same way that beans do. The fruits tend to be tastier if you ripen them on the vine, but in cool weather they'll just sit there inviting mildew and the like.

[PurpleDragon]

I pick mine when they're large an green and then put them in my teatowel drawer for a day or two til they ripen.

In a drawer? I thought they were supposed to ripen on the windowshelf. I have my first ever tomatoes I've ever grown myself (preen) and as they are green I picked them (they are massive) and put them in the light to ripen. Should I put them in the dark?

[the.fee.fairy]

Well, my great grandad always picked his green, then took them in and wrapped them in a red jumper and put them in the dark.

He said they had to be wrapped in something red...

I just stick mine in the teatowel drawer...they get wrapped in teatowels instead. They've all ripened off nicely. Don't know if its quicker or anything though.

[PurpleDragon]

Thank very much - I'm away to go put mine in a drawer

[puheen]

many thanks i shall try that with some of the larger ones

[red]

green tomatoes ripen more quickly if you put a red one in with them

I don't pick unless they are red; I only pick the green ones at the end of hte season when it becomes clear they wont ripen out there anymore. then i make chutney or fry slices of green tomatoes.. yumm

red

[Andy Hamilton]

Loads of mine just fell of the plants - well when I accidently walked on them. I have just stuck them in a cupboard. They do seem to be tkaing a long time to ripen I shall try putting some with something red and the others without and see what difference it makes.

[wulf]

A word of warning - don't forget about them!

A couple of years ago, I took a lot of green / semi-ripe tomatoes off my plants near the end of the season and stuck them in a drawer. A month or two later I was wondering why we had so many tiny flies in the house when winter was almost upon us and then I opened the drawer....

Wulf

[Shirley]

Oooops!! ROFL - that is most definitely the sort of thing that could happen in our house....

Anyway - LARGE and GREEN... harumph... how about... small.. rock hard... and green... I've got 4.... not a good success rate is it.

Really REALLY want to get a polytunnel for next year. Is it best to buy at this time of year or better next year?

[Andy Hamilton]

I seem to remeber hedgewizard talking about not putting it up in hot weather as the plastic streches.

[PurpleDragon]

Oh, not nice. I can certainly see me doing that as well. Definately one of the tea towel drawer then, coz I'm always in there.

I've got some tomatoes going begging, Shirlz, if you want some. I'll bring you a bag on the 16th. They might be green ....

Re the polytunnel. What immediately leaps to mind is that at the end of the season they will not be getting so much business as they will in the spring, so they might be getting rid of stock. Might be worthwhile finding out if companies are going to have sales.

[hedgewizard]

I don't think the manufacturers have sales, as they sell the same lines year after year. Retailers might I suppose but this is something you'll probably be buying direct. And you're best to put the tunnel up in warm weather if you can - because then the film will shrink as the weather cools so you get a snugger fit and less flapping about in bad weather.

[Shirley]

thanks all

Hmmm - looks like next year then. Can't really afford it anyway but was hoping for a head start on next years growing.