Forcing tomatoes to ripen... time frame

[silkiechicken]

I know that a method to force tomatoes to ripen is to dehydrate and stress them so they go in to panic and ripen... but when do we want to do this?

I am getting desperate for garden goods this year due to weather issues. Hot streak of 80F weather in march that stunted the cool season veggies, cold streak in late April that brought 8 inches of snow, and the June that was called a "june-uary" due to February temps. Not even zucchinis are producing yet!!!

Of course, being western Washington.. .it will rain and rain and rain and the plants will just rot standing before it dries out... highs are in the 60's again and raining as I type.

So, what are everyone's ideas on how I can force the maybe few dozen green tomatoes to get ripe on my 20+ plants? All suggestions welcome!

 

[patandchickens]

How windy is your garden - is there any chance of cobbling together a tomato sized plastic tunnel for them, to raise temperatures? Maybe use some scavenged treebranches wired together (several teepees connected with a horizontal at top) with scavenged plastic affixed over top?

If they have started to ripen a *little* (like, started turning whitish, not just deep green still) you can pick them and ripen them indoors. I have two Black Russians, picked with just a little orange-ish in them about 5 days ago, that should be edible in another 4-5 days I *think*. (They were right near the ground and I expected slugs to get 'em if left there).

Good luck,

Pat

 

[silkiechicken]

It's not very windy, but I can't really do the plastic thing where I have them. They are against the sidewalk that is next to the house and peas/beans are planted between them.

I did some searching and about a week before I leave, I think I will be taking a shovel to the side that isn't under the sidewalk and making cuts into the roots about 6 inches from the plant. Hopefully that stresses them enough to force the fruit. I guess this cold spell will help them out a bit in ripening too as it's supposed to get warm for a few days this weekend. Now only if I could construct a 20 by 40 cold frame over the corn which hasn't tasseled... If I had the stuff to do it, where they are planted it's possible to get them covered and anchored.

 

[OaklandCityFarmer]

I would recommend pinching off all new growth and removing any new flowers. This will allow the energy of the plant to go to the fruits and not towards the new growth.

I have heard of the taking a spade to the roots method and from what I understand it's pretty effective.

Good luck!

 

[silkiechicken]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I pinched off the buds and flowers last week in hopes that the few flowers that had already fallen off would speed up a bit in growing their green tomatoes... we'll see what happens.

 

[Lettuce Lady]

silkiechicken did it work?

My 60 days tomatoes are finally starting to ripen. My big beautiful 80 day tomatoes are still so green. This will likely be the last warm week. Were you able to trick yours?

 

[chickaD]

Silkiechicken,
I've copied a post from Rosalind that may help as you get closer to expected frost: "I have these two giant green tomatoes that are, like, a pound each, and I'd like them to ripen one of these days...

You know, if you have a frost coming for sure, and you pull the whole tomato plants up and hang 'em upside-down with the dirty roots and all in the cellar or laundry room or whatever, the green tomatoes on them will get properly ripe just fine. You can easily get another month's worth of tomatoes like that, on account of them ripening slower in a bit of a chill, but it's kinda nice to have a few fresh tomatoes per week until a month post-frost."

Good luck! Our total tomato output thus far is one smallish (but wonderful) red tomato, and a few straggling green ones.........not a prize-winning summer, for sure. With all the summer rain, it's a wonder we didn't have tomato sauce! :/

 

[curly_kate]

It's amazing to me that even though there are people posting from all over the country, everyone has had trouble with their tomatoes this year! I've had some good spells, but, overall, it's been pretty weak compared to last year.

 

[silkiechicken]

I actually haven't been home in the past two weeks, but from what I hear, they are still green as kermet the frog. I must not have shoveled under the roots enough or shocked them into turning red. I even grabbed the base of the plants I could reach and tugged until I felt the plant pull out of the ground a bit. That must have tore off tons of root hairs but from what I hear they are still growing... I will probably be trying to hang dry them but we'll see how that works. Don't think my mom will enjoy the idea of 20-30 plants with dirt and all haning out inside.

 

[Grow 4 Food]

It will change the flavor, but you can pick them, bring then inside, put them in a dark cabinet and they will change in a couple days to a week. We do this with ours before the freezes get hard to use the last of the fruits.