Plant Doctor Archive

My tomatoes won’t ripen

Question WE have three very healthy tomato plants but unfortunately the tomatoes are not ripening. They are self-grown; we didn’t realise they were there until late December. Is there some way of getting them to ripen? They get the late afternoon sun. I have heard that you can hang them up by the vine. Does it really work?

Answer AT this time of year there is insufficient sunshine hours and heat for your fruit to ripen. Pick the fruit and place it on a warm, sunny windowsill to ripen. Direct sun will scorch the fruit. The whole plant can be lifted and hung up to ripen on the vine. Once again a warm, sunny spot will be required.

Have you considered finding a recipe for green tomato chutney or relish? It is delicious and a great way to use unripened fruit at the end of the season.