Tomato anxiety

[Zonmatron]

Hi all, I just wanted to ask more experienced gardeners if I'm being too protective of my tomatoes or not.

The story is- I ended up with my allotment at the very end of May this year. I managed to get some pre grown tomatoes in the ground shortly after that- and they've done really well. I don't know the exact name of the variety as they were given to me by a relative I've not seen much of all year but they're big, bordering on beefsteak- and still really green.

They're planted directly outside- I thought I'd chance it as I'd started late and I've no greenhouse up.

Should I be worrying about them ripening? Flowering started mid July- I've got pictures of baby tomatoes dated July 15th. I've been monitoring the biggest ones and it seems like they've been full size for around a month now.

I guess my question is- when should I start thinking about taking green tomatoes off the plant to attempt to ripen inside? We're forecast cloudy weather for the next week or so and it'll be hovering around 20 degrees. I'm just really aware it'll be autumn before I know it and I'm eager to have a decent harvest- loads of fruit is sitting there, taunting me!

[greenishfing]

I'd leave them on the plant as long as possible. When I have to remove my unripe ones I put them on the lounge windowsill and they ripen slowly. I usually eat the last ones around Christmas/New Year. I don't think they taste as nice as the ones that ripen on the plant but still far better than the ones you buy in the supermarket.

[Snoop Puss]

I agree with greenfishing. When is your first frost? I imagine in your location it is quite a few weeks away yet.
Don't pick the first one till you've got others starting to ripen. It's difficult to be patient when it's your first one, but there's a chemical they give off and when one starts, it encourages the others. As soon as you've got another one or more that looks like it's starting to change colour, you're good to go.

[Zonmatron]

Honestly, no idea about first frost dates! This is my first year of outside gardening. I grew tomatoes in my living room last year so didn't have to worry about things like that.
From casual experience I think it would be highly unlikely to be too frosty until at least October/ November but the allotment is on the side of a hill and I'm not sure how that will fare. It's been a lovely sunny spot but I'm a bit worried it'll be quite exposed come autumn weather.

[Nicos]

Mine are outside and very late this year. I have my first 3fruit changing colour.
I've just cut off any remaining growing tips plus any fruit smaller than a grape. Then removed a lot of the big leaves which were blocking the light to the tomatoes.
This should help the energy into growing and ripening of the fruit.
You'll know when to bring the fruit in to ripen...the tomato plants will start looking very sorry for themselves.
Do watch out for blight though ..Any signs and just pick the lot. The warm, humid weather we have at the moment is perfect conditions.
Well done on your bumper crop!

[Nicos]

Have a look at this for frost dates....
https://www.plantmaps.com/interactiv...t-date-map.php

[ESBkevin]

As others have said, leave them on the vine for now. It's amazing what a couple more weeks will do for them. Then keep an eye on night time temps, thay will tell you when to pick the remaining green trusses.

In the meantime (if you haven't) remove all sideshoots and the growing top to conserve plant energy for the fruit, then remove leaves up to the second truss at least. They will look spindly but the hardy plant will produce the best and fastest fruit in this condition. Remove leaves up to the next truss as soon as you start picking to allow air/sunlight in and reduce the risk of blight/mildew, also remove any discoloured leaves. Clear all removed plant matter away from the plants and leave clean ground as another prevention of mildew etc.

[Zonmatron]

Thanks for all the advice. My visit to the plot last night probably prompted reaching out for help- quite a few droopy/ yellowed leaves made me worry about blight but rest of the plant- stem/fruit/other leaves have been fine. I half heartedly prune leaves (plants had a couple of weeks where I was lax and they got away from me) so will be a bit more aggressive about tidying them up from now.

[Snoop Puss]

The bottom leaves go yellow and die off first. That's normal, not blight. Fingers crossed for you.

[SarrissUK]

It would be helpful if you cut off all the leaves below the trusses of tomatoes, so that the sun can get to them. I've stripped my plants back so they look like skinny twigs, but it's helping with the ripening for sure

I wonder if it would help to tie up a few bananas around them in the greenhouse?

[Aberdeenplotter]

Help nature along by watering a couple of times a week with a high potash tomato feed. That will speed up ripening as will placing bananas (which release ethylene gas) among the fruits if you have to remove them and take them indoors.

[SarrissUK]

AP, and would it help hanging bananas around the tomatoes in the greenhouse do you think? Am I turning as potty as VC? LOL

[greenishfing]

It would be helpful if you cut off all the leaves below the trusses of tomatoes, so that the sun can get to them. I've stripped my plants back so they look like skinny twigs, but it's helping with the ripening for sure

I wonder if it would help to tie up a few bananas around them in the greenhouse?

I have this weird vision now!