Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Let tomatoes ripen on the plant
• Method 2 of 2: Store tomatoes in a bag or box
• Tips

As the growing season approaches, you may still have some tomatoes that are still not ripe. Don't worry though, because your plants are not lost. You can still do things to ripen the tomatoes to eat them when the season is already over. If your plants are in pots, simply place the pots indoors to allow the tomatoes to ripen completely. Pick the tomatoes differently and put them in a bag or box. The concentration of ethylene gas in the bag or box ripens the tomatoes. For better flavor, dig out the entire tomato plant and hang it upside down while the tomatoes ripen.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Let tomatoes ripen on the plant

1. Move tomato plants in pots indoors and place them in direct sunlight. With tomatoes, the ripening process stops when the temperature drops. When it gets colder and you have tomato plants in pots, you can let them ripen easily. Simply pick up the pots with the plants and place them indoors where it is warmer. Place them near a window in direct sunlight. The higher temperature and sunlight help to ripen the tomatoes. Pick the tomatoes when they are ripe and have turned red.
   • Tomatoes grow best when the temperature is around 21 ° C, so make sure the temperature in the house is around 21 ° C.
2. Cover plants outdoors at night with blankets or fleece. If your tomato plants are not growing in pots and the season is coming to an end, you will need to pick the tomatoes or cover them until they are ripe. Using a blanket or fleece will allow the tomatoes to ripen for the last few days before the weather gets colder. Cover the tomato plants completely and make sure that no parts protrude. Check the plants every day and pick the tomatoes that are ripe.
   • Non-woven cloth is a better choice for this method because it is specially made to keep plants warm. You can buy it at garden centers and on the Internet.
   • During the day, remove the material from the plants so that they get sunlight.
   • This method also works when it freezes unexpectedly, but the temperature is expected to rise later.
3. Dig out the entire tomato plant with roots and all and move it inside. If the weather has changed and your tomatoes are still not ripe, dig out the entire plant and allow the tomatoes to ripen indoors. Start by digging out the roots of the plant with a garden shovel. Then carefully pull the plant out of the ground, roots and all.
   • Shake off all dirt and soil from the plant so you don't make a mess in your home.
   • If tomatoes fall off the plant while digging, let them ripen in a bag or box.
4. Hang the tomato plant in a cold cellar. This is a better environment for the tomatoes to ripen while they are still on the plant. There are several ways to hang the plant upside down. Use the method that works best for you. Keep an eye on the tomatoes and pick them when they are ripe.
   • The simplest solution is to tie a string around a nail in a ceiling joist. Then tie the string around the bottom of the plant and hang the plant upside down.
   • You can also punch a hole in the bottom of a bucket. Then put the plant in that hole and hang the bucket from the ceiling.
   • Make sure you put or place a sheet or container under the plant to catch the falling soil and leaves.

Method 2 of 2: Store tomatoes in a bag or box

1. Pick the tomatoes if they are not yet ripe when the season ends. If the temperature has dropped, but you still have green tomatoes, you will need to ripen the tomatoes inside. Pick all the tomatoes and be careful not to press marks and crush tomatoes. Examine the tomatoes and discard any damaged ones, as they will not ripen properly.
   • Leave the stalk on all the tomatoes you pick. This helps to ripen them better.
2. Wash and dry the tomatoes after picking. Before ripening the tomatoes, wash them thoroughly. This will remove all insects and fungal spores that can damage the tomatoes during the ripening process. Run the tomatoes under cold water and then dry them with a towel.
   • Make sure the tomatoes are dry, as fungus grows best in a humid environment.
3. Place the tomatoes in a paper bag or cardboard box. What you use depends on how many tomatoes you have. If you only have a few tomatoes, put them in a paper bag. If you have a full plant with tomatoes or more, put them in a cardboard box with more space. Arrange the tomatoes so that they don't touch each other.
   • If you want to ripen a lot of tomatoes, use several boxes or bags. Keeping too many tomatoes together uses all of the ethylene gas, or the chemical that ripens plants.
4. Place a banana with green ends in the bag or box. Bananas naturally produce ethylene gas, the chemical that ripens plants. Tomatoes also produce this gas, but bananas produce a greater amount and thus stimulate the ripening process. Put a banana in the bag or box to help the tomatoes.
   • Use a banana that is not quite ripe and with the ends still green. A brown banana no longer produces ethylene gas.
   • If you are using multiple bags or boxes, put a banana in each bag or box.
5. Seal the bag or box. Tomatoes need an environment rich in ethylene gas to ripen properly, so seal the bag or box. The ethylene gas remains in the bag or box, so that the tomatoes can absorb as much of it as possible. If you're using a paper bag, roll the top down. If you're using a box, fold the flaps and tape them down with a strip of tape.
   • Do not seal the bag or box airtight or close it so tightly that you cannot open it easily. You will still need to check the tomatoes every day for signs of rot, pressure marks and mold growth, so make sure you can easily open the bag or box.
6. Check the tomatoes daily for mold and rot. Open the bag or box every day and check all tomatoes. Look for dark brown or black spots on the skin, which means the tomato is starting to rot. Also check for mold growing on the tomatoes. Remove and discard tomatoes showing these signs.
7. Remove the tomatoes from the bag or box when they are ripe. When the tomatoes are red, they are ripe and ready to eat. Grab the ripe tomatoes and enjoy.
   • In a warmer environment with a temperature of 18-21 ° C, the ripening process takes one to two weeks. In a cooler environment it will take more than a month for the tomatoes to ripen.
   • After removing them from the bag or box, eat the ripe tomatoes within a week for the freshest possible tomatoes with the best taste. If you are not using the tomatoes right away, place them on the windowsill in direct sunlight.

Tips

• For the best taste, eat the tomatoes as soon as possible when they are ripe. After about a week in the refrigerator, they start to slowly lose their flavor.
• By picking a few thick green tomatoes from the plants a few weeks before the first night frost, the other tomatoes on the plants will ripen faster, because the plants have more energy for the remaining tomatoes.