 
|
||
Ripen Green TomatoesSeems like summer is never long enough There are a few ways you can ripen some of those gems in progress out in your garden. To help in ripening green tomatoes, keep some of these things in mind: 1. Only pick the light green, disease free tomatoes to try to ripen. Often the hard, dark green tomatoes will rot, not turn red. 2. The ripening process works best in dark places (only the tomato plant needs light to grow, not the fruit itself).
3. Get them off the vine before it frosts. 4. Placing a ripening banana or a couple of apples in with your green tomatoes will help speed the ripening process. Fruit like this produces ethylene gas as they ripen, helping to turn your green tomatoes red faster. Way to Ripen Green Tomatoes Cardboard Box Method: Wrap your green tomatoes in newspaper and place them in a single layer in a cardboard box. Store in a dark (preferably cool) location such as your garage. (Remember to stick a banana or some apples in with them to hasten the ripening process). Check on the tomatoes frequently and pull the ripened tomatoes from the box. This method works great if you have a large harvest of green tomatoes you're trying to ripen. Plastic (or Paper Bag) Method: Place a few green tomatoes in a plastic bag with holes poked into it (for air circulation), or a brown lunch bag (without holes poked in it). Add a ripening banana an store in a warm, dark place. Again, check on the tomatoes frequently and pull tomatoes out as they ripen. Hanging Method: Gently dig up your tomato plant and shake off excess dirt. Hang in garage or basement (somewhere cool, but protected from freezing temperatures). Tie up entire plant to rafters with twine. Trim excess foliage from plant. Your tomatoes will ripen 'on the vine' for up to 2 weeks with this method. Although you might not be able to save all your slow to ripening tomatoes, you're sure to enjoy many of them ripened the 'old fashioned' way--indoors!
|
|
|
|
||
