Gardening and Horticulture - Tomatoes wont turn RED
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NewBeGardener
11-15-02, 12:59 PM
This year is my first attempt at a garden. I decied to do one tomato plant. I have it in a 5+ gal pot. I didn't know you are actually supose to get a few plants so the can cross pollinate. Luck for me I didn't had a problem with no tomatoes. (I was told someone near us must have tomato plants that are pollinating with mine.)
Ok my question is... My tomatoes are staying GREEN! They wont turn red. We didn't have any problem for the first few months. But now our plant has over 20 green tomatoes! Some have been green for weeks! And tomatoes keep coming!! I'm sure it is getting close to the end of the season. Could that be why?
Please Help! Thanks
Ok my question is... My tomatoes are staying GREEN! They wont turn red. We didn't have any problem for the first few months. But now our plant has over 20 green tomatoes! Some have been green for weeks! And tomatoes keep coming!! I'm sure it is getting close to the end of the season. Could that be why?
Please Help! Thanks
marturo
11-15-02, 05:45 PM
Hi NewBeGardener, Welcome to DIYs Garden forum :)
I would not worry too much about your tomatos turning red, the fruit will turn red as the sugar is built up in the fruit, to compleate the seed making process.
It's nothing you are doing wrong. Tomatos come in all shapes, sizes & colors. Just let nature take her course & pick when the firm tomato turns soft and very red, that is if it is a red tomato LOL :)
Tomatos are self pollenated as many green house tomatos grown in Winter will attest to. No bees then.
One thing to remember with tomatos is they are not big drinkers, so when the fruit starts to turn hold the water. Don't let the plant wilt, but just be sparing on the water or the fruit will be less tasty & crack the skin.
I'm sure that you can bring your container inside the garage, or somewhere in order to keep the plant from being frosted on. That way you can set it out on warm days & bring it back in at night. You should have fruit for a much longer time that way.
I grow the Hot Island peppers in 10 gal containers every year, & when Fall sets in I just put them in the greenhouse in an out of the way corner, stop wattering & the leaves fall off.
The next Spring I set them out & have great big crops of peppers by 1st of june. I have even picked ripe tomatos up until the 1st of Dec one year, I just brought in a few mother plants in 10 gal pots into the greenhouse.
Since we use the Green House for starting our Spring seeds, I get rid of all tomatos well before then, because tomatos in a greenhouse spell Whiteflys & Aphids on the babies.
Keep us informed on your progress & by the way. What is the variety of Tomato you are growing?
Marturo
I would not worry too much about your tomatos turning red, the fruit will turn red as the sugar is built up in the fruit, to compleate the seed making process.
It's nothing you are doing wrong. Tomatos come in all shapes, sizes & colors. Just let nature take her course & pick when the firm tomato turns soft and very red, that is if it is a red tomato LOL :)
Tomatos are self pollenated as many green house tomatos grown in Winter will attest to. No bees then.
One thing to remember with tomatos is they are not big drinkers, so when the fruit starts to turn hold the water. Don't let the plant wilt, but just be sparing on the water or the fruit will be less tasty & crack the skin.
I'm sure that you can bring your container inside the garage, or somewhere in order to keep the plant from being frosted on. That way you can set it out on warm days & bring it back in at night. You should have fruit for a much longer time that way.
I grow the Hot Island peppers in 10 gal containers every year, & when Fall sets in I just put them in the greenhouse in an out of the way corner, stop wattering & the leaves fall off.
The next Spring I set them out & have great big crops of peppers by 1st of june. I have even picked ripe tomatos up until the 1st of Dec one year, I just brought in a few mother plants in 10 gal pots into the greenhouse.
Since we use the Green House for starting our Spring seeds, I get rid of all tomatos well before then, because tomatos in a greenhouse spell Whiteflys & Aphids on the babies.
Keep us informed on your progress & by the way. What is the variety of Tomato you are growing?
Marturo