Ripening

[b54red]

We have not really had much of a break in the heat other than a day or two for the past 3 and a half months with days in the 90s and nights above 70 but for the past month tomatoes have been very slow to ripen despite the heat. I don't understand why this happens during this intense heat. June and July with temps just as high or sometimes a bit higher fruit ripened so fast tomatoes had to be picked every day and now I am lucky to get one or two ripe ones a week despite having plants loaded with large green tomatoes seemingly ready to ripen. I assume it has something to do with the time of the year but still don't understand why it would change the ripening speed without the temperatures going down. This is true for my very old plants set out in March all the way through my newest ones set out in late July. Yesterday it was 97 with last night getting down to 75 and despite this slow ripening they are setting new fruit like crazy.

Bill