Tomatoes stay green

charline · September 15, 2017

A friend of mine has about 30 tomato plants. Some from me and some from a nursery. He planted out end of may/beginning of june and they grew fine. They are in a big plastic tunnel,about 10 x 4 m.
He has never eaten a tomato this season because they do not ripen. Green tomatoes yes, but no blush. They just sit there and do nothing...
I really dont know what it could be.
Soil has lots of manure, just like mine. But I have tons of tomatoes!
Any idea?

Worth1 · September 15, 2017

What's the temperature.
Worth

charline · September 15, 2017

Summer was very hot and dry but now temperature has dropped to 15 degree celsius. In the tunnel still a bit warmer.
It was a very good tomato year. May be too hot for about 2 month where I lost flowers but no disease.

zipcode · September 15, 2017

I can only assume they didn't set until very late so it's normal for them to be green. I have never seen tomatoes staying green for much more than their 'clock'. Small or not they will ripen after a certain time.

oakley · September 15, 2017

We had a chilly week end of August and even a light frost lick.
Just a few miles away did not. Days were sunny 70-75 but the
night temps consistently went down in the forties, and one night
34.
I harvested a basket of greenies and all the basil the night before.
I did get color and good flavor on most. A few were just too green.

The darker ones must have had some color break even though
not noticeable, like GGWT and CherChocolate, and did ripen
inside with a warm kitchen...90% of the usual flavor is good
enough for me.

Nights are 55-60 now, (crazy weather), so what I left on the
vines are doing better. Just lost a few squash leaves to frost and
they also are producing again.

He should probably pick a select few and see if he gets some
color break inside. Maybe a liquid food boost like a fish/seaweed.

Worth1 · September 15, 2017

15C is 59F that is a little too cold for a tomato to turn colors, needs to be around 70 or more.

Worth

charline · September 15, 2017

In the tunnel it is 20 and more during the day and they are like this since quite a time. Even during the heat. They dont grow and dont blush. Plants are still healthy. Never seen something like this...

EPawlick · September 15, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by charline

A friend of mine has about 30 tomato plants. Some from me and some from a nursery. He planted out end of may/beginning of june and they grew fine. They are in a big plastic tunnel,about 10 x 4 m.
He has never eaten a tomato this season because they do not ripen. Green tomatoes yes, but no blush. They just sit there and do nothing...
I really dont know what it could be.
Soil has lots of manure, just like mine. But I have tons of tomatoes!
Any idea?

I always take off the top of my tomato plants in late July so that my tomatoes will turn red sooner. Seems to work for me

oakley · September 16, 2017

To really analyze what is going on, you need to take temps
throughout the season. Not necessarily daily but pay attention with
a high-low gauge. Especially covered. 65 will slow down by a week
or two. Night lows will slow down ripening by a week or two
under 50. Too much heat will near stop growth.

With 30 plants I would experiment. Not just sit and wait and
wonder what is up.

One year with an early frost, I pulled entire plants with green
fruit and hung then upside down in the barn.
I have also topped them like mentioned.

Our temps just jumped back up, day and night. For at least the
next ten days...

If it is only getting colder I would top them or some.

SueCT · September 16, 2017

Cool temps and lack of sun are seems to slow mine down. I wonderr if the plastic is limiting the sun the plants get. While the leaves are usually shading the fruit, lack of sun seems to slow down the entire plant. A little less sun and some cool temps together might slow them down quite a bit.

September 15, 2017	#1
charline Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: France Posts: 688	Tomatoes stay green A friend of mine has about 30 tomato plants. Some from me and some from a nursery. He planted out end of may/beginning of june and they grew fine. They are in a big plastic tunnel,about 10 x 4 m. He has never eaten a tomato this season because they do not ripen. Green tomatoes yes, but no blush. They just sit there and do nothing... I really dont know what it could be. Soil has lots of manure, just like mine. But I have tons of tomatoes! Any idea?

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September 15, 2017	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	What's the temperature. Worth

September 15, 2017	#4
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	I can only assume they didn't set until very late so it's normal for them to be green. I have never seen tomatoes staying green for much more than their 'clock'. Small or not they will ripen after a certain time.

September 15, 2017	#5
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	We had a chilly week end of August and even a light frost lick. Just a few miles away did not. Days were sunny 70-75 but the night temps consistently went down in the forties, and one night 34. I harvested a basket of greenies and all the basil the night before. I did get color and good flavor on most. A few were just too green. The darker ones must have had some color break even though not noticeable, like GGWT and CherChocolate, and did ripen inside with a warm kitchen...90% of the usual flavor is good enough for me. Nights are 55-60 now, (crazy weather), so what I left on the vines are doing better. Just lost a few squash leaves to frost and they also are producing again. He should probably pick a select few and see if he gets some color break inside. Maybe a liquid food boost like a fish/seaweed.

September 16, 2017	#9
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	To really analyze what is going on, you need to take temps throughout the season. Not necessarily daily but pay attention with a high-low gauge. Especially covered. 65 will slow down by a week or two. Night lows will slow down ripening by a week or two under 50. Too much heat will near stop growth. With 30 plants I would experiment. Not just sit and wait and wonder what is up. One year with an early frost, I pulled entire plants with green fruit and hung then upside down in the barn. I have also topped them like mentioned. Our temps just jumped back up, day and night. For at least the next ten days... If it is only getting colder I would top them or some.

September 16, 2017	#10
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	Cool temps and lack of sun are seems to slow mine down. I wonderr if the plastic is limiting the sun the plants get. While the leaves are usually shading the fruit, lack of sun seems to slow down the entire plant. A little less sun and some cool temps together might slow them down quite a bit.