Can You Ripen Green Tomatoes Off the Plant?

Tomatoes are a popular home garden staple, but sometimes, the fruits don't ripen before the season ends. What should you do with all those green tomatoes? Can you ripen them off the plant? The answer is yes, but there are a few things you should know.

What You Need to Know About Green Tomatoes

First, green tomatoes are unripe, so they won't taste as good as fully ripened ones. They might also have a bitter flavor, so keep that in mind when deciding what to do with them. It's also worth noting that once a tomato has been picked, it will no longer produce more sugars or ripen further. So don't expect miracles.

How to Ripen Green Tomatoes on the Vine

If you have a few green tomatoes still on the vine, you can try to ripen them there. Remove any leaves blocking the sun and keep the soil moist. Add some nitrogen fertilizer to give the plants a boost, and keep an eye on the temperature. Tomatoes generally ripen best when temperatures are around 65-75°F (18-24°C).

How to Ripen Green Tomatoes Off the Vine

If you've already harvested your tomatoes or need to ripen some ones that won't ripen on the vine, here's what you can do:

1. Keep them in a paper bag.

Place your green tomatoes in a paper bag (not plastic) with an apple or banana. These fruits give off a natural gas called ethylene that speeds up the ripening process. Make sure the bag is not too crowded, and check on them every few days. You don't want them to get too ripe and start to rot.

2. Place them in a sunny windowsill.

Sunshine also helps tomatoes ripen. Arrange your green tomatoes on a windowsill where they can get some sunlight, and turn them over every few days to expose all sides to the sun. Again, keep an eye on them to avoid over-ripening.

3. Try ripening them in a cool, dry place.

If you don't have any sunny windowsills or paper bags handy, you can also try ripening green tomatoes in a cool, dry place. A pantry or basement works well for this. The tomatoes won't ripen as quickly, but they might taste better than those ripened using the previous methods.

Conclusion

If you're stuck with a bunch of green tomatoes, don't despair. You can ripen them off the vine using several different methods. Keep in mind that they might not taste as good as vine-ripened tomatoes, but they're still better than nothing. With a little patience and some creativity, you can enjoy your tomato harvest even if the season doesn't cooperate.